Valencia, Spain - Fallas in Port de Segunto

Saturday, so not the regular bus schedule. I decided to walk to Port de Segunto. The bus has been taking a different route, I suppose because the festival has caused streets to be closed. This route has shown me a different section and I had seen a lovely church that I wanted to investigate.

I could already see the the Port was more 'dressed up' than in previous visits.

 

The church was at the end of a public space with fountains

and a memorial to those who had died in industrial accidents.

I sat at one of these tables, ordered an agua con gas and a vino tinto (which came with a little dish of olives)

and painted the central window.

Unfortunately the church wasn't open so I couldn't see inside.

Rather than retracing my steps, back along the beach, I headed into the town and almost immediately found a Fallas in progress.

People, all in matching sweatshirts, were working on it, placing the coloured gravel exactly

and covering the bases first with sand and then with turf.

Each neighbourhood forms a group that

establishes a theme,

oversees the design and creation process (completed by professionals companies that specialize in this)

and then puts it all together

and provides security,

before burning it all down

on the night of March 19, 

to celebrate the arrival of spring.

At the same time, on the edge of these hives of activity, children have small wooden boxes filled with firecrackers

that they set off, mostly unsupervised. 

Some were erected but had not yet got the finishing touches.

Some had big tents with bars and BBQs set up for the workers, any excuse for a party. Some of the bars and restaurants in town also had large groups, dressed the same, having a good time after the hard work was done.

Some sat, forlorn, waiting to be attended to.

I was nearly home before I realized that I hadn't paid for the water and wine I had while painting. You have to ask for the bill, the server wont bother you with it until you ask, and I had just got up and left!

I hate feeling guilty, but I had done, at that point about 16000 steps, I was tired and my knee was hurting. So I vowed to myself that I would go back another day and pay for it!