HOW TO TAKE PART


WATCHING THE ROCKET GOING OFF

If you want to see the spectacle then the best place would be from any one of the many balconies of private houses which surround the square. But of course that means getting an invite from of the owners. Not very likely nor is it possible to rent a balcony. The square is so crammed that it might be better just to go along to one of the surrounding streets where you can feel the atmosphere of the whole thing. Or you can just do the same as many of the locals do, and watch it from the T.V. in some bar or other.

INSIDE THE SQUARE

If you want to get right in there among the packed crowd it means getting there an hour before and pushing your way in among the packed crowd. To experience the whole spectacle in this way is unique of course, but remember that you won't be able to move a muscle in the tight space. It will also very likely be teeming hot even if the heat is only coming from the milling crowd of sweating drinking singing bodies crammed together. Some young people make a very disgusting mixings: quetchup, cacao, mustard, flour,saving foam, etc. The whole thing can be so suffocating that people from the balconies often pour buckets of water over the crammed crowd to give them some relief. There can sometimes be waves of bodies pushed forward and some people can fall to the ground among the avalance of people. When it's all over the departing crowd often look like they have just come out of an old washing machine what with all the water, champagne and sweating.

There are always some first-aid posts to attend to those who have fainted or bruised themselves, though it has never gotten more serious than something like that.

SOME GOOD ADVICE

• If you fancy experiencing the excitement of the whole thing, remember that:

• It's no place for kids - they could get stepped on and at their height there is not much air moving round.

• It's no place for wearing sandals or light shoes - you're going to get stepped on and also many people drop their empty champagne bottles on the ground when they have finished them, so broken glass is to be found all over the square.

• Don't wear any clothes that you value - and this is good advice for the whole of the Fiesta.

• Don't take your camera or any valuables with you. Taking decent photos will be impossible with all the liquid spraying round. And if you drop anything like your wallet or whatever it could be difficult to look for it among the packed crowd.

By the way, there is usually some kind of "alternative" gathering to celebrate the "chupinazo" held in some other part of town (at the same sacred hour of course) You know how it is - some group or other who's cheesed off with the Mayor and his party for some understandable reason or other. Maybe not a bad idea to join them.