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

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

9807

Oh, here they are!

9810

A mysterious little rail scene.

9813

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

9820

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

9823

Another captured flash.

9825

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

9832

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

9841

A lone sparkler in front of polychromatic waves.

9846

Pulsar style.

9851

Gee whiz!

9860

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

9874

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

9875

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

9884

Augh! Wait! Stop! What are you doing!

9886

You'll hurt yourself!!

9887

Well that looks uncomfortable.

9896

The enveloping fire glow.

0006

I told you to stop sitting on the fire!!

0011

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

0013

Aww yeah it's like a particle supercollision!

0016

These sparks got parabolized by an onshore breeze, maybe.

0030

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

0032

It looks like a dust storm under the lights.

0042

Making our way back along the shore walks.

0059

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

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

0068

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

Europe 2009

jbdowse.com

© 2023 Jonathan Dowse / jbdowse at gmail

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