The weather was cooler than Malta. We needed our fall coats and sweaters most days and I wished I had a hat and mitten most nights. I'm not sure that is a fair description as I think our internal thermometers are officially Mediterranean and neither M nor I can stand being the least bit cold now (M admits that we are just wimps). The average day temp was around 18-20 deg C and at night it hovered around 6-12 deg C. Brr! It was a relief to step off the plane onto our warm and windy island, we immediately peeled those coats off. However, if you think we are pathetic, the Valencians were dressed in their wool coats and parkas, hats, boots, gloves, and scarves during the middle of the day when it was the warmest. Even we thought that was a bit overboard.
Valencia is known for its oranges, paella (they grow a lot of arroz [rice] there), ham, sea food, and like all respectable Spanish cities, its sangria.
Typical Spanish ham (serrano) shop |
Enjoying some sangria... |
... and paella! |
Yum! |
The CAC Opera House (back) & Hemisferic (front) surrounded by shallow pools that cover the whole complex |
In the Turia you can find three things that seem to sum up Valencia - oranges, cyclists and dogs. Orange trees grow abundantly in Valencia and seem to be in every park and square. I will never get tired of seeing citrus grow everywhere all year round in the Mediterranean (you find this in Malta too). Valencia also appears to be a big biking city. You can rent bicycles from private vendors or from the municipal bike service which offers bike rental stations around the city. And cyclists are everywhere. The sidewalks have separate biking lanes and the Turia was teeming with seniors, toddlers, and businessmen on bikes. The park was also teeming with dogs. Valencia is a dog lover's paradise. We have never seen so many dogs in a city before. There must be something in the water because all Valencian dogs are polite, friendly, and very well trained. On Saturday night dogs sat under everyone's chair at outdoor restaurants and bars. People walked dogs (off leash!) throughout the city all day. In cafes dogs sat in the doorway (again, no leash!) while their owners bought pastries. It was very cool and made us reluctant to return to the cat culture that is Malta.
These old men sailed remote control sailboats in the fountains at Turia Gardens |
The Rose Garden in the Turia Gardens and (behind) the world's coolest off leash park and pond. |
Turia Gardens |
The obligatory playground visit in the Turia Gardens (we do this in every city) |
The CAC was opened in 1998 and certainly represents the most shockingly modern architecture of Valencia. It is a beautiful 2 km complex comprised of a Science Centre (El Museu de les Ciències PrÃncipe Felipe), Opera House (Palau des Artes Reina Sofia), IMAX dome/Planetarium (Hemisferic), an Aquarium (Oceanographic), and a park/sculpture exhibition space built on top of a parking complex (Umbracle).
Pools by the Opera House |
M in front of the Opera House |
Me in front of the Hemisferic, with the Science Center complex in the background |
M in the Hemisferic |
The walls in the Hemisferic could be completely opened by a set of hydraulics, M thought it was very interesting. |
The Agora, a multi function sports/entertainment complex that forms part of the CAC |
Top of the Umbracle Park & Exhibition space, CAC, |
M in a part of the Umbracle. The exterior of all of the buildings in the CAC are covered in this mosaic tile. |
M in the Umbracle |
Science Center |
Live long and prosper. |
On the set! "Make it so" |
M was taking on fire from a Klingon Bird of Prey |
M in the chromosome forest at the Science Center |
M at the Aquarium |
The best sangria we found in Valencia |
The main building of the aquarium, underneath the entire complex are giant fish tanks with walrus', whales, penguins, etc. |
Then we saw the Valencian Cathedral and Bell Tower at Plaza de la Reina. The Cathedral was a curious mixture of predominantly Gothic architecture with Baroque, French Gothic, Neoclassicism and Romanesque (M just thought it looked plain old).
Exterior of the Cathedral and Bell Tower |
Apse and central dome of the Cathedral |
M at the top of the Bell Tower |
Me at the top of the Bell Tower (compare our proximity to the edge...) |
View from the Bell Tower |
View from the Bell Tower |
The Cathedral and Basilica which back on a pretty public square |
So. Many. Dogs. |
Outside of a sculpture installation at IVAM |
Street art near our hotel |
Donde esta Senor Waldo? |
Esta Aqui |
Courtyard of Silk Market with orange trees
|
Silk Market, main hall, with beautiful vaulted ceilings & solomonic columns |
M in the Silk Market courtyard |
Bioparc |
M and the lemur |
We shared a moment. They are as tame as cats! |
A slightly intimidating, alarmingly human animal. |
Charming |
I really wanted one to touch me with its trunk but you can't get that close. Guess I'll tick that off the bucket list another time... |
Shortly before we witnessed this elephant "go bathroom"...a truly impressive display... |
A giraffe eating a from tree a foot away from me, so beautiful! |
We had a really nice time in Valencia and are already planning to go back for their Fallas festival sometime. Because really, the only thing that could make Valencia cooler would be to see it all on fire (be still my pyromaniac heart).
- Jess
Great post! I had no idea Civilization was available for the iPhone!
ReplyDelete;-)
Just kidding. I knew. Besides, the stuff about the Opera House was more interesting.
Great presentation, indeed! I've lived in Valencia for 3 years and I fell in love with the city. Unfortunately I had to go, due to the job, so... :(
ReplyDeleteNow I'll be coming to Malta, hoping for the best. :)
Thank you, Adrian! Best of luck in your move to Malta. The sangria in Valencia is far superior to what we have here, so get your fill before you leave! :)
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