After arriving in Valencia quite last, we had quite a mission to find a petrol station and get the car back. But eventually we sorted that out and found our way to our hotel. A quick change into our Tomatina outfits and a cab ride into the city - we met up with the others again, as well as Guilz who had flown in a bit earlier, at the Fox Congo in town. We started with a few drinks there, and after it closed at 3am, we took a couple of cabs over to Bunol, 45 minutes away, to where the craziness of La Tomatina happens. With it being sometime between 4 and 5 in the morning, there weren't many pubs open, but certain shops/stalls were willing to sell full bottles, instead of single drinks. So that was us sorted for the next few hours.
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After finding the ends of the all night party on the sports fields, everyone slowly made their way into the main street, which were now been lined with plastic on either sides, in a hope to slightly protect the white walls. Slowly the masses built up, and just after midday, the madness began. The festival officially begins once someone has climbed the greased-up wooden pole to where the coveted ham is positioned at the top. Soon after that, the trucks full of tomatoes started making their way through the town. One after each other, for what felt like hours. Unloading thousands and thousands of tomatoes everywhere. Looking up, the sky turned into a cross fire of tomatoes between the tall buildings on either side of the road.
The actual fight lasts for one hour. One long hour of complete and disgusting madness. But the most fun you'll ever have :) Every man to themselves. No matter which way you look - there's a tomato coming for you. Or someone looking like they need to have a tomato thrown at them. Or someone pushing you over into a knee deep pool of mushy tomatoes. Good times! After the hour, the water cannons are fired to signal the end of the fight, at which point no more tomatoes are to be thrown.
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Once we had cleaned ourselves up in the river, we eventually managed to get onto the train (queued for about 2 hours), and headed back to Valencia for a good shower, nap and dinner that night. The next morning, the plan was to drive across to San Sebastian - but a combination of a few more of us and late booking - it worked out cheaper and more practical to catch the bus, which only left that night. So we spent the day in Valencia, sightseeing, on the beach, around the time, having a few drinks and enjoying the sun. We left Valencia around 11 that night, with time of arrival in San Sebastian around 6 the next morning.