Imagine thousands and thousands of spirited people all gathered at the same time within the streets of a very small town. That is exactly what happens on the last Wednesday of August every year in the small town of Buñol, Spain.
For what?
Well, it’s probably NOT what you are thinking. It’s not a huge concert, nor a gathering to see a famous person.
What does take place there is the largest tomato fight in the world. We are talking 240,000 POUNDS OF TOMATOES!!
Why?
The history of this tomato fight goes all the way back to 1945. Some say it started because that year there was a huge parade of figures with enormous heads. Some kids tried to join the parade, but ended up knocking over one of the giants instead. He got up angrily and started fighting with everyone in sight.
In order to defend themselves, the kids grabbed vegetables from a nearby vegetable stand and started throwing vegetables until someone came to break up the fight. The next year on the same day, the kids returned with their own tomatoes in hand and started a fight. And on went the tradition.
The last Wednesday of August 2014, I had one mission in mind: The Tomatina
My checklist:
- Swim suit
- Googles
- Close toed shoes
- Water proof camera
- Debit card
- Tomatina entrance ticket (10 euros)
In order to get the real taste of the party it is suggested to arrive on Tuesday night. Upon arriving in the city you heard the people laughing, talking and carrying on. You smelled from a mile away dinner, baked bread and home made desserts.
As soon as someone got to the top of the pole and the pork was pulled off, the tomato fight began. Huge trucks full of tomatoes drove by while the people in the trucks threw out the tomatoes as fast as they could. The tomatoes must be broken in half before they are thrown to reduce the chance of hurting someone.
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