Iberian Voyages 7 - Valencia

Tuesday April 9

So many photos. I tried hard only to select the most necessary but when there was so much to see and do and remember… This was 7:38 am on the way to breakfast.

Nice buffet decorations. A vase full of different beans and pasta. 

Each group was picked up by a bus. Valencia is more inland. First we came to this area of very modern buildings. Native Santiago Calatrava is a very famous architect and called by our local guide a genius. 

the City of Arts and Sciences. The complex include not only museum, but also a planetarium (L’ hemisfèric), which opened in 1998, an oceanographic (L’Oceanographic), which opened in 2002, and an opera house (Palau Reina Sofia) inaugurated in 2005. Now this complex has become not only one of the most impressive buildings, but also one of the main tourist attractions in Valencia. The city of arts and science not only impresses by the complexity of the buildings, but also feels like one has gone to the future.

Our guide confessed that he was one of many who had protested against these projects but now believes that it was good for the city. My photos don’t do it justice. 

The Turia River would bring sometimes floods to the area which was corrected by building a canal. Now the empty river bed is a seven mile long park. You can see the green line in this screen shot. It is really amazing with playgrounds for children and beautiful new and old bridges. 

Few remnants are left from the city wall. Here is one of only two gates. It’s were our walking tour starts. 

Our guide Andre was very good. Here he talked about the Borgia Family out of which a very good and a very corrupt pope came. 

Again this city too is very friendly to pedestrians. It is fun to walk through narrow streets which open to lovely plazas. So many gorgeous buildings to look at in lots of different styles. 

Our local guides are always very knowledgeable but they tell it a fun enjoyable way. 

We walked past this church called Sant Martin’s. Since this is the name of our church too I had to take this photo. Not impressed with the sculpture though. 

Then we came to the area with many local markets. Our local guide was very excitedly talking about them. He obviously loves them. 

In the beginning of the tour I had told him that I was a lacemaker and that Valencia lace is famous between lacemakers. Should we come by like something for me to see to please point it out. 

Well, we walked through this square but he didn’t have to point it out to me. While he talked to the group I looked at all four corners. 

Yes, three ladies demonstrating bobbinlace. It wasn’t Valencia lace but Torchon which is still nice to see. Unfortunately we could not talk because they didn’t speak English. I forgot to try German. Often I wish I knew more languages. But we all tried with our hands. 

And then I had to run after my group. What I could hear through the “whisper“ was starting to brake up. 

When we came to the major indoor market Joana gave us all a project. 

We all got a piece of paper and some Euros. James and I got the word ALMENDRAS. We were supposed to find and buy some in the market. There was something planned for the evening. 

I have always liked markets  and there was lots to see here and buy  

Don’t know whether the ostrich eggs were just decoration but I am sure the enormous goose eggs were for sale  

Outside the appointed time our “red” group assembled again and Joana collected everybody’s purchases  

A bit more walking to the bus  

Our bus took us into the country side  were we were getting a lesson about PAELLA and lunch. Paella started in the Valencia region. Farmers were/are growing rice here which is the main ingredient. Every family has their special recipe depending what was available for them. Joana had talked about chicken, rabbit and snails but this family does not include rabbit and snail.

Cooking paella takes a while  we “helped” by putting the rice in at the end which cooked exactly 18 minutes. So we had time and were taken on a tour around the fields  There irrigation was very interesting  

And what they were growing was interesting too  artichokes for example.

And these tiger nuts (which are actually tubers) are spoken about a lot because they make that milky drink from, which is supposed to be very healthy.

Somebody volunteered to turn the crank to clean/shake the harvested tiger nuts out of the dirt  

Then we went back to the house and had a tour of it. That young man was very pleasant and explained everything what there was to see in very good English.

An old photo of the cleaning machines at harvest time.

It was a very nice display including a large model of the irrigation set up  

It was a but difficult to go up and down on those uneven steps and for James not to knock his head but he did very well.

Outside we walked passed the ready paella.

We were told to sit down. Lunch can  begin. There was tapas kind of food on the table. Jamon (ham) seems to be everywhere, but also tomatoes and cheese etc.

And the sangria was excellent too.

We got plates with paella put in front of us  it was very nice  

For dessert, as expected, we got “horchata de chufa” (the drink from the tigernuts) and “fartons” to dip into it. It is actually very nice.

I can’t remember when we were back at the ship but 4 pm was “all aboard” and 4:30 pm M/V Clio left the dock.

James and I played a game in the lounge/bar, where at 6:45 the daily port talk is. 

Oh, and at 7 dinner starts. I was not hungry at all but the servers praised the lamb.

After dinner our 4 trip leaders (the 4 different groups) had prepared some fun. Every group had “shopped” for the same things in that market. Now the competition was checked. It was all in good fun and I can’t even remember which group won  

And then we were asked to taste all the different things we had bought. It was fun but I can’t say that I learned much Spanish though. 

Another great day. Time to get some sleep. Night night.