Jeff Harris Travels

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Yesterday was a long day, to say the least. It began in the early morning hours, around 1:30 or so with the Nit del Foc, Valenciano for Night of Fire, which was a fireworks display. Then, in the early afternoon there was the last mascletà of the Fallas 2009 celebration. Following the mascletà a few hours later, at 7PM, there was the Cabalgata del fuego, translated as the Cavalcade (Parade) of Fire. A little after midnight nearly all 766 beautiful combustible structures throughout the city went up in flames during the La Cremà. I say nearly all because I believe a couple were done a bit later, around one or later.

Here are some photos from the amazing, fire-filled day. Video to come soon/eventually.

Click the link below to continue reading and viewing about the last day of Fallas 2009.

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Here is the video of Wednesday’s mascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Sorry for the shakiness, it can be a challenge to operate the photo camera and video camera at the same time.

Click here to view the video in HD

On to Dublin today! My flight out of Valencia to Madrid is at 3:35. I should get to Dublin by 9:30 (4:30PM EST) tonight. Posts and photos of Dublin to come soon!

Everyday at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, since the beginning of March, the city presents a mascletà (fireworks show mainly for the sound) in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Plaza of the City Hall). It is much like the Grand Mascletà Napolitana from this past Saturday, but only lasts for five minutes.

I made it to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento today to check it out. More photos after the link below.

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Go here to view the video in HD (if your Internet connection allows for it)

Today I wandered on over to the beach to see the Grand Mascletà Napolitana. They were a combination of the regular fireworks (you’d expect to see in the U.S.) and ones that created big puffs of smoke. There were a lot of people there and I found a space near the front and center, where the Fallas queens and their court were. The show lasted for 20 or so minutes and the grand finale was eardrum-busting.

Now that the Fallas celebration is beginning to get into full swing, firecrackers can be heard throughout the day. And with the daily Mascletà (sound fireworks) at 2 o’clock in the afternoon in the city center, the city sounds like it’s under siege.

Here are some photos from today’s beach fireworks. I’m working on a video to upload soon.

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