Good afternoon from Valencia! After spending several weeks here, I have begun to understand what solidarity looks like within this community. Solidarity can come in many different forms, however in Valencia, it seems that both cultural activities and public infrastructure are the two main forms that seem to bring the community together. The first example that came to mind that seems to promote a sense of togetherness is the Fallas Festival. While I am not going to be here in the time that it takes place (March 1-19), I have learned about it in class, and the concept itself is very interesting to me. It is a festival al that involves the whole community to create their own personal wax sculptures, ranging in all sizes and intricacies. Certain groups and individuals can take all year to construct them. However at the end of the festival, the sculptures are all burned in a town square, which serves as an act of both renewal and solidarity.
The second and most consistent form of solidarity. Have noticed in this community is the different forms of environmental and different transportation systems that exist around the city. Valencia has made an active decision to integrate natural beauty coupled with timeless design into the construction of their buildings, squares, and parks. This allows people to experience all sorts of different environments as they go about their day, which leads to an overall feeling of happiness, and solidarity. Valencia has also prioritized the successful integration of different transport systems throughout their city, such as cabs, scooters, bikes, trams, and ferries. These different options encourage being active in the community, and are all decently environmentally friendly, which leads to better overall health of Valencia’s, both physically and mentally.
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