Things you see everything in Spain

Valencia

• garden
• pastries
• bars
• cafes
• tapas
• cool structures
• bus

Day 3 19/11/07 - Spain

Valencia -> London

Highlight

• We checked out without any problems, unlike check in.
• Took the bus to the old town and walked around some more sights.
• Glorieta – park with lots of trees next to the Puerta de la Mer – big archway roundabout thing. Slokky took ages to take pictures.
• Went to Santo Domingo and finally found Palacio Cervello, but it was closed 
• Carmen – the hippy, graffitied part of town. It’s much less buzzy than I expected, with only a few old people, but they did have a secondary market outside, before winding our way to the central market again.
• We picked up spices, ham, bread, pastries and antipasto after a long deliberation, but we didn’t get any mushrooms or fruit.
• Tried to go to <>, the only reason for going to town, but it wasn’t even open, it must be very low season, so it was a waste.
• Did manage to find another horno patissier with very good pastries and olive tarts.
• caught the bus back for more photos of the Science Centre, then spent the rest of the time, until 7pm in fact, there.
• We spent most of our time looking at the display of the complete genes, as we had seen other displays recently. There were lots of interactive displays: Amazon, space, addictions, light, wind, sports. Our favourite was the sports section with heaps of activities.
• Just had time to get to the supermarket and food shop before heading to the airport.
• Our Bono metro ran out, must be because we spent more than 1 hour retrieving the laptop.
• Ate our food on the metro, straight to airport and on plane
• Slokky didn’t get lost once today!

Food

• chocolate croissant
• empanada with tomato
• mini pastry with fish paste
• mini pastry with chorizo
• jamon
• stuffed peppers with anchovies
• palmier
• olive and tuna tart
• baguette
• marinated artichokes
• lollies
• stuffed peppers with tomatoes
• dried muscat
• white anchovies
• orange juice

Day 2 18/11/07 - Spain

Valencia

Highlight

• Sunday of course means that all the shops were closed. We walked around the Arts & Science Centre, really grand and different and magnificent, there were lots of joggers about.
• Took 20 minutes to find the Museo de Fallas. Slokky didn’t even look and it was right next to where we were going, and he took us on a big walkaround.
• We got stuck behind 2 tour groups as a result. We tried to follow the English one around, but they were too slow.
• The puppets stuff was very cool, including a few movie themes. There was no English again. We’ll definitely try to go to a festival one year in March.
• Finally, some shops were opened, we went to a bread shop for some pastries and we were actually able to buy Bono Bus.
• Bullfighting Museum – actually some English (yeah!). Very inhumane to bulls but the costume were grand and the displays were good. Unfortunately we couldn’t go into the ring because there was an event going on.
• Got metro to the seaside, but couldn’t find the Royal Shipyard – finally asked someone and made it 10 mins before it was supposed to close. A modern arts and design exhibition, but all in Spanish.
• Had to find the Museum of Semana Sena (Easter), the other of the big festivals in Valencia. Asked more people again. We did stumble upon the rice museum, so went in, as they had a repaired rice machine. We watched them prepare production rice, but as usual, everything was in Spanish only.
• Finally got to the Easter Museum, again, all in Spanish, but it was fun to look at all the floats and displays.
• Finally got to go to the beach, which was very flat with beautiful sand, some waves, a wide boulevard and a whole row of restaurants and bars.
• We did a walk through before deciding, only to find out that All of them were full and won’t serve you. There were HEAPS of reserved tables for 2:30pm, but also a lot of people leaving. Still, we tried every single one and they all said no. I guess they have enough business and don’t want more. In the end we had to give up and eat chocolate for lunch instead.
• Went to Pio Turia park and played on equipment of a giant man, quite fun but the slide hurts.
• Walked around the City of Arts and Science again and got combo tix to museum and Imax. Walked around the outside of the Oceangraphic and to the greenhouse for more pictures.
• Saw Secrets of the Titanic, but the sound was stuffed. We had to sit up and not move, otherwise we couldn’t get English. We complained afterwards and managed to get a refund.
• Bought some xuju juice – very yum, from the cart outside.
• Had an early dinner (7:45) since we didn’t have lunch. We ate with all the people there having their pre-dinner drinks, at a chain in the shopping centre of the hotel. At least the guy spoke English and the food was decent.

Food

• beer
• orange and pineapple juice
• palmier
• mini croissant, mini brioche
• chocolate croissant
• chocolate
• xuju juice
• dinner at Canas y Tapas:
  • San Miguel
  • mixed cheese (Manchejan, Idizabal, Cubra) (6.46)
  • croquette combo (ham, cabrales)
  • grilled wild mushrooms with garlic oil sauce (4.49)
  • potato in hot sauce (3.48)
  • white anchovies in vinegar with natural tomato (3.75)
  • pan of broken eggs and potatoes chistorra and green pepper (5.30)

Day 1 17/11/07 - Spain

London -> Valencia

Highlight

• The bus ride to Stansted was very smooth. We timed it just right again.
• The flight wasn’t full, but it was very hot, as though they make you sweat so you will spend money on drinks.
• We decided against getting the Valencia card as everything seems to be free on Sundays.
• Slokky realised he left the laptop on the plane, 20 minutes into our Metro ride out of the airport, right after I asked if he left his scarf, since he did the same thing on the bus to Stansted. Of course he said yes but he didn’t think about his laptop.
• So had to go all the way back to try to get it. Luckily it was still there as all of our stuff since we left Oz were on it and we had no backup!
• After our big delay, we finally made it to our hotel, after stopping off to buy ham and bred on the way.
• The hotel was situated in Aqua, a new age shopping complex. That was cool in a way, but it took us ages to find the entrance to the hotel.
• We had to wait 20 minutes at the check in, and then we couldn’t even get a room.
• Got the bus to the city, but we couldn’t buy the Bono Bus (a 10 trip pass), so we had to pay the full fare.
• Central market – was very good, so much fresh food and spices, but it closed for the lunch break, so we had to be quick. Managed to pick up some pastries before we were kicked out.
• La Lonja – was closed. Impression? Squarish with some animals on the door.
• Church of Sasntos Juares – pink building, also closed.
• Plaza Redonda – was being renovated. If it was not being done up, it certainly would’ve been impressive, a square with a fountain in the middle.
• We weren’t having any luck. Santa Catalina was also closed.
• Had our lunch at the park opposite the cathedral, with beautiful flowers and yummy ham.
• The Cathedral was the only touristy thing that you have to pay for (and probably why it’s opened!), but it had the “holy grail”, so we had to see it. Included with the entrance fee was an audio guide, which used some very complex English words, so naturally I didn’t really understand what they were talking about.
• Climbed the gates of Torres de Serranos for very good views – and for the clear glass floor where Slokky screamed every time he had to walk over one.
• Watched people playing football from the bridge on the way to the Museum de Belle Artes.
• The museum had no English at all, so we couldn’t really appreciate what they had.
• Observed some more architecture at Plaza de la Virgin, Roman ruins and the palace.
• Couldn’t find Palacio Cervello, so went to Plaza de Patriarca (a uni), where they have a modern art display, very cool.
• Musee de Ceramicca is housed in this beautiful historic restored Palaccio de mardhesde Dos Aguas.
• Slokky made us run to the bull ring even though it was 7:55 and it closed at 8, needless to say, we didn’t make it.
• Watched people have beers, coffee and chocolate & churros before dinner.
• Walked everywhere to try to get a Bono Bus but we couldn’t find any at all.
• We wanted to eat at restaurant Aquilia, but we couldn’t find it (probably closed), so ended up walking back to the hotel, finding a semi-full restaurant and eating there. Luckily the food was good.
• Back to the shopping centre, (now 10pm), and found it was in full swing with people eating dinner. We got some churros and chocolate before retiring to our room.

Food

• Espresso breakfast:
  • croissant
  • baguette with bacon and sausage
  • cappuccino
• Spanish ham
• mini empanada with tomato and pesto
• milky bread
• jam filled pastries
• palmiers
• Ciencias multi-vitamin juice
• Exemari dinner(basque Cuisine):
  • chorizo in cider
  • Northern cockles stew
  • salt cod Basque style
  • orange juice
• churros and chocolate
• beer