The Hogueras Fiesta in Torrevieja

Last night was pretty random. I started off as a guest at my friends gym and a participant in a fun, yet slightly punishing yoga class. It was good to have a proper stretch and learn some new poses though, even if I am having some strange pains in my gluteus maximus today.
I was then invited to a Spanish families pre-fiesta dinner. I turned up bottle in hand and was immediately met by a dozen smiley faces and a table full of food to die for - yum. By this time it was 22.30. I quickly found that it was easier to converse with the families 5-year old than anyone else, as I explained in my broken Spanish, my basic language skills make me a kind of baby myself :)
Soon we were rushing out of the door and taking a short walk to the beach around the corner from Los Locos in Torrevieja. Crowds were gathering and as we met them a single rocket was fired in to the sky and BANG! An opening explosion that nearly burst my ear drums.
Firework displays in Spain are an awesome event, you can be near or far away and they are always simply spectacular. This display was to celebrate Los Hogueras, a fiesta for the start of the summer. The display was coordinated to run alongside music, blaring from speakers placed in the streets. There were literally thousands of people in the streets, on the beaches, standing on chairs - everyone smiling while looking skywards.
The display lasted about 20 minutes, it was full of texture; colours, noises and shapes. Once over we walked along the promenade, sucking up the atmosphere and watching as all manner of events unfolded. Mature ladies danced the flamenca in groups on the sand, the men clapping and singing. Teens set (small and controlled) fires and played in the water. Couple kissed and hugged. Children played innocently, running between family members and friends.
School is out for students and they were there in their hundreds, celebrating and drinking sensibly, playing, laughing, dancing. The culture is so different from that in the UK. No-one was smashing anything up or fighting, or becoming drunk and disorderly - like they do in my hometown in the UK.
We decided to go home around 01.00, although I made a mental note that next year, I would be joining the party with a few beers.
There was just one thing that really annoyed me at the fiesta.... I forgot my camera and was absolutely gutted.