The Valencians are telling us it is very cold today…record…coldest day of the year. 10 degrees. Stay inside. Not a chance – we have many things we want to see. We bundled up in layers and to be honest it was like a lovely spring day for us. We headed out. We didn’t get enough of the Central Market the day we arrived so we walked there for coffee and pastries and to have a better look around. We bought more fruit and some crusty little sandwiches and took them home for breakfast.
On the recommendation of a waiter that we were chatting with, we hired his friend, Natalia to guide us to some places we wanted to see and hadn’t been yet. Natalia owns a Tuk-tuk and so we jumped in with her and for a few hours she took us to places in the city she thought were special. Best idea ever!! We so enjoyed it and her. We started at the Nord train station in old town and then saw the towers and the old walls of the city. She took us to some monumental buildings – the first mental hospital in the world was built in Valencia in 1410. The Hospital of the Innocents. We saw the cathedral and so many famous beautiful buildings.
Next she took us to the port. The entire time she told us of the history and the battles and the civil wars. Why the port was 6 kilometres from the city so they could be protected from attacks from sea. That the marks on the towers were made from cannonballs from Napoleons army. We will look for Natalia’s in every city. They make the city come alive. After stopping at the port and the beach she took us to an area where middle class or labourers would live. A poorer area of the city with little individual houses. It started as a fishing village.
Lastly she took us to the City of Arts and Sciences. This is a spectacular modern space designed for leisure and culture. The architecture is unbelievable. There is a hemispheric Imax theatre and a planetarium, a science museum, gardens… I could go on and on. We said goodbye to Natalia and we walked …8 kilometres to be exact, in awe. We ended our time there by touring the museum with the display of the Falles sculptures. Starting in 1934, one large and one small of the Falles statues built by the neighborhoods of Valencia were preserved and not burned in the celebration and each year since – two have been saved. This museum displays these preserved statues. They were so beautiful I took dozens of pictures. It’s hard to believe that each neighborhood builds one of these and then they burn these works of art as part of the celebration.
We were beat and hungry but really not cold in spite of everyone in the city talking about the freezing temperatures. We stopped for hot chocolate and churros. Soo good. The hot chocolate here is so thick it is more like melted chocolate bars. Perfect to dip churros in. Closer to home we stopped in a neighbourhood bar for sangria and the best French fries I have ever eaten!! Now home to pack and sleep. Oranges for supper again! Tomorrow Madrid and Sevilla!
We are having trouble saying good-bye to this city. We could stay for days and days more so we decided to go for one last walk before bed…..cold or not. The Plaça del la Reina is only about 4 blocks away. It is the square where the Valencia Cathedral is and one of the most famous horchaterias. Horchata is a Valencian drink made out of tiger nuts. It is sweet and milky. I love it, Jim not so much. You dip a long narrow pastry in it. Home again. A few more pictures. Time for packing and bed!
Well that decides that. Now I need to go to Valencia🤣. I’m loving the stories, the details, the adventure. Thanks for sharing💗
I was just thinking the exact same thing!!
Patti I was behind on your story. I have just take the time to enjoy the read. Please continue to share your adventures with us. Stay safe, miss you both.