Just a few final photo's of our trip, here we had lunch in a new restaurant in Valencia, all the planting including the ceiling were fake plants, but all done with a woodland effect, so it felt cool and shady, tables were in coves, which made it even better, and the food brilliant, Begin, Secret garden.
To watch the fireworks, we went to our friends friend's house,
on the roof, best view, always they have fireworks and big displays, every towns displays are on different dates and they do compete with each other to have the best. This is a small town and no building can be above three floors, the tallest building is the church.
On our walking tour in Valencia, which I would always recommend, our guide spoke very good english, we stopped at this house, one mans dream, so very ornate, we had not seen this before.
At the north gate we decided to walk along the parks just outside, Paula when her phone beeps, she takes a photo of what she is doing and sends it in, so here we are just after the beep. It is very popular with the young Spanish, we have not heard of it before.
Whilst we were taking our photo a street vender took a photo of us and set it into this sheet, which was fun, they are everywhere, but not to pushy, if we said no they just moved away. You choose how much you want to pay, it's another level of fun.
The bulls run in the streets twice a day for five days, the town put up barriers to ensure they run just where they should, it is a tradition, but kinder to the animals, as you see the bulls only run, no one makes any attempt to interact with them, all along the route there are men to ensure the bulls are OK. We hear a loud firecracker to say it is starting and then another when the bulls are secure.
As always this part of Spain is very family orientated, families together and often really loud, we had lunch at a younger bar, which was just too loud to talk to each other, but for us different and enjoyable. Everyone in the family, except the elder father speaks fluent english, so most of the time it was the mainly spoken, both daughters and our friends sister took it as a huge practice, hubby spoke some Spanish, he is able to order in bars and cafes, sadly I struggle with speech, but can understand some written words.
Valancia as a city has an airport, but it is smaller than most cites, the departure lounge was very different, in the centre was a soft seating area, with big padded loungers, we managed to find two together, so our wait was very comfortable. We used the underground from the city to the airport, we were with one of the daughters, but the signs were so good, she allowed us to find our way, clean and fast journey. We had a taxi waiting for us at Gatwick, it was about 90 minutes drive home, we were both happy to sit back and relax.
Now it's warm jumpers and laundry, sadly I have packed away my sandals and sunglasses, I have yet to check the garden, and I need to check the calendar to see what is happening in the next few days. We also need to pop to Lidls for fresh food. I can also comment again on your post.
It does sound like a wonderful break. It makes all the difference when you have someone local to show you the real city not just the tourist side.
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky we do live a Spanish life when we are there, it's very enjoyable.
DeleteValencia looks such an attractive town. I wish our towns and cities had imposed a height ban on buildings.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful holiday - although I imagine you will now be missing those sandals and sunglasses!
ReplyDeleteI am intrigued with the phone-beep-take-a-photo idea as I haven't heard of it before either. Sounds like fun :)
Welcome back after a lovely break.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your photographs, Valencia looks a very interesting place to visit.
All the best Jan