First, I'll explain Las Hogueras. I'm not sure why they celebrate it, but it's THE festival in Alicante, the one not to miss. Each neighborhood builds their "hoguera" (which means bonfire, but is also used to refer to the statues.) and there are barracas and racos everywhere. Barracas and racos aren't much different. They're tents for different groups or neighborhoods or whatnot, that usually have music and a dancing area and drinks and food and tables.
The entire city center is basically blocked off and cordoned off, so travel is a...well, it ain't easy to get there with car or bus. Anyway, every night is a party night starting on the 19th. During the day the barracas are open and they have las mascletas.
Las mascletas are a type of firework show, but instead of focusing on pretty lights, las mascletas are more about the noise and ryhthms and stuff. I love them! My host mom told me about some friends who live on the plaza where they set off the mascletas every day at 2 and how every year, they have to turn in forms to the city hall to get them to replace the windows the mascletas broke!
The night of the 23rd to the 24th, everyone goes out to party on the beach. People build bonfires and drink on the beach. It was crazy. One thing they do is write a wish on a piece of paper, burn in, and then jump the fire. I didn't do nor see it, but they tell me it's done when the fire has burnt down to coals, so it's a little safer. haha
On the 24th, at midnight they "shoot the palm tree" from the castle, which is a firework that looks like a palm tree, to mark the start and then starting at the hoguera statue in the town hall plaza, they go around the city burning the statues.
The following week is a fireworks competition, which I like because I got to welcome my birthday with dinner on the beach with friends the night of the 25th and then at midnight, we watched the fireworks and tonight, I'm going out to dinner with my host family and then we're going to watch the fireworks. So I'm starting and ending my birthday with fireworks. Not too bad, huh?
The hoguera in the town hall plaza.
Above: A street in the city center, blocked off and filled with people, and below: the beach on the night of the 23rd.
The "palm tree" above the castle. It was a little disappointing, because to me it didn't really look like a palm tree, but it was one big firework!Since it's my birthday, that means it won't be much longer before I come home, so I wanted to talk about what I'm going to miss and what I have missed.
The States:
-> I miss junk food. There is junk food here, but it's not a typical thing to have at home though.
-> I miss having the words match up with the mouths in movies and on TV. I got used to that though, so it's not that big of a deal.
-> I miss driving. You don't know how many times I wish I could have hopped in a car or a on a moto instead of taking the bus.
-> I miss "your mom" and "that's what she said" jokes. They just don't get them over here. haha
-> I miss family and friends and familiarity of places, although I have that now here too, so it's not so bad.
-> I miss watching "Bones" during dinner with my family.
Spain:
-> I'll miss not having junk food around. While I miss snacking, I don't filling my body with all that junk.
-> I'll miss fresh bread every day with lunch and bread with every meal.
-> I'll also miss quantity and diversity of fresh fruits and veggies that we always had in the house.
-> I'll miss how open everyone is here. They're a lot less judgemental about some things here. Also, while sometimes, they might come across as touchy-feely, you get used to it and realize they're just open and caring people.
-> I'll miss the few people I've become close to this year: my host family and a few select friends.
-> I'll miss watching "Bones" and "The Mentalist" during dinner with my host family.
-> I'll miss how basically every window and/or door in the house can be opened up, which is just really nice, for fresh air and to deal with the weather.
I'm sure there were other things I wanted to put on the list, but right now I can't remember them. But it kinda gives you an idea.
The States:
-> I miss junk food. There is junk food here, but it's not a typical thing to have at home though.
-> I miss having the words match up with the mouths in movies and on TV. I got used to that though, so it's not that big of a deal.
-> I miss driving. You don't know how many times I wish I could have hopped in a car or a on a moto instead of taking the bus.
-> I miss "your mom" and "that's what she said" jokes. They just don't get them over here. haha
-> I miss family and friends and familiarity of places, although I have that now here too, so it's not so bad.
-> I miss watching "Bones" during dinner with my family.
Spain:
-> I'll miss not having junk food around. While I miss snacking, I don't filling my body with all that junk.
-> I'll miss fresh bread every day with lunch and bread with every meal.
-> I'll also miss quantity and diversity of fresh fruits and veggies that we always had in the house.
-> I'll miss how open everyone is here. They're a lot less judgemental about some things here. Also, while sometimes, they might come across as touchy-feely, you get used to it and realize they're just open and caring people.
-> I'll miss the few people I've become close to this year: my host family and a few select friends.
-> I'll miss watching "Bones" and "The Mentalist" during dinner with my host family.
-> I'll miss how basically every window and/or door in the house can be opened up, which is just really nice, for fresh air and to deal with the weather.
I'm sure there were other things I wanted to put on the list, but right now I can't remember them. But it kinda gives you an idea.
Currently listening to:
Song: Home
Artist: Daughtry
Album: Daughtry
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