So the 2014 running of the tomatoes is over. And a big squish it was in many ways.
Having not organised more than our tickets to the event we drove the 45 minutes to the outer edge of the town. Left Valencia at 8:15am as opposed to the tour bus groups at 5:30 through to 8:30am. After all no prizes for being late.
From there we needed to hike to the other end to the ticket exchange. All good if the signage had of led us on the correct fork of the road... Whoops probably a 10 minute delay following the wrong sheep herd.
Anyway we got the tickets with an hour to spare. So we had time for a 10am beer. As you do when at festivals. At 10:30am I managed to convince the group we had to get inside the gated area where all the throwers were entering, and had been doing so for some time. Anyway we must of been like number 8000 of the 10000 as we didn't get to the point where we could see the ham drop. But still much fun to be had shouting 'water' to the balconies above who would dump laundry tubs of water on the crowd.
Then we here a bang and cheer down the street. The random tossing of a solitary 6 pack of tomatoes began. Someone must if snuck them in! Anyway we're all just a bit disappointed when finally a truck appears in the street. It seems their biggest issue issue pushing the crowd into the walls. Finally we get a smattering if tomatoes from the residents on the truck. Enough to get a taste for throwing. But barely a shard of tomato on the shirt.
By the 2nd and 3rd truck it was clear we weren't quite in the thick of it. But we did get to experience a mighty crush when after the 4th truck some people down the road wanted out. Whereas our herd wanted in. Eventually we did find more tomatoes. Many already thrown half stomped varieties. Actually I found them with my feet as I stepped off a kerb into a 10cm deep tomato soup. Ah, ther goes the shoes I thought. Alas my plans to destroy some sandals had changed the day before when the ticket indicated no flip flops or sandals.
Then there was another bang. All done. Tomatoes down! I said tomatoes down! Awe heck, if you can still find one throw it was the new rule. Time to turn back. Out of the mayhem to truly see the carnage. Red spilt everywhere.
I had lost the group in the crush and made my way back after a bit. Many had returned to the bar to find a small hose on a dancefloor. That wasn't gonna cut it. Need more hoses here!
On the 20 minute walk back to the car there were many residents making the most of their one day a year. And also the seldom few offering the hose down service. Back at the car I ditched the shirt and socks. Managed to scrub down the shoes enough to thrown into the bag (in a bag).
The afternoon was spent at the beach washing off the remaining tomatoes. And the shoes of course. Tomatina done.
