La Despertá

Impatienly waiting for 7:30am

Last weekend was the official beginning of fallas, which lasts for about 3 weeks. On Sunday at 7:30am was the Despertá, meaning all the early risers (or partiers who never went to sleep) gather in Calle de la Paz with petardos, which are kind of like Snap Dragons in the US, but better, stronger, and louder. Now, sit back and imgine this:

Hundreds of roudy people, smoke so thick you can't breathe or see, explosions all around you, little bits of rock hitting your legs, foot aching because Josep told you to step on a petardo to explode it and you being incredibly stupid and tired did, ears ringing, head fuzzy from little or no sleep, and at the end a mascleta, which is bigger and better than any fireworks the US could ever come up with, probably because we're much too obsessed with safety.

Smoke and fire

Panuelos (handkerchiefs) so you have a better chance to breathe

¡GOOD MORNING VALENCIA!

So what does it mean that now fallas has started? It means that every day at 2pm (the only time Spaniards are punctual) thousands of people gather in the Plaza de Ayuntamiento and watch a mascleta that vibrates your whole body. Someone told me it's bad luck to cover your ears, but it's so loud that you feel like your brain might get dislodged. It means that ninots are getting put up all around the city. It means that every weekend there's even MORE fiesta and partying. It means fireworks in the river every night during the weekend. It means limited mobility through the center of the city. It means Valencia is coming ALIVE.

Mascleta, right in the middle of the city