Party In Valencia

Life in the streets of Valencia took on a definitely serious party air today. The streets are absolutely packed with people. the firecrackers are flying wildly. I have never seen such a high level of professional partying!

We walked all day and saw well over 50 falla structures. They generally are using the financial crisis and Germany and France's domination in the euro zone as their satirical themes.

This is the most serious festival I have ever seen. Valencia really knows how to throw a party!!

This neighborhood was having a paella cook off.  There were more than 20 of these impromptu fire pits cooking.  It smelled so incredible!  It is the men who cook paella when it is cooked outside and women who cook it when it is prepared on the stove.

So this is SuperLady who is supporting on her back the kids, the shopping, the ironing and a husband who is a slacker in his underwear watching soccer!

This Falla was commenting on the financial crisis.  Note the broken open safes in the foreground.  I love how they mixed the fun for the kids to see with the sharp political commentary for the adults.

Valencia - Fallas - Day1

These styrofoam sculptures are so huge! They are still being built and must be completed by Thursday. There are over 300 of them, but not all are outrageously big. The neighborhood merchants pool their advertising budgets to draw customers with a motive falla. On Monday they will all be set on fire!

Mike and Gonza and just a bit of Mel!

This is what the inside of the structures looks like.  All Styrofoam and wood.  Must make for a wonderful blaze when it is all set on fire on Sunday night!