{"id":2446,"date":"2019-09-23T00:19:41","date_gmt":"2019-09-23T00:19:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com?p=2446"},"modified":"2024-07-02T05:42:56","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T05:42:56","slug":"la-tomatina-this-is-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/la-tomatina-this-is-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"La Tomatina &#8211; What You Need To Know To Get The Most Out Of This Bucket List Event"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">22.000 people from all over the world. 150.000 kilos of tomatoes.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The population increases with a few 100 % every year in the Spanish small town of Bu\u00f1ol during La Tomatina, the world&#8217;s biggest food fight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you thinking about checking this unique event off your bucket list?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I took the complete <a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/#:~:text=TIME%20TO%20CHOOSE%20YOUR%20PREMIUM%20EXPERIENCE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2-night experience<\/a>, and it&#8217;s one of the craziest things I&#8217;ve ever done. <strong>Here are all the details about why, the different options, and everything else you need to know to get the most out one of the world&#8217;s most flipped festivals.<\/strong><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">La Tomatina 2024 will take place on the 28th of August. You can already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/#:~:text=TIME%20TO%20CHOOSE%20YOUR%20PREMIUM%20EXPERIENCE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">buy your ticket,<\/a> it <\/span><\/i><b><i>always<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> sells out.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>All Kinds Of People Are Checking<br \/>Off La Tomatina From Their Bucket List<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People between 18 &#8211; 65 years old, from all over the world, representing <em>every profession and personality<\/em>, attend La Tomatina.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>A woman in her 60s is wearing tomato earrings and tells me how she&#8217;s had La Tomatina on her bucket list for years. &#8220;<em>I&#8217;m so happy to finally be here<\/em>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A couple is here to kick off their honeymoon celebration, and several groups of friends and solo travelers have made their way from Australia, the US, the UK, Asia, Latin America, and different parts of Spain, for La Tomatina.<\/p>\n<h3>There Are Experiences Organized By<br \/>Locals Who&#8217;ve Attended La Tomatina<br \/>More Times Than You Can Imagine<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;m attending La Tomatina with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Festivals All Around<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/tomatina-festival\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">, <\/a>a locally-run agency started by Pepe. Pepe grew up in Valencia, and has been to about 15+ Tomatinas. His dad used to come home from La Tomatina when he was a kid, all drained in tomatoes<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>&#8220;Even if I can&#8217;t tell you where, you will find pieces of tomato somewhere on your body a week from now.. It will be one of the craziest days of your life.&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"La Tomatina 2-Day Package - Festivals All Around\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rTLoG-BC5rA?feature=oembed\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pepe is<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also organizing the biggest official events surrounding La Tomatina (<em>more about those below<\/em>), such as the Official Tomatina After Party.<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3>You Can Experience La Tomatina In Combination With The Best Of Valencia<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/be-1.png\" width=\"1432\" height=\"770\" alt=\"be-1\" class=\"wp-image-11791 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/be-1.png 1432w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/be-1-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/be-1-1024x551.png 1024w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/be-1-768x413.png 768w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/be-1-610x328.png 610w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/be-1-1080x581.png 1080w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/be-1-1280x688.png 1280w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/be-1-980x527.png 980w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/be-1-480x258.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1432px) 100vw, 1432px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The full 2-Night La Tomatina Experience introduces you to some of Valencia&#8217;s highlights. It kicks off <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on the Malvarrosa beach in Valencia with free flow of Sangria. Pepe&#8217;s mom is cooking paella for everyone, other local friends and family members are helping out.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>You might also like: <a href=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/places-to-eat-valencia\/\">The Best Places To Eat In Valencia<\/a><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2489\" style=\"width: 518px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2489\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Tomatina_3_day_experience_paella1-508x500-1.jpg\" width=\"508\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Tomatina_3_day_experience_paella1-508x500\" class=\"wp-image-11792 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Tomatina_3_day_experience_paella1-508x500-1.jpg 508w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Tomatina_3_day_experience_paella1-508x500-1-300x295.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Tomatina_3_day_experience_paella1-508x500-1-480x472.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 508px) 100vw, 508px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2489\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a0<em>You will miss Paella, Valencia\u2019s most typical dish, when you leave.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<h3>There Is A Rooftop Pre-Party<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At night we head to the Official La Tomatina Pre Party at a rooftop club perfect for watching the sunset.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xkS1aY3VhPE?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><br \/><em>Beer Pong can get pretty emotional.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We&#8217;re about 50 people in total, everyone is chitchatting with everyone. People are happy, mingling, talking about tomorrow&#8217;s tomato fight.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>You Won&#8217;t Know What To<br \/>Expect, Which Is Kind Of Nice<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We start the day of La Tomatina with a 6am breakfast buffet, before taking off for Bu\u00f1ol. No one knows what to expect, and that makes it even better.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00041-476x476-1.jpg\" width=\"476\" height=\"476\" alt=\"IMG-20190830-WA00041-476x476\" class=\"wp-image-11793 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00041-476x476-1.jpg 476w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00041-476x476-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00041-476x476-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 476px) 100vw, 476px\" \/><br \/>We arrive just as the sun rises. As you can see, all set.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The usually sleepy little town is full of energy. The population has increased from 9.000 to more than 30. 000. Locals are hanging out from their windows, playing music, and throwing water on everyone using big hoses and buckets. People are selling traditional street food.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2495\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2495\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_0803251-750x500-1.jpg\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" alt=\"20190828_0803251-750x500\" class=\"wp-image-11794 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_0803251-750x500-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_0803251-750x500-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_0803251-750x500-1-610x407.jpg 610w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_0803251-750x500-1-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2495\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a0<em>So much is going on at the same time. The locals seem to have as fun as everyone who&#8217;s visiting.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<h3>The La Tomatina Free-Flow Sangria<br \/>Party Is Worth Coming Here For Alone<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By 8.am we&#8217;re having our first sangria at the official pre-party venue. <em>Yes, if you&#8217;re doing the 2-day experience there are 2 pre-parties<\/em>. The ambiance is great. Like a unique, <strong>giant<\/strong> Friday after-work, just much better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>People are walking around in all kinds of outfits.<\/p>\n<p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00061-1-768x576-1.jpg\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" alt=\"IMG-20190830-WA00061-1-768x576\" class=\"wp-image-11796 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00061-1-768x576-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00061-1-768x576-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00061-1-768x576-1-610x458.jpg 610w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00061-1-768x576-1-510x382.jpg 510w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00061-1-768x576-1-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><br \/>Mingling wearing a bull mask found on the local market is perfectly normal when you&#8217;re about to experience La Tomatina.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Some are dancing on stage, and you&#8217;re welcome to join.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/89f9g_ohgMg?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><br \/><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That&#8217;s Pepe dancing to the left From dancing, to DJ:ing, and helping out with the food. He&#8217;s everywhere. Like that <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/v1Ev4kebjq0?t=90\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">guitar guy from the 90ies movie &#8216;There&#8217;s something about Mary.&#8221;<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_0850161-768x432-1.jpg\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" alt=\"20190828_0850161-768x432\" class=\"wp-image-11797 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_0850161-768x432-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_0850161-768x432-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_0850161-768x432-1-610x343.jpg 610w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_0850161-768x432-1-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A group of Brazilians are wearing matching outfits, just as during <a href=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/celebrate-the-carnival-in-rio-this-is-what-you-need-to-know\/\">the Rio Carnival<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2500\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2500\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_1033281-1024x576-1.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"20190828_1033281-1024x576\" class=\"wp-image-11798 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_1033281-1024x576-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_1033281-1024x576-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_1033281-1024x576-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_1033281-1024x576-1-610x343.jpg 610w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_1033281-1024x576-1-980x551.jpg 980w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20190828_1033281-1024x576-1-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2500\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a0<em>Anything goes.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>The energy level is high, time flies. &#8220;<em>If this would end right here, I&#8217;d already be satisfied. This is amazing&#8221;<\/em> a guy from my group tells me, as we move towards the fight location.<\/p>\n<h3>There Is Pole With a Ham That<br \/>People Are Ready To Die For<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We find a spot next to the legendary pole (<em>more about the pole under FAQ below<\/em>). People are climbing it as if their life depended on it, with no mercy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Check out the video below and you will see what I mean.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/M5AwOpY4iUA?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><br \/><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before I saw this live I thought about giving it a shot. I agree with the woman who&#8217;s answering in Spanish when her friends tell her to climb up &#8211; Go up, what?! Oh no, no no&#8230; <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are people and music everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2502\" style=\"width: 508px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2502\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/La-Tomatina-696x14311-696x500-1.jpeg\" width=\"696\" height=\"500\" alt=\"La-Tomatina-696x14311-696x500\" class=\"wp-image-11799 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/La-Tomatina-696x14311-696x500-1.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/La-Tomatina-696x14311-696x500-1-300x216.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/La-Tomatina-696x14311-696x500-1-610x438.jpeg 610w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/La-Tomatina-696x14311-696x500-1-480x345.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2502\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a0<em>Some are running around with water pistols, and others take you down with buckets filled with ice cold water.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<h3>Letting Go Of Everything Is Amazing<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11.00 the start signal goes off and the tomato trucks start to roll in.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2504\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2504\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/3ad2f-wp2137792-la-tomatina-wallpapers1-1024x768-1.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" alt=\"3ad2f-wp2137792-la-tomatina-wallpapers1-1024x768\" class=\"wp-image-11800 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/3ad2f-wp2137792-la-tomatina-wallpapers1-1024x768-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/3ad2f-wp2137792-la-tomatina-wallpapers1-1024x768-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/3ad2f-wp2137792-la-tomatina-wallpapers1-1024x768-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/3ad2f-wp2137792-la-tomatina-wallpapers1-1024x768-1-610x458.jpg 610w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/3ad2f-wp2137792-la-tomatina-wallpapers1-1024x768-1-510x382.jpg 510w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/3ad2f-wp2137792-la-tomatina-wallpapers1-1024x768-1-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/3ad2f-wp2137792-la-tomatina-wallpapers1-1024x768-1-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2504\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a0<em>The objective is simple. Smash as many as possible within the next hour, until the last truck has passed. Photo: LA Times.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a few minutes there are tomatoes<strong><em> everywhere<\/em><\/strong>. You don&#8217;t know who you hit. You just hit. You&#8217;re on your own. It&#8217;s crazy and intense, like nothing I&#8217;ve ever experienced before.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I stop for a second to just look around, and it&#8217;s surreal. How we are all there throwing tomatoes on each other like kids. It&#8217;s something incredibly liberating about hitting someone with a tomato in the head. You will understand what I mean when you are doing it.<\/p>\n<p>It makes no sense at all &#8211; but it is soo much fun.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dxDvoizEHdw?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>La Tomatina in action. One of those things you have to experience to really understand.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3>The Shower After Tomatina Might<br \/>Be The Best One You&#8217;ve Ever Had<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the fight is over, locals are standing ready with hoses outside of their houses, helping everyone to get clean. There are also showers where you can get (the worst) tomato off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The buses take us back to the hostel. I&#8217;m having one of the best hot showers of my life.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>The La Tomatina After Party<br \/>Will Level Up Your Whole Experience<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After having seen everyone all covered in tomatoes, people look extra fly that night when it&#8217;s time for the official <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">La Tomatina After Party<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pepe introduced the official La Tomatina After Party a few years ago, and many say that it has increased the level of the whole Tomatina event.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cimACcQwYxo?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The venue is chic, with different areas for dancing, talking, eating, having a drink, or whatever you might feel like. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are pools, where even the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elitedaily.com\/p\/40-flamingo-pool-float-instagram-captions-for-pics-that-are-so-flocking-fabulous-18014918\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">famous Instagram flamingo<\/a> is floating around. If you don&#8217;t have your shot with it yet, this might the time<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Different DJs are mixing electro and house with some hip hop. Everyone is letting themselves go. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3>The Different Ways To<br \/>Experience La Tomatina<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00012-768x576-1.jpg\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" alt=\"IMG-20190830-WA00012-768x576\" class=\"wp-image-11801 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00012-768x576-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00012-768x576-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00012-768x576-1-610x458.jpg 610w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00012-768x576-1-510x382.jpg 510w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG-20190830-WA00012-768x576-1-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>You can make your own way to<br \/>Bu\u00f1ol and just attend the event<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will have a fun and crazy experience of about 1 hour, which then will be over. There are local events taking place in Bu\u00f1ol before and after the event. If you speak Spanish and are good at networking, you can probably find your way to a few of these.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>You can come here on a Day Package<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you&#8217;re traveling from Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona or somewhere else, you can buy a One-Day package and get everything organized for you. Including the Sangria Pre Party and the Official After Party. This is a good option if you&#8217;re short on time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>You can come here on a<br \/>complete 2-Night Experience<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Y<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ou come to Valencia the day before, and spend the night here once the main event is over. This gives you more time to connect with people and get excited. This is what I did, and what I recommend as the best way to get the most out of the event.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>La Tomatina is about much more than just throwing tomatoes. It&#8217;s about the people you meet, the conversations, the excitement. It&#8217;s about the good times, the surrounding events, which are as<em>\u00a0fun as Tomatina itself<\/em>, and the memories and new friends you&#8217;ll leave with.<\/p>\n<h3>Are You Ready To<br \/>Experience La Tomatina?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20.000+ people come to La Tomatina every year for a reason.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8216;s about letting yourself go, being present, being crazy, and forgetting about what&#8217;s &#8220;appropriate&#8221; or &#8220;right&#8221; for a while.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I loved the experience, and there is a big chance that you will, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/#:~:text=WHAT%20TOMATO%20ARE%20YOU%20%3F%20CHEERY%2C%20BOSS%2C%20OR%20SLEEPY%3F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check out the options and book your experience<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Use the<em> code \u201cgoingtotomatina10\u201d\u00a0 for a<strong> 10% discount &#8211; no matter which package you choose.<\/strong><\/em><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Common Questions <\/strong><strong>Answered About La Tomatina<\/strong><\/h4>\n<div id=\"attachment_2548\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2548\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/tomatina-750x500-1.jpg\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" alt=\"tomatina-750x500\" class=\"wp-image-11802 alignnone size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/tomatina-750x500-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/tomatina-750x500-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/tomatina-750x500-1-610x407.jpg 610w, https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/tomatina-750x500-1-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2548\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a0Photo: Travel And Leisure<\/p><\/div>\n<h4>How did La Tomatina start?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if there are different rumors, the most accredited story of how La Tomatina started is from the last Wednesday of August in 1945. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few youngsters in Bu\u00f1ol took part in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gigantes_y_cabezudos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giants and Big-Heads figures parade<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Somehow they managed to cause one participant&#8217;s big head to fall off, which resulted in a big fight. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People started to throw tomatoes from the nearby fruit and vegetable stall on the town square, until the local police ended the war.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next year, a group of young boys planned a new dispute and brought their own tomatoes. Their example was followed over the coming years, and so La Tomatina was born.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Who Should Experience La Tomatina?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tomatina attracts a more mixed crowd than you can imagine. From 18-65+, across nationalities, professions, and personalities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>How many tomatoes are being used at Tomatina?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approx. 150,000 kilos of tomatoes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Isn&#8217;t this food waste?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, these are tomatoes that don&#8217;t pass the control to be sold and can&#8217;t be eaten. They are rotten and would just be dumped (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">please don&#8217;t eat them<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>What do the locals in Bu\u00f1ol think about the event?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the event has changed from what it used to be, and it of course exist different opinions, locals still take part. Only 17,000 tickets go on sale, while 5000 are reserved for Bu\u00f1ol&#8217;s residents to get free access. La Tomatina also brings hundreds of thousands euros into the local economy. I felt very welcome. It&#8217;s always important to show respect, and remember that the line between fun and annoying can be fine with events of this size.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>What is the ham about?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a ham, and yes it&#8217;s hard to take it down (<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/M5AwOpY4iUA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">check out this video)<\/a>. The idea used to be that the event only should start when someone took the ham down.\u00a0 These days, the ham is just additional entertainment. The event always starts at 11.00, no matter how it goes with the ham. Even if it looks like you&#8217;d become a millionaire if you manage to take it down, based on the effort people put in, you &#8220;only&#8221; win the ham. <\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Should I wear glasses?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I think it&#8217;s worth wearing, but you will still get tomatoes in your eyes. Some people don&#8217;t think they matter. You can buy them for 5\u20ac before the event at the agency&#8217;s HQ. <\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Are there any rules at La Tomatina?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tomatoes should be crushed first, so that they don&#8217;t hurt that much. From experience, I can say that lots of people don&#8217;t follow this rule though, which brings us to the next question&#8230; (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">see <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/tomatina-festival\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tomatina Rules for more info).<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Does it hurt?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, it can hurt if people don&#8217;t crush the tomatoes. I was hit in the head so many times, from all angles. The adrenaline helps you manage. Don&#8217;t worry, you will be fine. \ud83d\ude09<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Any strategy needed?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just go all in and have fun. I was standing close by the ham pole, where there was a place with water where you can wash your eyes if needed. It&#8217;s very crowded everywhere though.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>How dirty will I get?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Very. Don&#8217;t wear clothes you care about.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>What about food and stuff?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can buy food on-site at the different venues. You will also have some free time in between the events on the last day where you can try restaurants close by the hostel.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>What to pack for the 2-Night La Tomatina Experience?<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Normal casual clothes for 3 days<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swimwear in case you feel like going to the beach<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clothes that you don&#8217;t care about for La Tomatina (including closed shoes)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Something nice for the After Party if you want (even if you can be casual here too)<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Waterproof protection for your phone in case you feel like taking pictures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more information and updates, see <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Festivals All Around&#8217;s Website<\/a> and social media (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FestivalsAllAround\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/festivalsallaround\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCq240HWABGD1eUpEOqm2sZw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Questions? Let me know in the comments!<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Going to La Tomatina? What you need to know &#8211; we cover it all in this post. 22.000 people from all over the world. 150.000 kilos of tomatoes.\u00a0The population increases with a few 100 % every year in the small Spanish town Bu\u00f1ol during La Tomatina, the world&#8217;s biggest food fight. <\/p>\n<p>Are you thinking about checking this unique event off your bucket list?<\/p>\n<p>I took the complete 2-day experience, and it&#8217;s one of the craziest things I&#8217;ve ever done. Here are all the details about why, and how you too can get the most out of one of the world&#8217;s most surreal and messiest festivals.\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15332,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">22.000 people from all over the world. 150.000 kilos of tomatoes.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The population increases with a few 100 % every year in the Spanish small town of Bu\u00f1ol during La Tomatina, the world's biggest food fight.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you thinking about checking this unique event off your bucket list?<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I took the complete <a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/tomatina-festival\/la-tomatina-deluxe-hostel-3-day\/\">2-night experience<\/a> this year, and it's one of the craziest things I've ever done. <strong>Here are all the details about why, the different options, and everything else you need to know to get the most out one of the world's most flipped festivals.<\/strong>\r\n<\/span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">La Tomatina 2020 will take place on the 26th of August. You can already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/tomatina-festival\/\">buy your ticket,<\/a> it <\/span><\/i><b><i>always<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> sells out.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\r\n<h3>All Kinds Of People Are Checking\r\nOff La Tomatina From Their Bucket List<\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People between 18 - 65 years old, from all over the world, representing <em>every profession and personality<\/em>, attend La Tomatina.<\/span>\r\n\r\nA woman in her 60s is wearing tomato earrings and tells me how she's had La Tomatina on her bucket list for years. \"<em>I'm so happy to finally be here<\/em>.\"\r\n\r\nA couple is here to kick off their honeymoon celebration, and several groups of friends and solo travelers have made their way from Australia, the US, the UK, Asia, Latin America, and different parts of Spain, for La Tomatina.\r\n<h3>There Are Experiences Organized By\r\nLocals Who've Attended La Tomatina\r\nMore Times Than You Can Imagine<\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I'm attending La Tomatina with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/tomatina-festival\/\">Festivals All Around, <\/a>a locally-run agency started by Pepe. Pepe grew up in Valencia, and has been to about 15+ Tomatinas. His dad used to come home from La Tomatina when he was a kid, all drained in tomatoes<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>\"Even if I can't tell you where, you will find pieces of tomato somewhere on your body a week from now.. It will be one of the craziest days of your life.\"<\/em><\/span>\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/youtu.be\/rTLoG-BC5rA[\/embed]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pepe is<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also organizing the biggest official events surrounding La Tomatina (<em>more about those below<\/em>), such as the Official Tomatina After Party.<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\r\n<h3>You Can Experience La Tomatina In Combination With The Best Of Valencia<\/h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2538 \" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/be-1-1024x551.png\" alt=\"Sangria on the beach before tomatina valencia\" width=\"599\" height=\"322\">\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The full 2-Night La Tomatina Experience introduces you to some of Valencia's highlights. It kicks off <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on the Malvarrosa beach in Valencia with free flow of Sangria. Pepe's mom is cooking paella for everyone, other local friends and family members are helping out.\r\n<\/span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2489\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"508\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2489\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Tomatina_3_day_experience_paella1.jpg\" alt=\" Tomatina 3-day experience paella beach\" width=\"508\" height=\"903\"> <em>You will miss Paella, Valencia\u2019s most typical dish, when you leave.\u00a0<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<h3>There Is A Rooftop Pre-Party<\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At night we head to the Official La Tomatina Pre Party at a rooftop club perfect for watching the sunset.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xkS1aY3VhPE?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe>\r\n<em>Beer Pong can get pretty emotional.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We're about 50 people in total, everyone is chitchatting with everyone. People are happy, mingling, talking about tomorrow's tomato fight.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>\r\n<h3>You Won't Know What To\r\nExpect, Which Is Kind Of Nice<\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We start the day of La Tomatina with a 6am breakfast buffet, before taking off for Bu\u00f1ol. No one knows what to expect, and that makes it even better.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2494 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/IMG-20190830-WA00041.jpg\" alt=\"La tomatina starting\" width=\"632\" height=\"843\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\r\nWe arrive just as the sun rises. As you can see, all set.<\/span><\/i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The usually sleepy little town is full of energy. The population has increased from 9.000 to more than 30. 000. Locals are hanging out from their windows, playing music, and throwing water on everyone using big hoses and buckets. People are selling traditional street food.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2495\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"640\"]<img class=\"size-large wp-image-2495\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/20190828_0803251-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Bunol tomatina street\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"> <em>So much is going on at the same time. The locals seem to have as fun as everyone who's visiting.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<h3>The La Tomatina Free-Flow Sangria\r\nParty Is Worth Coming Here For Alone<\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By 8.am we're having our first sangria at the official pre-party venue. <em>Yes, if you're doing the 2-day experience there are 2 pre-parties<\/em>. The ambiance is great. Like a unique, <strong>giant<\/strong> Friday after-work, just much better.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nPeople are walking around in all kinds of outfits.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2577 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/IMG-20190830-WA00061-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"la tomatina sangria party\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><em>\r\nMingling wearing a bull mask found on the local market is perfectly normal when you're about to experience La Tomatina.<\/em>\r\n\r\nSome are dancing on stage, and you're welcome to join.\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/89f9g_ohgMg?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That's Pepe dancing to the left From dancing, to DJ:ing, and helping out with the food. He's everywhere. Like that <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/v1Ev4kebjq0?t=90\">guitar guy from the 90ies movie 'There's something about Mary.\"<\/a><\/span><\/i>\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2499 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/20190828_0850161-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Tomatina Free-flow Sangria Party I\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\">\r\n\r\nA group of Brazilians are wearing matching outfits, just as during <a href=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/celebrate-the-carnival-in-rio-this-is-what-you-need-to-know\/\">the Rio Carnival<\/a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2500\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"640\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2500 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/20190828_1033281-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Tomatina Free-flow Sangria Party \" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"> <em>Anything goes.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe energy level is high, time flies. \"<em>If this would end right here, I'd already be satisfied. This is amazing\"<\/em> a guy from my group tells me, as we move towards the fight location.\r\n<h3>There Is Pole With a Ham That\r\nPeople Are Ready To Die For<\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We find a spot next to the legendary pole (<em>more about the pole under FAQ below<\/em>). People are climbing it as if their life depended on it, with no mercy.<\/span>\r\n\r\nCheck out the video below and you will see what I mean.\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/M5AwOpY4iUA?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before I saw this live I thought about giving it a shot. I agree with the woman who's answering in Spanish when her friends tell her to climb up - Go up, what?! Oh no, no no... <\/span><\/i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are people and music everywhere.<\/span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2502\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"498\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2502 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/La-Tomatina-696x14311-498x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"La tomatina bunol \" width=\"498\" height=\"1024\"> <em>Some are running around with water pistols, and others take you down with buckets filled with ice cold water.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<h3>Letting Go Of Everything Is Amazing<\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11.00 the start signal goes off and the tomato trucks start to roll in.<\/span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2504\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"640\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2504 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/3ad2f-wp2137792-la-tomatina-wallpapers1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"La tomatina truck\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"> <em>The objective is simple. Smash as many as possible within the next hour, until the last truck has passed. Photo: LA Times.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a few minutes there are tomatoes<strong><em> everywhere<\/em><\/strong>. You don't know who you hit. You just hit. You're on your own. It's crazy and intense, like nothing I've ever experienced before.<\/span>\r\n\r\nI stop for a second to just look around, and it's surreal. How we are all there throwing tomatoes on each other like kids. It's something incredibly liberating about hitting someone with a tomato in the head. You will understand what I mean when you are doing it.\r\n\r\nIt makes no sense at all - but it is soo much fun.\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dxDvoizEHdw?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\r\nLa Tomatina in action. One of those things you have to experience to really understand.<\/span><\/i>\r\n<h3>The Shower After Tomatina Might\r\nBe The Best One You've Ever Had<\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the fight is over, locals are standing ready with hoses outside of their houses, helping everyone to get clean. There are also showers where you can get (the worst) tomato off.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The buses take us back to the hostel. I'm having one of the best hot showers of my life.<\/span>\r\n<h3>The La Tomatina After Party\r\nWill Level Up Your Whole Experience<\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After having seen everyone all covered in tomatoes, people look extra fly that night when it's time for the official <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/latomatinaafterparty.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">La Tomatina After Party<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pepe introduced the official La Tomatina After Party a few years ago, and many say that it has increased the level of the whole Tomatina event.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cimACcQwYxo?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The venue is chic, with different areas for dancing, talking, eating, having a drink, or whatever you might feel like. <\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are pools, where even the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elitedaily.com\/p\/40-flamingo-pool-float-instagram-captions-for-pics-that-are-so-flocking-fabulous-18014918\">famous Instagram flamingo<\/a> is floating around. If you don't have your shot with it yet, this might the time<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Different DJs are mixing electro and house with some hip hop. Everyone is letting themselves go. <\/span>\r\n<h3>The Different Ways To\r\nExperience La Tomatina<\/h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2503 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/IMG-20190830-WA00012-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"La tomatina spain\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\">\r\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>You can make your own way to\r\nBu\u00f1ol and just attend the event<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will have a fun and crazy experience of about 1 hour, which then will be over. There are local events taking place in Bu\u00f1ol before and after the event. If you speak Spanish and are good at networking, you can probably find your way to a few of these.\r\n<\/span>\r\n<h4><strong>You can come here on a Day Package<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you're traveling from Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona or somewhere else, you can buy a One-Day package and get everything organized for you. Including the Sangria Pre Party and the Official After Party. This is a good option if you're short on time.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<h4><strong>You can come here on a\r\ncomplete 2-Night Experience<\/strong><\/h4>\r\nY<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ou come to Valencia the day before, and spend the night here once the main event is over. This gives you more time to connect with people and get excited. This is what I did, and what I recommend as the best way to get the most out of the event.<\/span>\r\n\r\nLa Tomatina is about much more than just throwing tomatoes. It's about the people you meet, the conversations, the excitement. It's about the good times, the surrounding events, which are as<em>\u00a0fun as Tomatina itself<\/em>, and the memories and new friends you'll leave with.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/tomatina-festival\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check out the package options and book your experience<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <em>The code \u201cgoingtotomatina10\u201d gives you a<strong> 10% discount - no matter which package you choose.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/span>\r\n<h3>Are You Ready To\r\nExperience La Tomatina?<\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20.000+ people come to La Tomatina every year for a reason.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">'s about letting yourself go, being present, being crazy, and forgetting about what's \"appropriate\" or \"right\" for a while.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I loved the experience, and there is a big chance that you will, too.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/tomatina-festival\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check out the options and book your experience<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Use the<em> code \u201cgoingtotomatina10\u201d\u00a0 for a<strong> 10% discount - no matter which package you choose.<\/strong><\/em>\r\n<\/span>\r\n<h4><strong>Common Questions <\/strong><strong>Answered About La Tomatina<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2548\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"640\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2548 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/tomatina-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"tomatina \" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"> Photo: Travel And Leisure[\/caption]\r\n<h4>How did La Tomatina start?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if there are different rumors, the most accredited story of how La Tomatina started is from the last Wednesday of August in 1945. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few youngsters in Bu\u00f1ol took part in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gigantes_y_cabezudos\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giants and Big-Heads figures parade<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Somehow they managed to cause one participant's big head to fall off, which resulted in a big fight. <\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People started to throw tomatoes from the nearby fruit and vegetable stall on the town square, until the local police ended the war.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next year, a group of young boys planned a new dispute and brought their own tomatoes. Their example was followed over the coming years, and so La Tomatina was born.<\/span>\r\n<h4>Who Should Experience La Tomatina?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tomatina attracts a more mixed crowd than you can imagine. From 18-65+, across nationalities, professions, and personalities.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<h4>How many tomatoes are being used at Tomatina?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approx. 150,000 kilos of tomatoes.<\/span>\r\n<h4>Isn't this food waste?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, these are tomatoes that don't pass the control to be sold and can't be eaten. They are rotten and would just be dumped (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">please don't eat them<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span>\r\n<h4>What do the locals in Bu\u00f1ol think about the event?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the event has changed from what it used to be, and it of course exist different opinions, locals still take part. Only 17,000 tickets go on sale, while 5000 are reserved for Bu\u00f1ol's residents to get free access. La Tomatina also brings hundreds of thousands euros into the local economy. I felt very welcome. It's always important to show respect, and remember that the line between fun and annoying can be fine with events of this size.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<h4>What is the ham about?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a ham, and yes it's hard to take it down (<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/M5AwOpY4iUA\">check out this video)<\/a>. The idea used to be that the event only should start when someone took the ham down.\u00a0 These days, the ham is just additional entertainment. The event always starts at 11.00, no matter how it goes with the ham. Even if it looks like you'd become a millionaire if you manage to take it down, based on the effort people put in, you \"only\" win the ham. <\/span>\r\n<h4>Should I wear glasses?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I think it's worth wearing, but you will still get tomatoes in your eyes. Some people don't think they matter. You can buy them for 5\u20ac before the event at the agency's HQ. <\/span>\r\n<h4>Are there any rules at La Tomatina?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tomatoes should be crushed first, so that they don't hurt that much. From experience, I can say that lots of people don't follow this rule though, which brings us to the next question... (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">see <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/tomatina-festival\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tomatina Rules for more info).<\/span><\/i><\/a>\r\n<h4>Does it hurt?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, it can hurt if people don't crush the tomatoes. I was hit in the head so many times, from all angles. The adrenaline helps you manage. Don't worry, you will be fine. ;)<\/span>\r\n<h4>Any strategy needed?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just go all in and have fun. I was standing close by the ham pole, where there was a place with water where you can wash your eyes if needed. It's very crowded everywhere though.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<h4>How dirty will I get?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Very. Don't wear clothes you care about.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<h4>What about food and stuff?<\/h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can buy food on-site at the different venues. You will also have some free time in between the events on the last day where you can try restaurants close by the hostel.<\/span>\r\n<h4>What to pack for the 2-Night La Tomatina Experience?<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Normal casual clothes for 3 days<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swimwear in case you feel like going to the beach<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\r\n<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clothes that you don't care about for La Tomatina (including closed shoes)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Something nice for the After Party if you want (even if you can be casual here too)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Waterproof protection for your phone in case you feel like taking pictures<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more information and updates, see <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.festivalsallaround.com\/\">Festivals All Around's Website<\/a> and social media (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FestivalsAllAround\/\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/festivalsallaround\/\">Instagram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCq240HWABGD1eUpEOqm2sZw\">YouTube<\/a>).\u00a0<\/span>","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[75,155,156,157,158,159,160,161,162],"class_list":["post-2446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-bucket-list-events","tag-bunol","tag-food-event","tag-food-fight","tag-la-tomatina","tag-spain","tag-tomato-festival","tag-unique-event","tag-valencia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2446"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17100,"href":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2446\/revisions\/17100"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samiraholma.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}