June 23: Verbenas de Sant Joan

Around the summer solstice, Barcelona celebrates midsummer with beach bonfire parties, similar to other places in Spain. This is known as the Verbenas de Sant Joan (Festival of St. John the Baptist) in Catalan. Around the same time, the cognate Juhannus would have been happening back in Finland. Our teachers organized a gathering for our class out on the beach so that we could immerse ourselves in the festivities.

9805

9805.jpg

On the Metro that evening, not too crowded at all. Where is everyone, don't they want to celebrate?

9807

9807.jpg

Oh, here they are!

9810

9810.jpg

A mysterious little rail scene.

9813

9813.jpg

A close view of the Torre Mare Nostrum, first glimpsed on my initial approach to the city.

9820

9820.jpg

Long strange shadows on the beach from a bright artificial light, the sea entirely merged with the darkness of the night sky.

9823

9823.jpg

Another captured flash.

9825

9825.jpg

It was pretty dark in most spots along the beach, with the onshore lights at a good distance.

9832

9832.jpg

The darkness was intermittently interrupted by fireworks. I like all the shapes of them here.

9841

9841.jpg

A lone sparkler in front of polychromatic waves.

9846

9846.jpg

Pulsar style.

9851

9851.jpg

Gee whiz!

9860

9860.jpg

A rather vegetal group of bursts, with stalks and tendrils.

9874

9874.jpg

We partook of coca de Sant Joan graciously brought along by our teachers.

9875

9875.jpg

Everyone having a nice time at a safe distance from the fire.

9884

9884.jpg

Augh! Wait! Stop! What are you doing!

9886

9886.jpg

You'll hurt yourself!!

9887

9887.jpg

Well that looks uncomfortable.

9896

9896.jpg

The enveloping fire glow.

0006

0006.jpg

I told you to stop sitting on the fire!!

0011

0011.jpg

These ones look like baby octopi swimming around. D'awwwww! Also, yet another captured flash.

0013

0013.jpg

Aww yeah it's like a particle supercollision!

0016

0016.jpg

These sparks got parabolized by an onshore breeze, maybe.

0030

0030.jpg

Finally we started home, the air thick with firework smoke.

0032

0032.jpg

It looks like a dust storm under the lights.

0042

0042.jpg

Making our way back along the shore walks.

0059

0059.jpg

Back at La Rambla, things were looking wet. I don't remember whether there were bits of rain or if the ground was just... wet.

0066

0066.jpg

There were plenty of fireworks being tossed around in the streets as well.

0068

0068.jpg

Sometimes their effect was a little too forceful. (Nah, I think this was just a coincidence. Maybe.)