Buñol, Spain (Covered in Tomato)
My Plan for La Tomatina, and What Happened
Every August, Buñol throws over a hundred tonnes of tomatoes at itself. I went with a plan.
La Tomatina happens on the last Wednesday of August in Buñol, Spain. This year, around twenty thousand people threw more than a hundred tonnes of overripe tomatoes at each other for about an hour. I went with a plan.
The Plan
- Arrive in a white suit. Show confidence.
- Bring an umbrella. Stay dry.
- Call a timeout. Everyone stops. I win.
What Happened
- The suit lasted four seconds. It’s now a red suit. Honestly, an improvement.
- The umbrella went in one throw. I’m told it’s still somewhere in the square, making soup.
- I called a timeout. A tomato answered.
The Verdict
Twenty thousand people, one hour, and not one of them followed my plan. That has never happened to me before. I loved it. I’ve booked next year already. I’ll be the one in the tomato-colored suit, so they can’t see me coming. I’m still finding tomato in my pockets, my shoes and, somehow, my wallet. Very expensive tomato.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do they waste good tomatoes?
They use overripe ones, past their best. Like most of my critics.
Would you go again?
Yes. With a bigger umbrella and a smaller suit.