La Tomatina
It’s another humid Iberian day. Temperatures soar into the 30’s. You need to cool down. A bucket load of water soaks your hair. You look up, an old lady is smiling, bucket in hand. You hear a canon nearby. You turn a corner instinctively dodging a flying tomato ! You witness 30,000 people throwing tomatoes at each other. It’s the ultimate Civil War. No guns. Just Tomatoes. Welcome to La Tomatina. When 29th August 2007. Usually one of the last Wednesdays in August (not necessarily the last !) Where The town of Bunol in the region of Valencia in Spain Why The tomato fight is the peak of the 11-day festival honhouring the town's patron saints - Luis Bertran & Mare de Déu dels Desemparats (Mother of God of the Defenseless) The tomato fight has taken place in Buñol since 1944 or 1945, however it’s origins are clouded with legends. 
One version is that a band was playing bad music in the square, one abused listener hurled a tomato across and soon all of Bunol joined in. Another version is that the truck drivers were on strike , drove their trucks into the town center and emptied their loads to the people’s disbelief. Some sources cite a class war during the Franco regime as the catalyst of this fun spanish festival. Vendettas against local council members are also possible causes. A fifth theory suggests that a parade of gigantes y cabezudos (giant carnival figures with grotesque heads) was marching through the square. Some people joking started knocking them off balance then the figures jumped up, reached for the nearest peltable object and started hurling it at the crowd. This object was a tomato !! Choose one of the above theories and the ending will be the same, whoever was the first person pelted by a tomato they returned the next year with some friends and yes tomatoes. Every year more and more friends turn up with more tomatoes. La Tomatina was banned during the Franco regime as it had no religious significance. During this time many people were arrested for participating in the tomatina. Throwing tomatoes at strangers is a fun thing hence La Tomatina made a comeback in the 1970’s and has has grown every year since. Who It’s a guys thing ! I’m not warning girls off, but it’s mostly guys here. Bunol during La Tomatina is not a hard place to kiss girls but it is hard to find them ! As with many European summer festivals expect plenty of backpackers Anyone who is stressed and needs to let off some steam will enjoy the laidback Valencia atmosphere. You can also take comfort in the fact that Valencia and it’s lovely beaches are only 38kms away. Tomato Fight 11am there is a large ham placed on top of a cockaigne pole (a tall pole greased up with soap) in the middle of the square. Whoever knocks the ham off keeps it and also starts the tomato throwing party. Be careful as hundreds of people want the prize pork and will climb over you for it. A convoy of 5 trucks loaded with tomatoes (even drivers will carry some!) enters Plaza del Pueblo. The drunken crowd begins to chant “tomatoes – tomatoes - tomatoes”. The canon sounds. The local farmers on the trucks start to hurl tomatoes at the crowds.
What to Eat Tomatoes. Ok not funny, there are plenty of excellent restaurants in Valencia. Bunol has good street food though I didn't venture into a restaurant. There are many great ham and cheese (jambon e quejo) paella and pizza stalls on the streets. Quality is excellent. These should be enough to see you through the festival. Where to stay I stayed with friends living in Valencia city 38kms East of Bunol and took the RENFE train to get there the evening before. Bunyol is a small town with little accomodation. Look for hostels, pensiones & hotels in Valencia. RENFE operates from Valencia and Madrid.
Tour Groups to La Tomatina There are many different tour groups to La Tomatina - latomatina.com operates from America. There are other Tomatina tour groups located throughout Europe.
It has begun. La Tomatina Rules
1 Only throw squashed tomatoes 2 Do not obstruct the trucks 3 Start throwing tomatoes after the first canon (circa 11am) 4 Stop throwing tomatoes after the second canon (circa 1pm) Mayhem ensues. Tomatoes are all you can see. Maybe it’s already in your eye ! Some people look for a good hiding place and pick human targets. Others run and fire at will making an enemy of everyone. Some seedy tomato throwers will choose to avoid confrontation altogether. Some people work together, some people turn on their friends. Whatever type of tomato fighter you are this is the place to showcase your talents.
Equipment for the Tomatina I would recommend wearing a snorkelling mask for best visibility, not goggles as they have more limited vision. If you want to take pictures get a waterproof camera, as everything in sight will be covered with tomatoes.
Don’t climb up buildings or onto window ledges in search of the perfect shot, as you will be an instant target. The hours and dates of La Tomatina change every year so be sure to check on the official website below. Cleaning off after the Tomato fight there are 500 showers being provided this year and 30 toilets. There is also the Bunol River. Local fire trucks will clean the streets. Many locals will throw What to wear an old t-shirt, it is custom to rip your neighbours t-shirt off. Don’t wear anything you’re not prepared to see ripped to shreds.
Most people were camping or staying in hostels/hotels in Valencia and taking the RENFE train to Bunol. This is a good idea because Valencia has lovely beaches and Bunol is a small town which usually books up about 6 months before the festival. Most people make it a day trip. Also Autobuses Buñol provides a service from Valencia to Bunol. DONT MISS THIS The battala. If you’re really into it look out for the mosh pit on Calle del Cid. Also climbing into a tomato truck is risky and fun. Dangers/annoyances If you’re a girl guys will stop at nothing to rip off your shirt so be warned. Be careful of people throwing objects other then tomatoes. Some diehards will tie knots in their t-shirts and throw them at people. There have been some idiots throwing potatoes before. It’s very easy to slip on the tomato-covered streets. Don’t bring anything of value when you go throwing tomatoes - pickpockets will be looking for a victim. Some people go there looking for fights, although I have not seen a full on fight I have seen many incidences which could have been bad if someone didn’t back down. Airports Valencia and Madrid are the nearest.
Train Renfe provide service to and from the festival this website has an English option Bus From Valencia Autobuses Buñol located at Avenida Menéndez Pidal 9, 46009 Valencia telephone 0034 963 495 113 Internet I didn’t stay in Bunol long enough, sorry guys! Bank/ATM Because of the nature of La Tomatina festival I brought all my cash with me in a waterproof kitchen seal bag ! Weather Usually excellent Festival Pig Fact An estimated 100,000 Kilos of tomato are thrown each year at La Tomatina. Damien Corrigan on about.com has good library of images on La Tomatina.
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