Join The Tomato Flinging Mayhem At La Tomatina In Spain
August 17, 2010 by Travel Guide Costa Blanca
Filed under Tourist Activities, Travel Guide
During August every year the small town of Bunol on the Costa Blanca is guaranteed to provide a once in a lifetime experience for anybody taking a holiday in Spain – La Tomatina.
Over 30,000 people converge on the normally peaceful town to join 9,000 locals in hurling lorry loads of tomatoes at one another for an event that has been going on for 65 years.
The week leading up to the batalla is a joyful fiesta of song, sangria and dance in honour of Bunol’s patron saint, San Luis Bertran, in which the locals plan and plot their strategies for the forthcoming melee. The night before the big event sees a more conventional use of the local wares with a paella cooking contest taking centre stage.
On the day of the fight 150,000 tomatoes are delivered by wagon to the packed throng in the Plaza del Pueblo. The ensuing madness sees a red mist descend with over 45 tonnes of fat ripe fruit getting turned to puree is less than an hour.
At the sound of a firecracker the batalla comes to an abrupt end leaving in its wake a rich coating of pips, juice and skin on anybody and anything within several hundred yards of the square.
La Tomatina is pure unadulterated fun that is embraced by visitors and locals alike, so if you are in the area why not go and throw some tomatoes.
