valencia

Fallas is coming!

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Fallas is coming!

The smell of smoke is in the air, there is a neverending cacophony of masclets and mobile discos and a gaggle of Valencian children, with no sense of danger whatsoever, are using you as firework target practice... Batten down the hatches - Fallas is upon us. Prepare yourselves for what will probably be the loudest, most fun-filled, drunken and sleep depriven week of your lives. That's right, between the 15th and 19th of March Valencia turns into party central in order to commemorate San José. So what are you likely to see/hear? - Fallas - Hundreds of wooden and papier-mâché sculptures … [Read more...]

El running: pasatiempo para idiotas

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El running: pasatiempo para idiotas

Odio el running. Odio el running y a la gente que lo practica. Son tantos los motivos que me extraña que la mayoría de la gente no piense como yo. En primer lugar: qué coño es eso del running. ¿Qué somos, gilipollas? Se dice correr. CORRER. C-O-R-R-E-R. Con lo rico que es el castellano y todos estos idiotas tienen que decirlo en inglés para sentirse importantes. No lo entiendo, y me enerva. Estoy convencido de que hay un porcentaje de lerdos que jamás saldría a correr si no pudiera llamarlo running. Y siguiendo con el idioma y la tontería, hay algo peor que running. Lo peor de todo es que … [Read more...]

Spotlight on: Ruzafa

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Spotlight on: Ruzafa

Ruzafa, a barrio located to the south of Valencia city centre, has, at least for the past 3 years, been a neighbourhood frequented by cool kids, hippies and self-proclaimed artists. Before becoming it's "up and coming" self, Ruzafa was previously a neighbourhood primarily inhabited by Latin American, Maghrebian and Chinese immigrants. Ruzafa's new identity is reflected in the amount of quirky bars, vintage shops and alternative nightclubs that now populate the streets. Because of it's arty-farty reputation, Ruzafa also boasts many examples of street art. One artist that springs to mind is … [Read more...]

Spotlight on: El Carmen & centre

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Spotlight on: El Carmen & centre

El centro, el casco antiguo, El Carme, Carmz, the historic centre… Valencia’s old town goes by many aliases - possibly one for every opportunity that it presents. Old Town Valencia is beautiful: from the iconic bull ring, stretching up to the Torres de Serranos, passing through various beautiful plazas and past picturesque churches. All that the eye meets is beautiful. Orange tree-lined streets lead you deeper and deeper into Barrio del Carmen, sunny terraces entice you in for a cold caña and discreet bars offer, arguably, the tastiest jamón you’ve ever had the pleasure of consuming. … [Read more...]

An Unconventional Saturday: Benimaclet bar crawl and horsemeat sarnies

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An Unconventional Saturday: Benimaclet bar crawl and horsemeat sarnies

I can’t decide which was the highlight of yesterday’s Benimaclet bar crawl: the superb bocadillo in El Chaval; or the little Chinese boy whipping his todger out and having a piss right in the middle of Molino III. And, damn, someone better teach that kid that a tiny scrunched up serviette is not going to clean up his warm little puddles of filth – it just smears it around, if anything. Alternatively we could just teach him not to piss on the floor. But who are we to decide how he lives his life… The bar crawl seems to be a typically British concept. Choose an area, choose your drinking … [Read more...]

Bous al carrer, Picassent 2013

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Bous al carrer, Picassent 2013

Bous al carrer in Picassent last year was probably one of the most bizarre experiences of my life. For two weeks of the year the normally sleepy village of Picassent transforms itself into party central; a hub of dancing, drinking, sweating and trotting... The pueblo, which lies 17km south of Valencia city and is surrounded by orange groves, welcomes hundreds of visitors, various peñas taurinas and, you guessed it, about a dozen bulls ready to freely roam around the town centre. Let's go back to last July when, of course, I had no idea what was about to happen. "Wear old clothes", they … [Read more...]

18/1/14: WAU Y LOS ARRRGHS!!! DEMOLISH EL LOCO

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18/1/14: WAU Y LOS ARRRGHS!!! DEMOLISH EL LOCO

Wau y Los Arrrghs!!! stormed through a raucous hour-long set last Saturday night, reducing the bursting-at-the-rafters El Loco gig space in Valencia to a sweaty, dancing beer-soaked mess. Firm favourites in the underground Valencia rock scene, WyLA!!! never fail to impress. I’ve been aware of this ever since I was dragged to a gig of theirs at Overbooking festival, set in an isolated building in the middle of the Albufera, in 2011. When it was clear that they were not going to make their 1am slot, the guiri in me nearly gave up and went home.  In retrospect I’m glad I stayed because a couple … [Read more...]