Fallas 2008 "away from the madening crowd"

V

Vavoom

Registered User
meggsy zei:
Yes, whilst there is much fun to be had, over the years we have had loads of things taken from us by the police, especially barrachos and petards over Num 3, so don't waste your money by buying loads of things and acting in too mad a way, as they now have loads of plain clothes police roaming around watching for such things and you will just lose them, as yet to see someone get arrested.....

There are some changes that may mean you cannot buy such things this year in any event.
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It wouldn't surprise me if some dutchguy has to spent a night in jail this year.

Indeed, rules and regulations have become a bit more strict in Valencia (after last year's accident). There's one big difference however with the Dutch police, the Spanish police acts on these rules and regulations. They don't mess about.
 
M

meggsy

Registered User
Last year, as I reported soon after, I saw far too many accidents for my liking, and some of it caused by drunken messing around with fireworks, which is never a good combination. Personally I am getting a bit too old to go too mad :laugh: I have calmed down over the years. When you first go to Fallas, and you love your pyro, it is like the proverbial kid in a sweet shop :nuts:.

However, the madness of it all and the constant noise, is in part, for me, what Fallas is all about. This combined with the beauty and emotion of the parades, the music and the food have made it something not to be missed. I can understand the need for safety, but if this creeping obsession compromises the spirit of the festival (this constant assault on the senses, which borders on the completely insane at times) then I think it will lose that element of difference that means so much to many. I work with pyro all the time and I find it very hard to derive as much pleasure as I used to from it , so for me Fallas is much more than just the pyro. It's obvious what a massive part Fallas plays in Valencian life, the sense of community that is derived from it is quite staggering (not unlike the bonfire societies) and something of which we can all be justly envious. It would a shame if they as a community felt, as a result of the actions of some people just going too far, that restrictions needed to be implemented and the festival lost its edge.

On saying all of this, many of the locals do seem to love ‘some’ of the antics of the crazy tourists :bigsmile: and as a visitor I have never been made to feel more than welcome.

This is not a criticism of anyone (that would be very slightly hypocritical) it is merely an observation of the possible outcome of going too far.


Steve
 
O

Ollie

Registered User
It wouldn't be the first time people got taken away there fireworks. But as i experienced it, it happens mostly at places where a lot of people are, for example the garden del turia (close to the sight for the evening display) or in crowded places. Also it is very different. sometime they just drive by when you are lighting fireworks and the next time they stop and look in your bag when you are doing nothing. I don't know if they stand in their rights if they look in every peoples bag and take fireworks. You can buy and light fireworks. So if you don't are that dangerous in your action why take it away. But i never will discuss that with an spanish police men. ;-)

Realy dangerous is it in del turia during or just after the evening display. The spanisch (i think) throw lots of borrachos in the crowd. Even the cops got several attacks by the borrachos last year. It is not save near the footballarea just after a display.

I think the conditions and regulations will just get more terrible every year. Not just in Valencia but in whole of europe.
 
P

Pompey Jon

Registered User
:sad: Hi Vavoom,
I am sorry that you got injured outside the Black sheep! I'm sure nothing was intentional, nor did anyone choose to harm you.
Valencia holds the spirit of freedom which is unique in our world today. You are correct to want to protect it without the inforcement of law, instigated by Tourist visitors Drinking too much and Playing with Fireworks:mad:
How-ever, appreciate that as in all things, there is Risk. Fallas enjoys Millions of visitors each year. With it comes money! of which the community and their businesses all benifit from.
For us Pyro's, the opertunity to "freely (legally) Buy" Traca's, Barrachos & Petards whilst enjoying the spectical of Mascaleta's, the atmosphere and Hospiltality of the valencians is what we love!
We mean no harm! But this is how your stall is set. We as visitors must respect, what is safe and what is right from wrong! If it gets out of hand? then we should expect to pay the price, no excuses:mad:
I am sure that this year will be terrific:nuts: I am also sure that with such numbers there will be accidents:sad2: As any event of such magnitude would provide.
But please dont look to change it, or discourage behavior that is unique to Valencia, by the Valencians!
Lets be honest, your far from innocent? "and that's what we all love!"
Hope this year is a better experience for you and that "We all behave Safely":blink1:
Pompey Jon
CLiffe Bonfire Society
Lewes. Sussex
 
P

Pompey Jon

Registered User
Ollie zei:
Here is the movie from last year with the borrachos.

It are about 800 pieces.

Danger for the crowd? No because everybody knew and was warned what was going to happen. People who were there wanted to stay!

AWSOMEEE!!!! :nuts:

http://vwc.pyroworld.nl/Fallas2007/Aftellen/VWC_Fallas_2007_800_Borrachos.rar
Klik om te vergroten...

:nuts::nuts::nuts:
Crikes Ollie!!! you guy's must spend all your pocket money on Fireworks:laugh:
Brilliant:toung:
We just have to meet up!
All the best
Pompey Jon
CBS Lewes:blink1:
 
O

Ollie

Registered User
Pompey Jon zei:
:nuts::nuts::nuts:
Crikes Ollie!!! you guy's must spend all your pocket money on Fireworks:laugh:
Brilliant:toung:
We just have to meet up!
All the best
Pompey Jon
CBS Lewes:blink1:
Klik om te vergroten...

Hahaha you have to see my movies from new years eve! :weird:

No just kidding!

You know where to find us!
 
V

Vavoom

Registered User
Pompey Jon zei:
:sad: Hi Vavoom,
I am sorry that you got injured outside the Black sheep! I'm sure nothing was intentional, nor did anyone choose to harm you.
Valencia holds the spirit of freedom which is unique in our world today. You are correct to want to protect it without the inforcement of law, instigated by Tourist visitors Drinking too much and Playing with Fireworks:mad:
How-ever, appreciate that as in all things, there is Risk. Fallas enjoys Millions of visitors each year. With it comes money! of which the community and their businesses all benifit from.
For us Pyro's, the opertunity to "freely (legally) Buy" Traca's, Barrachos & Petards whilst enjoying the spectical of Mascaleta's, the atmosphere and Hospiltality of the valencians is what we love!
We mean no harm! But this is how your stall is set. We as visitors must respect, what is safe and what is right from wrong! If it gets out of hand? then we should expect to pay the price, no excuses:mad:
I am sure that this year will be terrific:nuts: I am also sure that with such numbers there will be accidents:sad2: As any event of such magnitude would provide.
But please dont look to change it, or discourage behavior that is unique to Valencia, by the Valencians!
Lets be honest, your far from innocent? "and that's what we all love!"
Hope this year is a better experience for you and that "We all behave Safely":blink1:
Pompey Jon
CLiffe Bonfire Society
Lewes. Sussex
Klik om te vergroten...


No hard feelings.

You're absolutely right. The possibility to light fireworks freely is indeed part of why we love Valencia. The Valencians in their turn love to see us participate in their tradition. However, I think, sometimes some tend to go a little "overboard". :bigsmile:

By the way, in general I tend to disagree with a thing as "accepted risk leading to injuries", because any injury is one too many. However, I also realise that would be trying to live up to an utopia.
 
V

Vavoom

Registered User
meggsy zei:
Last year, as I reported soon after, I saw far too many accidents for my liking, and some of it caused by drunken messing around with fireworks, which is never a good combination. Personally I am getting a bit too old to go too mad :laugh: I have calmed down over the years. When you first go to Fallas, and you love your pyro, it is like the proverbial kid in a sweet shop :nuts:.

However, the madness of it all and the constant noise, is in part, for me, what Fallas is all about. This combined with the beauty and emotion of the parades, the music and the food have made it something not to be missed. I can understand the need for safety, but if this creeping obsession compromises the spirit of the festival (this constant assault on the senses, which borders on the completely insane at times) then I think it will lose that element of difference that means so much to many. I work with pyro all the time and I find it very hard to derive as much pleasure as I used to from it , so for me Fallas is much more than just the pyro. It's obvious what a massive part Fallas plays in Valencian life, the sense of community that is derived from it is quite staggering (not unlike the bonfire societies) and something of which we can all be justly envious. It would a shame if they as a community felt, as a result of the actions of some people just going too far, that restrictions needed to be implemented and the festival lost its edge.

On saying all of this, many of the locals do seem to love ‘some’ of the antics of the crazy tourists :bigsmile: and as a visitor I have never been made to feel more than welcome.

This is not a criticism of anyone (that would be very slightly hypocritical) it is merely an observation of the possible outcome of going too far.


Steve
Klik om te vergroten...

Besides the accidents I also saw far too many vandalism. However, I can't do anything else but agree with what you say. The festival in total is overwhelming and the sensation it gives us and others is as good as inexplicable to someone who has never lived through Fallas. It's a feeling running through peoples veins and rooted deeply in Valencian culture.

For the (near) future I'm a little worried that there will be some restrictions. However, there is a bright side and that's the local (pyro)community who's always thinking ahead and acting pro-actively, trying to find a solution that keeps everbody happy.
 
B

Bonfire Boy

Registered User
Ollie zei:
A couple of movies from some madness at Palau de Musica:

Some traca's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vri3HjWJ4cw
http://vwc.pyroworld.nl/Fallas2007/VWC_Berg_Tracas.rar

Each year we trow some money in a big jar and we make a little show there, this was last year:
http://vwc.pyroworld.nl/Fallas2007/VWC_Neerlands_Feestje.mpg

This was our closure to celebrate the end of fallas :cry:
http://www.snapdrive.net/files/160743/Ollie_Final_Show.wmv

Small pile of borracho's, the big pile will come online soon:
2007
http://klipper.nl.picturepush.com/album/1597/32184

2006
http://vwc.pyroworld.nl/VWC_Fallas2006_Borrachos.rar

ENJOY!
Klik om te vergroten...

Ollie, can't find Palau de Musica on the map, approximately where is it? Is it near Puente de la Exposición?
 
S

sam_uk

Registered User
thanks for those videos ollie. i was there in the riverbed jsut a couple of days ago was madness with the borrachos flying everywhere, and ive heard many stories about the pile of 800 of them but icant load the video you linked to here.

sam
HBBS
renegade pyrotechnics
 
O

Ollie

Registered User
sam_uk zei:
thanks for those videos ollie. i was there in the riverbed jsut a couple of days ago was madness with the borrachos flying everywhere, and ive heard many stories about the pile of 800 of them but icant load the video you linked to here.

sam
HBBS
renegade pyrotechnics
Klik om te vergroten...


Do you have msn? I will send it directly to you! pm me!
 
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