The finale of La Merce Festival

Sunday was the final day of the La Merce festival. Great things were planned for the grand finale. At midday there were human tower building activities in Plaza Sant Jaume and then some traditional Sardana dancing. This type of dancing is unique to this area. These were in the day time.

Human Towers

Sardana Dancing

At 8.30 pm there is the Carrafoc. It is a fire run. People (the runners - dressed as devils) run from one end of a busy street to the other end, holding sparklers (fireworks) above them. The crowds wait in the street until the fire runners come closer, then the crowds dash onto the pavement - to avoid being burnt. There is a series of other bangs and firework noises to accompany the sparks flying from the fire runners. There were hordes of people there to watch this traditional Catalan celebration. It was a major thing trying to get onto the metro afterwards, to get to the next location for the fireworks show to close the La Merce - as the number of people leaving for the same place at the same time was incredible. Like ants crawling everywhere!!

The devils that run with the sparklers

The crowds watch the fire runners

On arrival at Plaza Espanya the fireworks show had just begun. It was totally amazing. Colourful and bright. I saw some types of fireworks I had never seen before. Fireworks which generate a spray of light and then slowly start to descend downwards. Then all of a sudden they begin to ascend and once higher up they disintegrate! Awesome... The fireworks show was accompanied by music and the magical fountains spraying at full intensity. They even played an African song. I knew the song the minute they started playing it! Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba - when the fireworks were blasting up into the night sky.

Crowds at Plaza Espanya for the final fireworks show

Another amazing day with lots of activities to attend. From the afternoon volleyball right into the late evening. I enjoyed the company of my brother, Zaida, Guille, Tea and Ludis. We had a great Middle Eastern dinner again! Falafel.

Delicious Falafel