Asi son Las Fallas - So goes the Fallas 2015

March 1st, 2015
Valencia, Spain

You may not know about Las Fallas, but I hope that changes quickly.  Las Fallas is a 19 day event from March 1st to March 19th every year.  It culminates on the City of Valencia's Patron Saint's Day for St. Joseph.  However, as with any big event, planning and lead up events take place all year long.  The neighborhoods of the City of Valencia collect money to build wood and paper mache structures that make fun of the state of affairs.  So you'll see plenty of world leaders, movie stars, sports heros, and issues such as global warming.  These structures can cost up to half a million dollars are staged around the city of Valencia in the neighborhoods where the money was raised.  Expect around 400 of them ranging in size up to 5 stories tall.  For someone from the US - imagine the Rose Bowl Parade, but with the floats parked around the city and stuffed with fireworks and made from paper mache.  On the last night, they set them all ablaze and a mass cleansing occurs for those participating.   Having participated 6 times, I can say that you may not care about the world problems, all you'll want is a bed and sleep.

Every day there is the daily Mascleta at 2:00 PM.  It takes place in Plaza de Valencia in front of City Hall and the Post Office.  The plaza is cleared out and secured to house the thousands of fireworks that go off each day.  These daytime fireworks celebrate percussion and crescendo with a beating of explosions that you'll feel shake your entire body.  The plaza during Mascleta looks like Time Square at midnight each and every day, getting more condensed and excited as the month progresses.  

Here's is how to kick off a 3 week celebration - Spanish Style!  Mascleta on March 1st, 2015

We left immediately after the Mascleta and had a lunch across from the Mercado Central.  Lunch was a colorful salad with long strips of tuna marinated in olive oil and surrounded by fresh vegetables.  We also shared a side of bread that was so crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  The kind that leaves a trail of crumbs down the front of your shirt to your lap.  We had a nice white white wine named Monopole from the Cune Vineyards.  Excellent value from Haro in the Rioja Region.  

Later we would travel to meet Fina Montesinos, a women of 90 years who was the host for one of my friends Debbie O'Donnell Santoro.  Debbie  lived with Fina and her sisters in 1985 and 1986 while going to college at the Americian Institute of Spanish Studies.  Fina is doing great and will be out to see the Fallas during the day.  Nights are tough because of her eyesight, but she'll watch on TV late into the evening as they judge and review the Fallas.

Lizarran Bar - Spanish Wine "isms"

We left there and enjoyed another bottle of white wine at a Tapas Bar called Lizarran that can be found around Valencia.  The white wine was very reasonably priced and served chilled and paired with a tapas of Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp).  A fun atmosphere and good prices. Check out their wine board (above) and the Muga Wine Selection.  

Not really a "Mala Vida" Valencia Red

We capped off the night at restaurant just around the corner from our hotel wheree we had some Tortilla de Espana and some Patatas Bravas, Manchego Cheese and Bread (a salute to our carb free friends).  We washed it down with a Wine called Mala Vida, which we know was far from the truth.  It should be called the Good Life! Dark, rich, and a slight fruitiness paired well with our starches.