La noche de San Juan

I missed the mercadillo altogether this morning, having resolved to stock up with fresh fruit and veg immediately before Clare arrives, but again there was wedding work to be done. Then, I walked into town to a wedding blessing preparation meeting for a Saturday service in the usual meeting place and there was more to do on return to Church house. I meant to go out again for an afternoon stroll, but it was rather hot. Later in the evening, I remembered that tonight is la noche de san Juan, the vigil of a major summer fiesta, with a big event down of Burriana beach. Would would have been content to go to bed, but curiosity got me out of the house and walking the mile or so down to the shore.

This night Nerjenos camp out (with official permission) on the beach,  light bonfires, cook barbecue meals and general have a good time, with a midnight immersive dip in the sea for the brave, to bring good fortune for the coming year, and an early rise to watch the dawn. There were hundreds of people camping out, a dozen small fires and even more barbecue stoves. On the promenade a huge bar and fast food stall had been set up, also a stage with live, happy party music. All the restuarants seemed to be full, and there were thousands of people of every nationality and of all ages, out having a festive night out, jigging around to the music, chatting, cuddling, being happy together. I didn't hear an angry word, or see any kind of social disorder, loutish behaviour or drunkeness. Individuals and families here seem capable of having a good time together without becoming a threat to each other. It's great.

There were few police around, keeping traffic in order, their preoccupation. The Guardia Civil had a squad of a dozen supervising the cordon around a huge bonfire mounted by an effigy, right on the sea shore. Just inside the safety fence fireworks were mounted on poles, and in ground batteries. I can't quite imagine a crowd in U.K. being allowed to get that close to the action, but when it came at midnight, the display was on a decent local community scale, rather than the pretentious industrial conspicuous consumption scale prevailing for public displays in urban settings - just right for the occasion.

The bonfire provided a grand blaze, lighting up the sea, so you could better glimpse excited teenagers and family groups dunking themelves and emerging triumpant to dry their hair in front of the fire. I was so taken with photography I was caught by a fast wave and got my feet wet and sandy. The cool was delicious, and made me laugh out loud. My Sony HX50 camera worked overtime, processing low light pictures, and after eighty or so, the battery was exhausted, so I headed for Church house and bed just after one. Sorting out the photos can wait for another day.