This past Friday, Valencia celebrated one of its most important holidays — Nou d’Octubre, the Day of the Valencian Community. We drank plenty of coffee in the morning and put on comfortable sneakers… it was going to be a long, eventful day.
Things started at noon, with the lowering of the senyera (Valencia’s flag) in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The civil procession which followed was a little subdued, mostly notable for the appearance of the beleaguered Francisco Camps. Honestly, while the procession was going on, I saw a breaking news alert that Camps was set to announce the firing of Ricardo Costa, his second in command. I can only imagine what was going on in “Paco’s” head, while he was smiling and waving at the crowd.
After the procession and the 2pm mascletà, we took a lunch break, then went to the Plaza de la Virgen for an hour of folk dancing. One of the dancers looked wasted, and we had a lot of fun watching his partner grow increasingly agitated.
Immediately after the dancing ended, the entrance of Moors and Christians began. Besides one ridiculously enthusiastic participant in devil makeup, this parade left us unimpressed. Maybe Moors & Christians has been ruined, after our experience in Alcoy — nothing will ever compare to that!
We took a pass on the 2nd of the day’s mascletàs and went home to crash. How did you all experience the Nou d’Octubre?
Pictures of the events:
Nice Photos! Buen Fotos!
Oh, thanks a lot….now I’m going to have very evil nightmares after seeing that picture of The Goat Man…..yikes !!! Otherwise, excellent photo’s, great variety, unusual angles and lightening. Oh yea….so what is it with the Moors and their cigars ?
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