I really love being a tour guide

I have the coolest friends!

Ken and Pab were here this week from Denver. They stayed Sunday to Wednesday. I’ll give you the rundown (with the alternative motive of inspiring you to come visit).

We celebrated my six month anniversary of living in Valencia and they saw a lot.

We started with the Flamenco and dinner show that I mentioned a couple weeks ago. After their day of travel, I wanted to provide a relaxing, delicious, and exciting welcome.

On Monday, I made a big breakfastbefore we started our exploration of the city.

We wandered through grocery stores and old world markets. They were curious about typical markets, stores and shops. Stops included Ruzafa Market and Mercado Central.

We walked through the City Hall Plaza (Plaza Ayuntamiento) and into the building.

We toured the Silk Exchange. Lonja de Seda (built starting in 1283) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was a thriving business center bringing together cultures from throughout Europe and the Orient.

We walked through Plaza de la Reina, and past the Road to Rome.

We toured the Cathedral. Like many European cathedrals, the Valencia Cathedral displays amazing art from the Middle Ages, through and past the Renaissance. Like many cathedrals, there are relics that inspired donations and helped build it. Don’t tell Indiana Jones. But the tour of the cathedral concludes with the “holiest” relic in all of Christendom…

…THE HOLY GRAIL!

Afterwards, we found our way home for some rest before going to an amazing dinner at my favorite restaurant in Valencia. We enjoyed a seven course meal with each course paired with a different wine. Amazing!

Tuesday, we walked to the City of Arts and Sciences.

Then, we wandered through some of the Turia Gardens before going to the Botanic Gardens. Ken and Pab live a block from the Denver Botanic Gardens. So that was particularly fun.

Then we took a taxi to the beach and had a wonderful lunch before walking along the Mediterranean.

Afterwards, we went home, rested and came back to Central Valencia for tapas and helado.

They left for Italy on Wednesday morning and I resumed my studies and normal routines.

On Saturday, I went kayaking with a group from my Spanish school. We took a bus to the mountains. Cofrentes is about 90 minutes west of Valencia. We drove past Requena and Utiel, two towns that Sue and I visited two years ago for their vineyards and wineries. We spent almost two hours on the Rio Gabriel.

Alex and I were one of the few boats that never turned over. (Pride goeth before the fall!)

But when we got to a spot to rest, we got out of the boat to swim and enjoy the water. Unfortunately, we took one step too far and got pushed in the current away from the group. We had the hardest time swimming against the current to get to a place we could stand. It wasn’t a very relaxing break!

I slept in the bus back to Valencia, walked home and went to bed early.

But then, I couldn’t sleep. So, I remembered that every Saturday night in July, there are fireworks. (There’s always an excuse for fireworks in Valencia!). So, I got dressed and walked the few blocks to the City of Arts and Sciences to watch the fireworks at 12:30. AM.

On Sunday, I cleaned the apartment and then headed to the beach. While I was there, Rafa called and needed a favor. I was thrilled to be able to do something for someone who has done so much for me. So I after a relaxing day at the beach, I came home, showered, and met him. We drove to Cullera where he showed me some houses and helped reassure the sellers that there were buyers and to be patient. The fact is, one of the houses is way overpriced!

Afterwards, we stopped for dinner and watched the end of the Spain vs England final soccer match of the European Cup. We left the restaurant moments after the end…and Spain won. We rushed home past gathering crowds.

https://videopress.com/v/HgNBiNj4?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

While the street looks calm in the video from my terrace, if you turn up the volume, you hear the horns and excitement of celebrations.

https://videopress.com/v/AwHMFKtQ?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

So, here is the most European thing I will have posted on this blog!

And since you asked, no. I’m not going to go to the fireworks that will begin momentarily at City Hall Plaza. After kayaking yesterday and the beach today, I’ll try to sleep…if the noise isn’t too much (he said hopefully!)