Preparations for Las Paellas — Benicàssim
Where I was:
When I was:
Jan 16, 2016 — Evening
Personal notes:
Every year, Benicàssim hosts a Día de las Paellas. The streets are closed to traffic, tables are set up, and people gather from around the area to cook a paella in the street——a real Valencian paella, none of this arroz con cosas you get elsewhere——and to spend the day eating, talking, and enjoying time with family and friends. So the night before, those who have reserved a spot set fires to prepare the wood for cooking. The wind was up in 2016, and walking up and down the streets to see the fires felt surreal, with flames roaring upwards one moment and sparks flying across the road the next.