Ninots on the rise!

Here are some shots from last night’s walk.  The first one will give you an idea of the size of these “fallas”.  Note on my right some other pieces that will be incorporated into the structure.  The second photo is a closeup of a “ninot”, another piece of the same falla.  Cute, no?  The third photo shows various ninots/munecos as delivered to the intersection where they will be assembled, a few blocks from the first one.  The fourth is another ninot. It is shrink-wrapped, but looks a a bit like a lobster???

The fallas have never been assembled before and the pieces are built at different locations.  So the actual assembly of the falla is often fraught with unexpected difficulties, and is therefore closely watched by passersby.  All must be complete by a certain time on the 15th of March, opening day Fallas week.

The last photo is of the Mercado de Colon at almost sunset.  You can also see an example of the street lighting that is cropping up all over the city.  Each neighborhood is responsible for its own falla and street decorations.  Also going up are large tents where the neighborhood groups will have “block parties” for their members.  These may go on for five days.  Some will be open to the public, for a small fee – the members of these organizations pay dues all year so they can eat and drink at these events.  They can’t afford to feed all the tourists for free.

Note what people are wearing.  Spring has not yet arrived.