VALENCIA

~VALENCIA~

Valencia is a city on the same coast as Barcelona and they speak "Valenciano" NOT spanish... sigh. ISA organized an overnight trip so we all packed up and met up bright and early at 8am Saturday morning to take a five hour bus ride. I was a couple of minutes late but I did NOT miss my bus =) yey!
We were told that Valencia was the third largest city in Spain and that it has recently added a lot of areas to attract more tourism.   

We were greeted by sunny blue skies and cold winds and had a great time!

We went during one of their busiest times. During March they have a festival called "Las Fallas" that lasts 19 days. It begins March 1 and it originated from St. Joseph's role as patron saint of carpenters. In medieval times, carpenter's guilds celebrated the arrival of spring by cleaning out their shops and making bonfires with scraps of wood. Now, during the 19 days, they celebrate with fireworks and floats. They make huge sculptures known as "fallas" that represent political figures and other personalities. At the end of the 19 days these "fallas" are set on fire to celebrate a years work. We were there in the middle of this time frame so no huge bon fires for us... but it was still amazing!

 When we got off the bus we ate paella out of these huge pans...the paella wasnt THAT great but the experience was nice. As we were eating, some of the festivities were occurring in the town center and we got to watch the events on the tv in the restaurant (ISA should have planned it better). Apparently a huge mass had gathered around this building (pic above). 

Women were dressed in classic regional attire, waving from balconies and carriages and in the middle of the plaza, that sits in front of this building, a huge demonstration of fireworks exploded! Strangely enough, their goal was to try to get the fireworks as loud as they could. Mind you that this was during the afternoon--so you actually couldnt even see fireworks in the sky?!? 

My friends and I were searching for ice cream when we stumbled upon a parade--what a lovely surprise! we watched it for a couple of hours but most of them were not in Spanish so we couldnt make out what they meant or what they referred to. Plus many of their floats were about making fun of social norms or political figures so we were even more lost as far as meaning. We didnt get to see any "fallas" though. 

regional classical attire

 Day 1-Walking Tour

Old part of town. One of the few entrance gates left from medieval times. Most others have been destroyed due to the expansion of the city. 

churches! churches! churches!!!!!! ps. that clock was wrong.

inside a church, the columns were twisted-literally

you shoulda see this ceiling!!!! it was so intricate! wowwwwww

just a lil taste of what the streets look like

in front of the building where all the fireworks occurred

This was a playground area. It is a huge slide complex designed to represent Gulliver in Gulliver's Travels in the scene where he is a giant and tied down in the beach. Neat huh?

Little fountain show in the Science and Art strip.


Day 2-- Oceanografico & Science and Arts Strip

Also known as an aquarium or in Spanish "acuario"

I had a BLAST! these starfish were as big as my head

Huge underwater tunnel

We even got to watch a dolphin show!!!!! I was soooo excited! I felt like a little girl!

Nico and Cholo

love this view!

City of Arts and Science

This area is the newest of Valencia- as you can tell. The city commissioned architect Santiago Calatrava to design this long strip of buildings that house an art museum, a science museum, the "oceanografic", the Gulliver slides, and a Music Hall, to name a few. Caltrava is to Valencia what Gaudi is to Barcelona. We didnt get to go into many of the buildings but the outside was gorgeous enough. My camera's memory card was super full or else I would have just stayed taking pictures. The day was gorgeous (still chilly winds) but the feeling of being surrounded by this much creativity yet there was so many serene moments was amazing. It was truly a mini vacation and a breath of fresh air.  

ever feel someone is watching you???? ITS THE EYE!!!!

There was a top "layer" and a bottom "layer" to the strip, each showed a new perspective. AMAZING!

I wanted to get in sooo bad!!! It wasnt deep but the thought of my toes being cold was enough to keep me from walking in. 

Sorry it took so long for a new post, its been busy with schoolwork and travels and just plain being lazy but  enjoying every minute of it! no shame here!
with luv,
 --caren