Los Concurs de Castells in Tarragona, Spain

Every other year in the Valencian city of Tarragona, Spain, people go out of their way to remind me why I’m afraid of heights and why their accomplishments are not going to cure that anytime soon.

The best I can call it is a bunch of color-coordinated families using teamwork to get along with each other close by building a tower of humans close to 100 feet in the air and then place a baby on top of their accomplishment. Because they can?

I’ve seen trapeze acts in Guatemala where the safety net looked about the size of my hammock and couldn’t watch. This takes it further, if not simply higher above the Earth or simply the chanting crowds egging and urging each team on biannually.

This madness dates back to the end of the 18^th century, beginning in the nearby city of Valls.

After 100 years of this nonsensical, yet wonderful human Jenga piece transformation, 80 feet was achieved (and involved one team member well into their 90s) and the rest is history and fun to watch.

How you get to the heights you shouldn’t is roughly up to you, but it does require your whole team wears the same bright colored clothing with your pants tied with a black sash called a faixa, which also provides critical support of the back as your family and friends climb toward the stars.

To explain further would be to take the fun away, it’s truly something to relish after you get over your immediate reaction to, “Are they taking a baby up that human tower?”