One of the defining features of Las Fallas are the ninots– dolls– constructed by different neighborhoods and groups.  They’re currently on display in an exhibition, but they will be installed in the streets soon. Two will be chosen to be saved, and all the rest will be burned (in the streets) at the conclusion of the festival.

Since we’d been to the museum to see the previously saved ones, we thought we ought to go to the exhibition and see this year’s offerings. Bottom line–I find most of them creepy in a Disney meets horror movie clown kinda way, and I don’t understand most of the messaging. But for the record, a few photos.

One theme is especially popular this year:

R here. I particularly like this one of a crazed tourist bursting out of a social media post:

Oh, and we got soaked walking home, but the rain made the streets shine with the Fallas lights.

This, btw, is the opera house – in the form of a space aged Conquistador’s hat – that forms the centerpiece of the vast Cuitat des Artes y Ciencias complex, by controversial rock star architect Santiago Calatrava. Looks amazing; 3x over budget; everything leaks.