Bunol: La Tomatina, Fiesta like there is no Mañana

La Tomatina, THE WORLD'S LARGEST FOOD FIGHT.
- FIESTA LIKE THERE IS NO MAÑANA -

La Tomatina is without a doubt, the best traditional cultural festival I have experienced, to date. The vibe, the people, the sangria, the tomatoes, the fun!

​La Tomatina is without a doubt, one of the best traditional cultural festivals I have ever been to. The vibe, the people, the sangria, the tomatoes, the fun!
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Every year, on the last Wednesday of August, roughly 30,000 people descend on the tiny town of Buñol, Spain, (approximately 40 minutes drive from Valencia) for one epic hour of pure every person for themselves, tomato fight madness.

​Houses are covered in plastic tarpaulins, locals fill the balconies above and the town below becomes alive whilst the crowd awaits the 40 tonnes of tomatoes to make their way down Calle Cid and into Plaza Del Pueblo.

2012 was an open entry free-for-all. There was no entrance fee, the crowd swelled past 40,000, it was a 37-degree day and there weren't any checks to reduce the amount of glass or alcohol taken in to the festival. 

This resulted in a couple of small crowd surges, people overheating, some excessive drunken behavior and broken glass on the ground. I was in a prime position for the tomato fight, however, I moved into the nearby square because a) being blasted at close range by the water cannons was beginning to cane my body, b) I was close to a guy that was a little too 'angry' drunk for my liking, and c) there was a smashed bottle on the ground. I was worried my hands or feet could have been severely injured during the tomato fight because of someones negligence.
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Spanish guys I met in the crowd in 2012.

Watching truck 1 drive past after finding respite in the square in 2012.

In Bunol before the 2013 event with Barry and Kel.

Hoses drenching festival goers before the event in 2013 - This would be handy after the event.

In 2013 due to safety concerns and crowd capacity, the festival was regulated. For the first time ever, attendees had to purchase a ticket to gain entry to La Tomatina (€10 EUR - $15 AUD), a glass check-point and entry point were established, and the crowd was limited to 20,000 people.

As a result, it ended up being a much better day overall. The only downside being that the weather was chilly and it rained a smidge. After being soaked by buckets of cold water and hoses, this became almost unbearable, The second the trucks began to drive down the street and the carnage began, the cold instantly disappeared as the adrenaline took over and I began running around like mad, repeatedly taking aim and firing.

Both years, I booked La Tomatina tours with PP Travel.
The day begins early with a 7 am meeting time outside the hotel in Valencia. After boarding the coach we then travelled to the festival.

In Bunol, the coach drop off and pick up area for all tour companies is roughly a 30-minute walk from the location of the festival. Disembarking the bus in Bunol around 8 am, you join thousands of people walking towards Old Town.

Once in the center of Bunol, everyone packs into the narrow street of Calle cid and at 10 am the extra adventurous begin to take turns at attempting to climb the Palo Jabón (a slippery, long wooden pole slathered in lard with a ham placed at the top) whilst the crowd cheers, sings, chants, dances and gets showered in water from hoses and buckets.

Once the ham is knocked down, the first signal for the battle rings. Water cannons are fired and the smell of tomatoes fills the air as the trucks approach and begin to head down the crowded street. This generally happens just before 11 am.

If the crowd fails and the ham remains, the signal and water cannons will fire at 11 am and the tomato battle begins regardless.

Throwing faster than you can think, everybody becomes a target. Generally the tomatoes are crushed (or given a courtesy crush by the thrower) and will not cause injury, however on the odd throw, especially when you travel with my friend Barry, you are bound to be hit in the head at close range with a solid tomato.

At the end of the hour, not only does your body hurt from the repeated action of throwing, but your face also hurts from laughing and smiling so much.

A street party begins in Bunol straight after the event including music, alcohol and street food.
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​La Tomatina was the first item on my bucket list and I am so lucky to have been able to experience the celebration of this festival on more than one occasion. I highly recommend heading to Spain for this event.

2013 PHOTOS

* The photos aren't the best quality. I only had a cheap water-poof camera on me, this was the 2nd La Tomatina it had survived, however, the lens kept fogging up or getting covered in tomatoes.

The crowd walking towards Calle Cid and the centre of Old Town.

Approaching Calle Cid.

The Palo Jabón (Ham Pole).

Members from the crowd attempt to climb the Palo Jabón to grab the ham and signal the start of the festival. They failed in 2013.

The crowd cheering as the signal sounded, beginning the start of the festival.

The first tomato truck driving down Calle Cid.

The 3rd and 4th tomato trucks driving down Calle Cid.

During the battle.

Covered in tomatoes.

Covered in tomatoes after the completion horn sounds.

Barry, stomping around in the tomatoes.

After the tomato fight.

Splish Splash - of course my camera lens is dirty at the opportunity to have a photo of myself that isn't a selfie.

After the festival. The crowds heading back to the main road.

The street party after the event

Before.

After.

LA TOMATINA DO'S

• As you walk into town try and position yourself near the Palo Jabón (ham pole) for the best position. The further away you are from this pole, the further away you will be from the centre of the action.

• If you position yourself before the flagpole in Plaza Del Pueblo there is a little square off to the right, this is a good little spot to escape to if need be. There will still be masses of people there as it is quite close to the Palo Jabón, but the food fight won't be as intense. I stood here at one point and my fiercest competitor was a 4-year-old, (however, he had quite a mean throw).
  
  
• I recommend wearing goggles. It can get a bit messy trying to clear them once the food fight starts and they will fog up, however, it's better than having tomato juice in your eyes. If they end up getting annoying you can always wear them around your neck or wrist.
  
  

• Take a zip-lock plastic bag for your phone/ camera/ money. Absolutely nothing will stay dry. Even if you choose to shy away from the food fight you are bound to be covered in water or sangria.
  
  

• Seek some form of shower after the event. You will not be allowed back onto any of the coaches or onto the train if you’re still covered in tomatoes. They are very strict about this. Make sure you take advantage of the many locals standing outside their properties with hoses or head down to the river (which you should notice on your right hand side when walking to the festival).

​​LA TOMATINA DONT'S

• Don't stress out if you forget anything. There is plenty of street vendors as you walk into the town selling anything you could possibly need. Street food, alcohol, waterproof cameras, sunglasses, flip-flops, clothing... you name it.

• Don't expect to be able to keep anything you wear that day (even if its tiny) especially if you're continuing on with your travels. In 2012 I stashed away the headband I chose to wear and as a result every single time I opened my suitcase for the next month I could smell tomatoes, even after I’d thrown the headband out.
  
  
• If you don't want to become a popular target after the event has finished, don't wear neon coloured shorts. I made this mistake. After the siren rings to signal the end of the event and everyone begins to head away from the main street, all of a sudden I became a target for many.​

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2012 PHOTOS

Houses built right alongside Bunol Castle (Castle of Buñol).

Walking towards Calle Cid before the festival.

People pack into Calle Cid before and attempt the Palo Jabón (Ham Pole).

Spanish guys I met in the La Tomatina crowd.

A truck drives Calle Cid and people disperse tomatoes to the awaiting crowd.

Festival goers exiting the square on a shower search.

Packed lane ways as people leave the center of old town.

Looking up at Bunol Castle (Castle of Buñol).

RULES OF THE FESTIVAL

Rules cited from Wikipedia: La Tomatina
The city council follows a short list of instructions for the safety of the participants and the festival: 

1. The tomatoes have to be squashed before throwing to avoid injuries.
2. No other projectiles except tomatoes are allowed.
3. Participants have to give way to the trucks/ lorries.
4. The festival doesn't allow ripping off T-shirts.
5. After the second shot indicative of ending the tomato hurl, no tomatoes should be thrown. 

TOUR OPERATORS

The following is a small selection of tour providers operating tours to the festival:

​If you decide to head in by car or train, you can find travel and ticket information at latomatina.info

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