Valencia - Day 113

Date: December 9th, 2009
Distance: None
Country: Spain
Song of the Day: Touched - VAST

I got u early and grabbed some breakfast. I was hoping to meet up with the walking tour, but I got lost and missed it. So I just walked around the old part of the city for a bit. Then I went back to the hostel for a bit and was chatting with Alex. He wanted to see the city as well so we set off to walk around the old town to the main park.

Valencia really is one of the most beautiful cities I have been to. There is the old gothic town with its narrow streets and little shops.

Beyond that is a park that must have been an old river. It is sunk below street level and there are a series of bridges crossing it. Some old stone bridges with starlings. Others are steel arch bridges painted white. So cars cross above, leaving the old riverbed for other activities. You can run, bike, play tennis or soccer. Or if you are more inclined to relax you can just walk or sit and watch the fountains. For kids there is even a giant Gulliver play toy to climb and slide on.

Closer to the ocean, the park leads to the City of Arts and Sciences. This is a series of modernist buildings built to house museums, and aquarium and the opera house. All of it surrounded by little pools. Most of the planning work was done by local architect Santiago Calatrava. Definitely spectacular looking. I couldn't help but think how many cities in Europe were divided between classical and modern buildings, Valencia had mixed the two with amazing results. It really is quite strikingly beautiful.

From there Alex and I kept wandering down to the harbor and the shore. Along the way stopping for the America's Cup museum. It was interesting, but a fairly quick place. We did also see what looked like part of a race track. By looking for things, such as planting boxes or sidewalks, that could be moved we got a good sense for how the track would go. It seems to head right through the heart of the harbor. I don't know what the race was for though. Cars or motorcycles.

Valencia also has lots of nice sandy beaches. There is also a boardwalk with cafes and hotels lining it. During the summer they must just be packed with people. When we were there the beach was basically empty. No one was swimming. Only a few people actually were out strolling along the boardwalk.

Around dinner time, which is pretty late in Spain, Alex and I headed out to get some Paella. A dish apparently invented in Valencia. It was quite good, but fairly expensive. I would have preferred meat off the bones as well. I don't mind if I am eating just chicken, but in something, it just makes a much more pleasant experience to remove the meat from the bones. I hate having to pull the chicken out, remove the meat, throw the bones away, then go back to eating. Still, it was tasty and quite filling.

-Dravis