Fiestas and Paellas

cacophonous accompaniment of fireworks

Most people who haven't got a clue about Spanish will know these two words for sure, and Benidorm's got plenty of both at the moment.

The famous Fallas, most well-known in Valencia, where papier-mâché models of political or comedy figures are burned to a cacophonous accompaniment of fireworks, take place in Benidorm on 19th March. To get everyone warmed up, the celebrations started yesterday with a giant Paella making competition held in the Calle Gambo.

Also last weekend the firemen of Benidorm celebrated their patron saint's day, San Juan de Dios, with an open day for the public. The crowd were entertained by displays of the brigade's three sniffer dogs finding trapped people and running round obstacle courses. Meanwhile the human members of the force cut people from the wrecks of vehicles in a simulated accident, the type of which normally eliminates the cast of Emmerdale every couple of years. Oh, and did we mention, there was free Paella for everybody, too.

And finally, it's been the Fiesta of the Virgin of Suffrage this weekend. Thousands of people turned out to celebrate the 226th anniversary of the miraculous discovery of a wooden statue in a burnt out ship on the shores of Benidorm. In the main act of celebration thousands upon thousands of beautiful fresh flowers were given as an offering to the virgin and then, of course, there was the obligatory fireworks display.

13 March 2006 Stephen White.