Thursday March 17th

Thursday March 17th, the Ofrenda:

We began the day with our neighborhood Mascleta, on the street kitty corner from our apartment. Although it was a smaller version, it was just as shocking to the heart and ears, as we were able to stand closer to it. Some of the neighborhood men waited until the very last second to get out of their chairs, set on the street to allow them to drink beer and enjoy each other’s company. The Pirotecnico lit the fuse with his cigar, and then walked through the ensuing explosions appearing completely unruffled. Celia, our friend and a local Valenciana, told me later if you look closely, most of the pyrotechnicians are missing fingers.

All around us, other neighborhoods were lighting off their mascletas! After comida (lunch), we crossed the bridge and visited the Plaza de la Virgen in the old center of town. The processions of Falleras had begun that morning, and the Virgen was already half way covered with patterns of carnations. Brass bands were playing everywhere. My mom told me a band had awakened them at 8:30 that morning, but I am a very hard sleeper and didn’t even realize they had come (and my bedroom is in the back of our apartment). That night, we attended the big fireworks display beside the bridge. The crowd included lots of Irish tourists wearing shamrocks painted on their cheeks, because it was also St. Patrick’s Day. After an amazing display, we wandered home around 2 a.m., passing hordes of drunk young people, pissing everywhere.