Tag Archives: Alicante

Spain

Fireworks on the Mediterranean Sea

There is an international fireworks competition held in Alicante each year. Our friends Mike and Liz invited us to go on their sailboat to watch the fireworks from the sea.

Jorge, Ceci, Mike, Paul, Shelley and Ray on the sailboat before heading out

We went out and anchored off the coast near in front of the Castle of Santa Barbara. The view was quite stunning to see the city and the castle in the evening from the sea.

View from the Mediterranean Sea of Alicante coast line.

We enjoyed the views and warm evening while we waited for the fireworks to start.

The view of the fireworks from the boat

The fireworks were beautiful and lasted approximately 20 minutes. There were some unique fireworks and the show was great to watch from the water.

Ray and Mike on the “Hegeldi” heading back to port of Alicante after the fireworks

We had a great time with friends, there were lots of laughs and lots of fun.

Ray with friends on the sailboat waiting for the fireworks to start

We still find it hard to believe at times that we are living in Spain. It is an adventure almost every day.

“Adios y que tengas un gran dia”

Spain

BONFIRES OF SAN JUAN

Every year for the past 90 years, Alicante has hosted the “Hougeres” and celebrated the bonfires of San Jaun. We were fortunate to be invited to our friends place to watch the “Noche de la Cremà“ which is the burning of the hougeres. We headed there early to take a walk around the hougere before going up to the apartment.

Shelley and Ray at the Hougeres

The hougere was three storeys high and had some beautiful features to it.

Detailed painting of faces on hougere
Detailed different features of the hougere

There was also a smaller hougere which was done by children which was also very impressive and beautiful.

Children’s Hougere

It was sad to think that all of the 89 hougeres in the city would be destroyed by fire later in the night. We went up to our friends apartment to spend the evening and watch the activities. We gathered on the terrace to enjoy the party and watch the crowds.

Alli and Shelley on the terrace
Ray and Augustine on the terrace

The apartment overlooks one of the main hougeres on a large street in Alicante. We had a perfect view from their terrace.

The view of the hougeres from the terrace

The view down the street was full of people and lights.

The view down the street from the terrace

We watched people gather and get ready for the burning of the hougeres. The fire truck arrived and began to set up and prepare for the burning.

Fire truck arriving at the hougere to set up for the burning

The burning  of the hougeres begins at midnight and is signaled by a large palm fireworks sent up from the Santa Barbara Castle.

After the signal we watched for the start of the burning of our hougere. There were fireworks going off throughout the city and the atmosphere was incredible. We enjoyed watching the burning of our hougere and seeing the firefighters spraying the crowd with water.

Firefighter spraying the crowd
People edging the firefighter on and getting sprayed with water

The spraying of the crowd is a ritual in the event. The crowd chants insults at them in jest and they then turn the water spray on the crowd. There is also a song which roughly translates to “Wet me fireman, please wet me. I’m dying of heat, save me from this hot flush”. The crowd also chant “agua, agua, agua”over and over until they get sprayed. It is all done in fun.

Small hougere burning and firefighters spraying the crowd with water

We put the following video together to give you an idea of the extent and amazing nature of the burning of the hougeres.  The video is only a small portion of the party that continues throughout the night.

The experience was one we will always remember. It is amazing how the Bonfires of San Juan and the Hougeres in Alicante are celebrated every year.

“Adios y que tengas un gran dia”

Spain

Cycling tour of the Fogueres

We went with friends to a cycling group to tour some of the fogueres in Alicante. We arrived at the meeting place which was near the Plaza del Toros.

Shelley, Sonja’s daughter, Sonja and Ray at the start of the cycling tour

It was a very hot day and we were surprised to see so many cyclist there.

Cyclist gathered near the Plaza del Toros preparing to tour the fogueres.

We left the Plaza del Toros and headed toward our first foguere. It was tricky cycling at first because of how close we were to other cyclist.

Cyclist along the route to see fogueres

We went a few blocks and then came to our first stop. The foguere was interesting and focused on a specific topic.  It was people of all different type and nationality. The focus of the foguere was that we are all inter-connected and co-dependant.

Shelley at our first stop of the fogueres.
Foguere of different people in the world

After checking out the foguere we saw another one which was close by. This particular foguere was very impressive with ornate designs and detail. The focus of the foguere is the government corruption that is an issue in Spain.

The political Puppeteer pulling the strings
The political parties being caught up in scandals
Mariano Rajoy -Prime minister of Spain and other politicians as clowns
Mushrooms on the ground representing the public which is being fed manure by the politicians.
A maze showing the politicians actions before being ousted from office.

We enjoyed reading and looking at the different pieces of the foguere. We then got back on our bikes and headed towards our next foguere. We arrived at a huge foguere which had some spectacular art work. This foguere also focused on world politicians.

Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump with missiles pointed at each other.

The fogueres had some very pointed opinions about the nonsense that is taking place across the world. We would take our time and read each sign. It was the regular people making statements about the politician and policies that affect their lives. The signs below Trump and Kim translates roughly as “they enjoy moving boats, for them it’s just a game, we’re fed up with their big show of ego” and “poisoned songs are these serene of war, two countries face massacre our future.”  “in the “summit” we saluted and we all breathe, this is well that they speak even if they are lies to one of the other”

There were lots of details in the fogueres. Everywhere we looked you would see small details and ornate decorations.

Detailed sections of the fogueres
Shelley and Ray in front of a three-story high foguere
Some of the small detailed sections of the fogueres

We cycled for approximately three hours and then came to one foguere which was different. This one was giving away free drinks of horchata.

Shelley and Ray at a foguere during the cycling tour.

This foguere was sponsored in part by a company that made “horchata de chufa” which is a traditional Spanish drink. It is made with the chufa sage bulb and is a refreshing natural drink .

Sonja and Shelley at one of the fogueres on our cycling tour

We enjoyed the free horcheta and looked at the foguere.

Foguere focused on water use and supply
Large crowds of people throughout the viewing of the fogueres.
Foguere creatures of the sea with clocks showing time running out.

Throughout the cycling tour we saw many different fogueres and enjoyed seeing the many different pieces of artwork. We came to our last foguere of the evening which was also quite interesting.

Three story high foguere
Foguere against violence

There were so many things to see that the evening went by quickly. We really enjoyed the tour and seeing different fogueres along the way.

“Adios y que tengas un gran dia”

Spain

The awakening band

During the “Hogueras de San Juan” there are many parties and traditions. One of the traditions is called “despartà, which basically means party with no sleep.  In the barrios of Alicante the “falleros”  which are band members and singers, walk around the barrios beginning at 8 a.m. singing, playing music and setting off firecrackers. The idea is to wake everyone up and keep the party going.

I decided to go and follow one of the felleros bands and enjoy the despartà tradition. I met my friend Felipe and we went to the barrio Santa Cruz to follow the band.

The barrio of Santa Cruz has numerous stairs and narrow traditional streets.

one of the “streets” in the barrio of Santa Cruz

We walked along singing different traditional songs of the fiesta. The Felleros played their instruments and singers would stop every so often and set of loud firecrackers.  The awakening is not always welcomed by the residents of the neighbourhood. This gentlemen was sleeping on the side of the road while we played music and sang.

A partygower sleeping on the side of the road while we played music and sang

Along the way there were some beautiful views which made the walk even more enjoyable.

A view of the Santa Barbara castle along our walk with the falleros
A view of the old quarter of Alicante along our walk.

The following video is a small sample of the despartà.

We walked along with them for about a half hour before heading out for breakfast. It was a lot of  fun singing and making noise to keep the neighbours awake.

“Adios y que tengas un grand dia”

Spain

Mascletàs At Luceros In Alicante

We decided to walk down to the area of the Plaza del Luceros to watch and hear the mascletà’s on Sunday.

Statue in the Plaza del Luceros

The mascletàs are popular in Spain and particularly in our area. Masclaterà’s are pyrotechnics that focus on noise and rhythm.  The Mascleterà’s are started at 2 p.m. and last approximately 12 to 15 minutes.

As we got closer to Luceros the crowds became thicker and larger.

crowds gathering towards the Luceros Plaza for the mascletà’s

People gather early and try to get as close as possible to the barrier fences to be as close as possible. The percussion of the noise can be felt in the entire body, when you are fairly close to Luceros square.

We walked to an area that was not too close to the front of Luceros and found a good spot to watch the mascleta. The noise is very loud and we brought ear plugs to protect our ears.

Shelley and Ray with hearing protection at the mascletà

The mascletà last approximately 15 minutes and escalates in loudness and speed throughout the event. The smoke and sound can be seen across the entire city.

Smoke from the mascletà’s in Luceros plaza

It is a cultural thing here in Alicante and families bring children and even babies to the mascletà.

Young family at the Mascletà’s in Alicante

The mascletà is part of the fiesta called The Bonfires of Saint John.  In Alicante, the fiesta has been established since 1928 and is celebrating it’s 90 anniversary this year.

Mascletà gets its name from the masclets (very loud firecrackers) that are tied by a wick to form a line or firework display. You will hear them throughout the video below.

It is an interesting and amazing thing to see and hear. It is one of the many unique things about living in Spain.

“Adiós y que tengas un buen día”