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Post by amboseli on Mar 30, 2017 11:40:23 GMT
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Post by amboseli on Mar 30, 2017 11:52:58 GMT
Here's a short video I made of (one of the) Ofrenda de Flores a la Virgen de los Desamparados. This goes on during two days, from around 11 am till 11 pm. Costumes, flowers, bands, ... men, women, children, babies, ... thousands of them are all over the city. Impressive!
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Post by amboseli on Mar 30, 2017 12:12:04 GMT
Here's another short video of a super enthusiastic band, playing in the streets. There were many of them, both Spanish and international.
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Post by amboseli on Mar 30, 2017 12:20:56 GMT
Unfortunately this, too, is Las Fallas. The streets arounds Plaça de l'Ajuntament were a mess after the daily Mascletà. However, after one hour everything was cleaned up again. Same at night after the daily fireworks. The cleaning services of the city did a great job!   La Mascletà, the concert of gunpowder, as it is called ... everybody wants to be near (except us - we stayed at a fair distance). When we started our morning walk at around 10 am, people were already 'camping' on Plaça de l'Ajuntament to be on the first row. Macletà starts at 2 pm! Unbelievable, because it's extremely loud and the gunpowder stinks. |
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Post by mossie on Mar 30, 2017 15:21:54 GMT
Those last two shots put people to shame, it does annoy me to see litter casually discarded like that. We were taught to be tidy and what little litter we created had to be carefully disposed of in a bin or brought home.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 30, 2017 18:12:59 GMT
Ha ~ you all would curl up like salted snails at the sight of Mardi Gras litter!  Wonderful report, Amboseli. I absolutely adore the women's costumes. They even ditched their eyeglasses and hid any short hair to make it all the more perfect. Gotta say that the modern baby strollers kind of gave it away, though. I wonder how cold the people in costume were, as the spectators look all bundled up. You all must have had a great time! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2017 14:13:34 GMT
Lovely report, amboseli. I have to confess that my first impression was "oh, that's a refined version of what Mexico does all the time" but that is not accurate of course. It is in fact completely different, and I am a bit surprised by the mix of lacy folkloric costumes, cartoon characters and Christmas illuminations. It just goes to show that celebrations have become a total fusion of items everywhere these days, and there's nothing wrong with that.
As for the trash, no big deal -- it happens in every big crowd. Even if there were a thousand or more trash receptacles, most people couldn't get to them. The only important thing it that it is all properly cleaned up as quickly as possible.
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Post by amboseli on Mar 31, 2017 20:34:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2017 22:53:54 GMT
Now that's certainly a change of pace!
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 31, 2017 23:12:46 GMT
Oh my gosh, Amboseli -- that is dazzling! I had to look up Santiago Calatrava. He is the architect of that fabulous "bird" building at the new World Trade Center. (he also has my birthday, lucky dog). Really, I'd say that architecture alone is reason enough to go to Valencia.
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 31, 2017 23:58:18 GMT
Excellent photos, Amboseli! The traditional costumes are beautiful and the figures are fantastic. I'm going to Spain at the end of the year and I'll be spending one day in Valencia. I won't be these anywhere close to Las Fallas, unfortunately, but these pictures certainly whet my appetite. I'm especially looking forward to seeing the City of Arts and Science. The whole complex looks amazing. I don't think I'll go in one of those water balls, though.  |
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Post by mossie on Apr 1, 2017 14:19:53 GMT
Rolling about on those globes in the water looks like very warm work
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Post by amboseli on Apr 1, 2017 18:42:03 GMT
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Post by fumobici on Apr 2, 2017 2:35:23 GMT
Beautiful and interesting report here, thank you.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2017 2:41:00 GMT
Ah, extraordinary ordinary street scenes! Love it!
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Post by nycgirl on Apr 2, 2017 3:27:35 GMT
I recognize some of these places from the research I've been doing for my trip. The building with the ornately carved facade is the National Ceramics Museum, right? It looks beautiful. I also like the look of the market.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 2, 2017 3:42:45 GMT
Better and better, Amboseli! It's such a beautiful city and you've captured it so well. I had to laugh at myself because at a couple of the pictures I was thinking, "that really looks like Mexico", when of course it's the other way around.
I'm fascinated by the dried peppers in the market and what I could see of the list of dried spices they offer. And those Spanish hams -- whooo!
Thanks for the heads-up about the train station of Liège-Guillemins. I looked it up and you are so right about it being a beautiful artwork. I love how at certain angles it resembles a high-speed train.
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Post by amboseli on Apr 2, 2017 12:39:36 GMT
Thanks for your comments.
The dried peppers, the Spanish hams ... it's just two items in this large mercado. So many goodies there ...
@nycgirl: do visit the Mercado Central! It's very close to the Nat. Ceramics Museum.
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Post by amboseli on Apr 4, 2017 11:01:21 GMT
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Post by amboseli on Apr 4, 2017 11:05:24 GMT
Every man, woman, child, baby wore the matching shoes!  ] |
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 4, 2017 15:02:16 GMT
Ooooo ~ thanks for the closeups and the details. The lace is so beautiful and the participants looks as though they just stepped out of a Goya painting. And you're looking pretty good there yourself, Amboseli!
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Post by amboseli on Apr 4, 2017 16:33:41 GMT
Thanks Bixa. :-)
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Post by breeze on Apr 4, 2017 22:17:49 GMT
Quite a lovely parade, with everyone seeming very happy to be there and all dressed up. The lace and fabrics are beautiful.
Even the little girls seem to have those wheels of hair above their ears, so they must be de rigueurm for this occasion.
Thank you, amboseli!
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Post by fumobici on Apr 5, 2017 18:07:28 GMT
Beautiful images of the people, and the workmanship on the lace and embroidery of the costumes is extremely impressive.
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Post by nycgirl on Apr 11, 2017 1:02:22 GMT
Great pictures, especially of the adorable little kids.
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Post by Manuela on Feb 16, 2021 0:10:23 GMT
Hi amboseli, what a unique festival and your photos are amazing! We’re thinking of going next year, where do you recommend to stay during Las Fallas? Thank you.
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Post by lugg on Feb 16, 2021 19:45:31 GMT
Hi Manuela ; whilst you wait for Amboseli to respond I would suggest looking at the Rufaza district. I don't know if this would be the best choice for Las Fellas, as I have not been there at that time, but its a great area to stay in.
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Post by Manuela on Feb 19, 2021 2:40:20 GMT
Lugg,
Thank you for your response! I will check it out.
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Post by lugg on Feb 19, 2021 19:08:36 GMT
Lugg, Thank you for your response! I will check it out. Glad I could offer a suggestion. Somewhere in here is a thread I made about Valencia which will have more info and photos about Rufaza . I will see if I can find it . |
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Post by lugg on Feb 19, 2021 19:13:03 GMT
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