3 May 2025

This was a bit of a weird week with three different holidays.

Monday was a feast day for the patron saint of Valencia, San Vicente Ferrar. Then Thursday was Labor Day (as celebrated everywhere but the US). And today (Sunday) is Mother’s Day on Spain.

I wrote last week about our adventures in Xabia and the nation-wide power outage. They still haven’t given a clear answer on what happened. Investigations by various interests have been started in Spain and in the EU.

Thursday, I hung out with Vicente and Cooper. Vicente had to meet a real estate client. So I rode along and walked Cooper while he was in his meeting. Then I did the same yesterday.

Friday, I met my friend Susan for a Zoom call from Denver. Then, I met my friend Martin for a drink. It’s always a joy to reconnect with good friends.

One of my projects this weekend was to find a “Mexican” bakery. You see, on Monday I’m going to a Cinco de Mayo party. No, that’s not a “thing” here in Spain. But my American friends are using it for a chance to celebrate (just like in the US). I went to Mercado Ruzafa where there is a Mexican store. But all they had were tortillas, hot salsas and Mexican packaged goods. They didn’t have a good recommendation.

Martin and I talked about it on Friday and he started looking on his phone. He found a place on the other side of town.

On Saturday I called them. They said they’d check with their baker and see if they could have a Tres Leches cake made by Sunday, since they’re closed on Monday. They’d call me back. They never called me back.

Today was a day of pleasant surprises.

Vicente and I went to the Monastery of San Miguel del Reyes, just outside of Valencia.

Before we get wrapped up in our tour, we called the bakery that didn’t call back yesterday. They opened at 11, the same time the monastery opened. Yes! They could have a cake (to serve ten people) ready by 3:30 today! We said we’d be there!

San Miguel del Reyes was founded in the late 14th Century. Over the years, it has served as a monastery, a cemetery, and today it is a library hosting a collection of Valencia’s authors and publishers. Biblioteca Valenciana Nicolau Primitiu is named for the man who donated 25,000 books to the library.

Here are some pics of this beautiful place.

The monastery today is run by the Communidad of Valencia, which has made the interesting decision that tours and information are only available in Valenciano, the local dialect, not English and not even in Spanish. I’m glad Vicente was with me!

I still have moments that surprise me with incredible joy.

From the monastery, we went to the huerta (the farm) just outside the city to a restaurant for lunch.

When we arrived, we were right next to this small rural church.

The restaurant was located in a traditional Valencian home.

When we arrived, we were told that they were full. We could have a drink but they were otherwise completely booked for Mother’s Day. We wouldn’t be able to even order a sandwich!

We enjoyed a drink and went to pay. When the owner asked “how was everything?,” Vicente commented that it was great, but that we were disappointed not to be able to eat. The owner talked to his chef and before you knew it, we were back at it table ordering a full lunch. We had a rice dish (most people would call it “paella”, but this being Valencia, it would have had to have chicken and rabbit to be called that). Ours came with calamari. We also had a delicious tomato and tuna salad.

It was delicious. In fact, I should tell you. Be careful. When you visit Valencia, in my experience, most places make paella or versions of it that are almost always much too salty. This one was perfect! It helps to get out of the city and away from the tourist areas.

As we sat there laughing, talking and eating this delicious, authentic, spontaneous Valenciano lunch, under the umbrella, with a bright blue sky, the church bells ringing next to us, the smell of lavender immediately next to me, I literally had tears of joy in my eyes. I don’t know how I get so blessed. But I’m grateful beyond words for moments like this.

After lunch, Vicente took me to a traditional “horchatería,” just a short distance away in Alboraya. Horchata in Valencia (as I mentioned last week) is made with Tiger nuts. It’s a light, cold, and refreshing milk shake-like beverage. Sitting under the awning, kids and families around us, ducks and geese next to the children’s swings…the magic continued.

Afterwards, we came home, walked Cooper and relaxed before the start of a full week.

To all the moms who read this blog, thank you for all of your sacrifices, love and magic. May you always know how much you are loved.

Happy Mother’s Day.