Valencia

43 days since selling up. David Jones recording.

 

I am writing this sitting in our room in Cuenca in central Spain. It’s an old Spanish town perched on a cliff and is famous for the hanging houses of Cuenca. I am looking out through the Juliette balcony across a quiet road to a babbling stream.

 

But enough about Cuenca I will tell more about its joys in the next blog.  This is to catch you up on our last few weeks.  Firstly we had a wonderful time on our mad dash weekend to the UK.  Special thanks to Graeme for cutting our hair for the second time in four weeks!

 

We attended the “perfick” Kentish wedding and I think a fab time was had by all.  I thought I would just show a quick pic of the happy couple.  Congratulations and thanks to Nikki and Lee.

 

We returned safely to Valencia and stayed for five nights in a hotel near the city of arts and sciences.  The opera house and science museum are designed like a set from Logan’s Run: a fab 1970’s sci-fi movie. I certainly think it should be used for the set of the remake, will the director please take note!

 

The hotel was the medium Valencia, good and clean, a/c and we had a fridge and balcony.  Unfortunately the pool was not open, which was a bit of a disappointment.  We made full use of the balcony having several G & T’s and a couple of light suppers there: bread and cheese! It’s strange, but when you are travelling you forget about the words cholesterol and liver disease.

 

 

The other highlight for me whenever we are in Valencia is the famous musical fountains that perform to music Saturday and Sunday 12- 2 and 8-10pm. If you’re lucky, on Sunday lunch time you may be treated to some Disney tunes.

The fountains are in the Turia Gardens and Park set in the old river bed that runs through the city.  It’s a wonderful place for a stroll, jog or bike ride through the palms and Moorish water gardens.  Perfect to sit in on a hot sunny day.

 

I have a confession and those of you that know me well will not be surprised.  I found a Starbucks and have had several frappaccinos.  I know I am supposed to be soaking up the Spanish culture, but it’s my one weakness!

 

I tried a bit of Spanish culture only the other evening, before dinner we had Agua de Valencia, now one of my faves: orange juice, cava and some other spirit which we have yet to identify.

 

We also ventured out of the city and visited Sagunto, which has a partially reconstructed roman theatre and extensive ruins of a Moorish castle.  We enjoyed a fabulous Menu del Dia at a local venta in the medieval city. My Dad would be proud: lomo, huelvo y patatas or ham, egg and chips – Spanish style. It sounded exotic when I ordered it! But it did the trick along with a lovely flan for my postre. We had a wonderful day.

 

There are photos in the Valencia album. Hasta Luego!