16 March 2025

(Warning! Long blog post, with lots of photos)

After three weeks of the worst cold I’ve ever had, I’m finally getting better…and just in time!

I had a Couchsurfer arrive on Sunday, last week. Ilya is at attorney from Belarus and currently lives in Warsaw Poland. He was here until Friday. Because I was still regaining my strength, I left him to discover Valencia largely on his own.

On Monday, I decided I was well enough to go to class. However, by the time I got there, I was so exhausted that I regretted it. I sat in the back of the class and tried to participate as best as I could. And as the class progressed, I actually started feeling stronger. By the time to leave, I was getting much better.

I went to choir practice that night and was exhausted when I got home. But I was so much better than I had been over the last few weeks.

On Tuesday, my Spanish class met at the Fallas Museum near my house. Here, all of the Ninots are displayed that were saved from the fire since 1934. Among our tasks, we had to choose a favorite and be prepared to argue in class on Wednesday why it was our favorite.

I liked this one.

That afternoon, I met Ilya, my Couchsurfer and we went to the Maskleta and then toured some of the city, including the Central Market, the Lonja de Seda and the Cathedral.

Afterwards, we bought some buñuelos (fried pumpkin donuts covered in sugar) and hot chocolate and were walking home past the bull fight ring when we saw it was open…something I had never seen before. So we went in.

After 10 minutes or so, more people kept arriving. It was clear that something was happening. So we decided to stay and see what was going on.

We asked the man behind us and learned that they were presenting a free bullfight, with younger, student Matadors. Normally, a bullfight is close to 100€ to get in. So, with some trepidation, we stayed for the first kill.

I’ll spare you the gory details. It really is a barbaric sport.

Here is the “victorious” matador afterwards.

That evening, we met Vicente for a more beautiful cultural moment. The Vienna Boys Choir was in town and we enjoyed great seats at the Palau de Musica.

On Wednesday, Vicente and I went to the Exposition of the Ninots.

This is a display of small and of larger artistic creations that are created by each neighborhood club, also called a Fallas. Each one is part of a larger installation that are eventually mounted in the street. There are about 350 Fallas’s. So it’s a lot of art. At the end of the exposition you can vote for your favorite. The winners of the children’s and adult categories are saved. All of the rest will be burned in the street on the night of the 19th.

Here are my two favorites.

And here is the adult Ninot that I voted to save.

Here are some few others I liked.

Right next to it was this one.

Ilya left early Friday morning. And on Saturday afternoon Eric and Dan arrived from Boise.

After a chicken salad sandwich for lunch, we ventured out to see some of the neighborhood Fallas’s. Most were still being assembled. But you could get a good idea of them.

After several hours, we came home, made a pizza and then took a nap before heading back out.

The fireworks were set to begin at midnight.

So we walked past more of the Fallas’s.

We got there later than I hoped. So we got stuck between buildings and couldn’t see the fireworks very well.

This morning (Sunday), we got up and I made sausage and eggs for breakfast. Then we headed out to see more of the festival.

We got to the City Hall Plaza in time to get a good spot to see the Maskleta. They loved it.

Afterwards, we ran into my friend Mike and Carlos. Together, we explored more of the Fallas’s in parts of town farther from my house.

Throughout the afternoon, it started and stopped raining several times. We found as great place for lunch. And then went home to rest before the fireworks at midnight.

These were closer to home, at the City of Arts and Sciences. So we had a great view!

Over the last two days of walking through the city, I ran into friends from choir, from school and from my neighborhood. Valencia has really become a home to me.

Dan and Eric are here until Thursday. The forecast isn’t good. But we’ll have a good time.

Meanwhile, people continue to light firecrackers and fireworks at all hours of the day and night.

Hopefully, I’ll get some sleep before school tomorrow.