Travel the Spain #3 Burn the fallas - Valencia

Pr-history Everybody are saying that if You are around Valencia during March You definitely need to see fallas. We didn't want to miss this opportunity too, because Valencia is like 180km away from our home (Alicante) now There was a lot of suggestions go by bus to the fallas with other ERASMUS student, but we wasn't sure about the weather and our mood for celebration like month before so I did not join any of these groups to go to Valencia. And also I am not such a big fan of excursion type of travelling. On Thursday morning Without a lot of planning we just took the car and four beautiful girls went to see fallas and city of Valencia.

About the place

Valencia is third largest city in Spain. It is cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean coast. Really warm atmosphere looks inviting and hospitable. People are saying that Valencia is a city that never sleeps. And I think they are not layers. It is not only centre for industrial design and avant-garde movements but also with an extensive cultural line-up. Here You can find peace and quiet of several exceptional natural sites. Along the coast there are broad sandy beaches, some nice places for migratory birds and a recreation area for the city. What can I say more - Valencia is a place where You can find everything You prefer at that moment even if it is just sightseeing and good dinner or crazy night out.

Let's have a look... 

About the event The Falles is the main festival in Valencia. The Falles literally means "the fires" in Valencian. It is traditional loud, smoky, high-spirited celebration during the five days and nights. You can hear explosions all day long and sporadically through the night. For me it seems a little bit strange that everyone from small children to elderly gentlemen throwing fireworks and noisemakers in the streets. Even for security. The fallas center of attraction are the creation and destruction of the ninots, which are statues made of huge cardboard, wood and plaster located all around the city. The celebration of 5 days ends on 19th of March then all ninots are set on fire by putting fireworks inside them in the late evening. Also apart from burning everything down there are also other activities during the festival - paella contests, parades and bullfight daily all throughout the city.

 

The traditional Spanish dish paella originated in Valencia.

Let it burn!

Review Day was long and a little bit tiring. City was full of people and not with the best timing for actually good sightseeing if u want to know city better. But our decision to come to Valencia mainly was for fallas and I do not regret that. I never participate in such kind of event before so it was big new experience for me and I am really glad that I had such a good chance to see that and spend some nice time with friends. Also I love road trips with girls so the trip was even better including travel by car. What can I say more is that Spanish people really are crazy about all these festival and parties? They really know how to enjoy their lives. City was full of sobers and not so much sobers people especially in the evening. But still they had good time and be in the crowd here is something amazing that everybody need to feel. They are really inspired and they believe in all the meaning of this celebration. That is why it is so special.

On the other hand I think I am not going to come back to see this festival again but definitely I will come back to see and explore Valencia more. We did not have a lot of time to see the entire city and for me I really liked the place. I am thinking to come back for maybe few days more in the end of April.

I hope u all have nice Thursday too. Maybe somebody was also in this big event during these days or even some years before. Let me know how do you like that and how did you spend your time there. And if u wasn't do not miss next opportunity to see this kind of event even just one time in your life. It is really something you need to feel with all its atmosphere and craziness.

And for me I cannot wait to come back to Valencia again and see the city more. So I hope I am going to make one more post about this city.

Have a good week.

Moni