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As soon as the siren signalling the end of La Tomatina is
sounded, the massive clean up operation gets underway. Water
is pumped from a nearby Roman aqueduct and by mid afternoon
there¹s barely any trace left of the messy melée
that has taken place, much less the stench of fruit lingering
in the streets.
History
The first Tomatina took place in 1945, but no-one seems to
know exactly how
it all started. Some say it began as a fracas between a group
of friends, others claim the tradition was started at an anti-Franco
rally. One of the most likely accounts is that brawling bystanders
at a carnival parade seized the contents of a nearby vegetable
stall, and began throwing tomatoes at their opponents. Initially
the authorities did their best to ban what quickly became
an annual battle, but in 1959 they eventually entered into
the spirit of the event and it became an institution.
Whatever the real reason for the first tomato war, one things
for sure: these days participants need no excuse to pelt each
other with squished tomatoes, they do it just for the heck
of it!
Be Prepared
Visitors from within the European Community don't need a
visa to travel to Spain. Americans and Australians can stay
in Spain for up to three months without a visa. If you're
planning to stay longer or are in any doubt contact the Spanish
Consulate or Embassy in your home country before you leave.
Getting There
The nearest airport to Buñol is 30 miles away in Valencia.
To get to the festival you'll need to take a local bus or
hire a car to drive there.
It is also possible to get to Buñol by train, either
from Valencia or from Madrid.
Where to Stay
Accommodation in Buñol is limited. There are places
to stay to suit all budgets in nearby Valencia, but it¹s
still advisable to book ahead. For information on places to
stay contact the tourist information at Valencia
Other Expenses
La Tomatina is the ultimate free for all. You don¹t need
to a ticket to take part, just turn up and muck in.
Because most people who take part in the Tomatina come to
Buñol on a day trip from Valencia, all you'll need
is money for your train or bus fare and perhaps for a bite
to eat after the battle. As you'd expect, many of the participants
are alcohol fuelled, even in the morning so you might want
to bring some beer (or rose wine) money with you too. A return
ticket from Valencia by train costs around US$3, or US$2 by
bus one way (there are no return bus tickets). See below for
contact details for train and bus timetables.
Once You're There
Don't wear your holiday best and beware that anything white
wont stay clean and bright for very long. It¹s usually
boys versus girls, and it rapidly becomes something of a wet
t-short contest. People wearing baseball caps or carrying
cameras are considered prime targets for everyone, so if you¹re
determined to take pictures bring a see-though waterproof
bag.
There aren't many rules to tomato warfare, but those that
so exist are in the interests of safety and public decency:
l) You can throw tomatoes and tomatoes only.
2) They must be squashed before you throw them, otherwise
they can cause a nasty bruise.
3) Although the locals tend to rip each others clothing, it
is officially forbidden and as a visitor, you will be expected
to behave.
Local Attractions
Apart from La Tomatina, there isn't much in Buñol to
keep the visitor out of mischief. It is worth spending time
in nearby Valencia, which is renowned for its lively nightlife
and as the birthplace of paella.
The fantastic Las Fallas festival is held
in Valencia in March, when the people parade through the streets
with 50ft high papier-mâché sculptures (known
as fallas) which are constructed by local
artisans and made to look like politicians or celebrities.
These grotesque structures are set alight on the last night
of the festival, amid much jollity and celebration.
Other highlights of the province of Valencia include a visit
to the medieval fortress town of Morello,
the Roman ruins at Sagunto and the historic
palm gardens at Elx.
Similar Events
Food is an integral part of many festivals around the world,
but people are usually more interested in eating it, rather
than throwing it at each other. There is another famous food
fight which takes place three days before the beginning of
lent in the town of Ivrea, in the Piedmont
area of Italy - but here oranges are used
as ammo.
The Spanish seem to have more festivals than any other country
- certainly in Europe - and Tomatina is by no means the most
bizarre. Each village will have at least one fiesta during
the year. Becasue of the position of el toro (the bull) is
Spanish culture, many of them will have some degree of tormenting
dumb animals. Contact the Spanish Tourist Office
for more details.
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