Las Fallas 2008 - Highlights

During my trip, I took notes on my little book about anything and everything. Here they are:

• I made it!...on the 7 AM bus. I didn't get to the bus terminal until 6:50 and I had no idea where anything was. I've never been there before! Fortunately, everything went painlessly well: the ticket window was easy to find, my Spanish didn't fail me when I was buying my tickets, and the bus was parked not too far away. And the bus stopped for a 15 minute break at a rest stop and I got to eat breakfast. I just didn't have enough time in the morning and I didn't think I would last on Digestives.
  
• Mazcleta = awesome! It was loud and kinda pointless since you can't see the firework display with bright sunny skies in the background. But somehow it was still super cool. It went on for about 5 minutes. I've never had so much joy watching fireworks. Everyone was so into it that you can't help but get into it too. I just had this permanent smile on my face. Nothing could make me sad at that moment.
• Buñuelos, or bunyols. In Filipino, they are called bichukoy or buñuelos (maybe a different spelling), depending on the shape. They are basically fried dough covered in sugar (Awesome!). It totally brought me back to my childhood. You could only get them in a dozen or half a dozen. So I got half thinking I won't even be able to finish it. Oh but I did! No wonder I'm becoming Chubs McGhee!
• The fallas. Just seeing one of them made me sad to think they would all be ashes in less than 12 hours. They are beautiful, grand and elaborate. If I made one of those thing and someone set it on fire, I'd probably kill them. But I guess this festival wouldn't be as cool and interesting if they didn't do anything to the fallas.
  
• People. They are everywhere!!! On my way to the city center from the bus station, Valencia felt like a ghost town. For a second, I thought maybe this isn't as cool as it's hyped up to be. Then suddenly, I hear explosions and they get increasingly louder and numerous as I get closer to Plaza Ayuntamiento. I gradually get greeted by herds of people, and soon enough, there was no where for me to go. So, I just stayed where I was until the Mazcleta.
  
• Fireworks. Also everywhere! I'm constantly paranoid that one's going to explode on me and I'm going to lose a limb. As I was walking on the sidewalk, I was forced to stop suddenly because a family was blocking the way. As I stood on the side waiting for them to pass, I notice one of the adults give this little girl (no more than 2 years) a lit fire cracker. The little girl then threw it on the ground. It wasn't far enough from her so the dad kicked it and kicked it in my direction. Of course, I'm dumb and just stood there, panicked! It finally popped and luckily did not hurt me. Who gives firecrackers to 2 year olds??!!
  
• To kill some time, I went to the beach. I have so much time until La Crema. Everything is closed except restaurants since this day is technically a holiday. And I can't really hang out at a restaurant for 6 hours. I could but I don't have that kind of money or that much room in my stomach even if I am Chubs McGhee. It was nice to have the beach but it was so freaking cold. I was freezing my ass off, but I had nowhere else to go. So, I stayed there for 2 hours and got sporadic temporary relief from the sun.
  
• Valencia, the city, is beautiful. I really like the architecture. I don't even know what kind it is but I like the way the buildings look. They're pretty. I'm definitely coming back here!
• La Crema also equals awesome! The first children's falla I saw burn was quite sad. It was too pretty to be destroyed. The second one, I started getting into it. It was pretty exciting seeing something so grand burn. After I saw my second falla burn, I decided to stay with the same fallero so I can get a good spot for the burning of the adult falla. Even though it was one of the smaller fallas, I'm glad I decided to stay there. I got a really good view of the whole thing. About an hour before the burning, the falleros started preparing by stringing fireworks and strategically placing flammable agents all over the falla. Five minutes before midnight, the members of the fallero march in with a band and gather around the falla. Then a lady in traditional clothing, who I assume is like the "queen" of the fallero, lights the falla on fire. After 10 minutes, the falla is dead :(
• People seem to get really attached to the falla. I know I thought I would shoot someone if they destroyed my falla, but I was semi-joking. I mean, these guys should be used to it by now. They've been warned about the ending of the story. But I guess there's some kind of emotional attachment to it that I will never understand. When I was watching the children's falla burn, members of the fallero carried on their shoulders a little girl in traditional clothing around the fire. I assume she is the "princess" of the group. She was bawling her eyes out. The crowd tried to make her feel better by shouting "gwapa", but there was no stopping those tears. It was so sad watching her cry. I wanted to give her a hug.
• With thousands of people distracted by great fires, this festival was a pickpocketers heaven. I had expected this so I took precautions. I put my important stuff in my travel waist wallet, I had my backpack in front of me at all times, and no important things in my jean and coat pockets. During La Crema, I felt someone get very close to me from behind. I looked behind me and noticed a very old man. So I ignored him thinking he's just some old senile man. A few minutes later, I noticed there was commotion behind me. A couple of older Americans caught him in the act and told me he tried to rob me. I just thought WTF! He's old! And he looked like one of those old classy Spanish men. I guess you just never know...
• Bombers! In Valencia, people speak Valenciana, one of the many languages in Spain. In Castellano, the word for firefighter is bombero. In Valenciana, the word for firefighters is bombers. How awesome is that? Call me immature but that made me chuckle every time I saw the word on the back of the firefighters uniform.