Cara- Las Fallas in Valencia and La Lauren in ZGZ!

You think that's a big Paella? Look at this one!!

Last week was the Festival of Las Fallas in Valencia. Valencia is known for their beaches and oranges, and is a relatively large city of one million people but swells to at least twice that size during the festival. I heard it was a must-see so I got a ride with my friend Carole who was driving down there too on Wednesday morning. Due to the large volume of visitors, all the hostels and hotels are totally booked during the week, so I stayed with Michael and his Valenican friend Alberto. Alberto and his mother Teresa were incredibly hospitable! They made us lunch everyday and Alberto took us around the city on Thursday and Friday and took lots of pictures for me since my camera was broken. Above is a picture of me with Thursday's lunch, a typical Valencian dish called Fideuà. It's a lot like Paella, but uses noodles instead of rice. It was sooo good and I ate tons of it.
On Wednesday Carole parked her car on the beach and then I spent about 3 hours trying to get across Valencia to Alberto's neighborhood. The normal bus routes were all abreviated since most of downtown was impassable due to the celebrations so we had to take the metro which was running on special festival schedules. Teresa made us macarroni and then Alberto, his friends Lina and Damiano and Michael and I went out to see Las Fallas.
I'm not exactly sure what the word Fallas means but it refers to these huge wooden statues/scenes that are as tall as four story buildings and spread throughout the city. Everyone in a neighborhood puts in about 150 Euros to have the Falla built and their themes range from political to whimsical. I think there are about one thousand in all but the downtown ones are more important or something. I really like this bullfighting one:Walking around the city was a little dangerous. Another tradition of las Fallas practiced among the tween set is setting off firecrackers and various little fireworks in the middle of crowded downtown areas. I almost peed myself a few times out of surise. We went to see the main cathedral in Valencia, and a little further behind that was this giant statue of Mary made up of flowers that are brought by a parade of women, men, and little kids in traditional Valencian costume.
These dresses looked seriously uncomfortable and it was HOT out! I can't even imagine, it's especially hard for the little bity girls I'm sure. These little girls were so adorable but I think they were a little weirded out that I wanted a picture with them.
After walking around for a good long while, we headed to Alberto's friend Stephania's house for dinner, and then headed out to see "el castillo." Basically, we went to a crowded parking lot and watched a really big fireworks show. It was pretty good but didn't have much on the DCC. Afterwards we hung out by the "river" which is actually all dried up and now it's just a really nice park area with cool bridges crossing it. We walked back to Alberto's later because the metro was crazy crowded. On the way we passed a bunch of verbenas, which as far as I can tell are like block parties with dancing. Even though it was about 3 am at this point, the streets were full of people, and not just teenages or tourists. There were old people and toddlers too.
On Thursday morning we went out in Alberto's neighborhood to see a mazqueta (spelling?) which was like a smaller fireworks show but mostly instead of the flashy shiny kind it was just really really loud pyrotechnics. Like, so loud the ground shook like I was in Reno or something (disclaimer: never been to Reno, just heard about it).

don't get too close!

Afterwards, we walked around his barrio to see more Fallas and of course, the giant Paella for one thousand people! Then we went back home and ate fideua followed by a brief siesta. At 4 or 5 we went back into the city to see the inside of the cathedral, the tower/gate/wall, and say goodbye to the Fallas.

me at the cathedral
me on top of the wall

Valencia is so pretty! Anyways, as we started to head home we ran into a parade of people dressed up as Moors and Christians to celebrate the city's heritage. I thought the costumes were so elaborate but Teresa told me there's a similar parade in Castellon, but much much more impressive.

I kind of though the moors looked more like Aztecs

These sandwiches were so good and only 3 Euros or so. What a steal!
(From left: Me, Michael, Alberto, Lina, Damiano)

After dinner we went back into the city at about midnight to see another smaller castillo and the burning of the most important Falla outside city hall. That's correct, on the final night they burn the Fallas, all of them. There are firefighters present at all of them, spraying down the ashes and making sure sparks don't land in trees, and all the buildings surrounding a Falla are covered with fireproof fabric to keep them from being damaged. However, it still seems like a very risky venture to me, especially when coupled with the castillos, mazquetas and rogue firecrackers.

All the streets have these pretty christmas light garlands.

El Castillo

La Falla QuemandoSome firefighter and the remains of a smaller Falla

I think Valencia makes us look like total prudes about fireworks. I would really like to go back to Valencia in the summer to more fully enjoy the beach, but I'm so glad I got to go to Las Fallas, and that I got to meet Alberto and his family, especially Pancho, their little dog.

On Friday I took the bus back to Zaragoza, and when I got there, LAUREN MILLER and JANO were there!! Don't you wish you were in Spain Ashley? We went out to eat at this cheap calamares bar and got clamares and mussels and patata bravas which I love. Mac from Idaho came over, and then Lauren, Jano, Mac and I went out to La Cucaracha and El Tubo. Later Jano and I split a Kebab and we all straggled home shortly thereafter. On Saturday we slept in and then went to the basilica and aquarium, supposedly the largest fluvial aquarium in Europe. To be honest, I was not impressed. Europe must have low standards when it comes to aquariums. It was hard to find and not easily accessible by bus and it cost 10 Euros for only freshwater fish. They did have two crocodiles and two caimans but no sharks or manatees. Afterwards we ate chinese food which was really good. I don't know why but I just love cheap chinese food. And it's pretty healthy right? Saturday night was Sebastiens birthday party at his flat. He lives with ten (!) other people in a fourth floor flat by the university. They have two kitchens, a big common area, and a maid and it really doesn't seem all that crowded. After his party Lauren and Jano went home and the rest of us went to Boulevard, a club nearby. I like Boulevard but walking home 30 minutes is kind of unpleasant, unless I stay till 5 when the busses start.
My friend's always have guests staying over so it was nice to finally have my own friends to show around. Unfortunately my camera is still in the shop so I don't have any pictures, but I'm sure you can imagine. It was great, and I can't wait to go to Madrid again, I miss you Lauren!