26 April 2026

I’ve been enjoying my class on Integration into Spain and Valencia. I’m learning a lot about the E U, Spanish history, Spanish government, and a little of the Valenciano language.

Meanwhile, I had lunch this week with my friend Rafael on Monday and my friend Travis on Tuesday. Travis and his husband Obi just moved to a new apartment. So I helped them put together an IKEA sofa and dining room table.

On Wednesday, my friend from ORU, Sarah and her husband Greg arrived from Denver. It’s awesome having them here.

Fun restaurants, sharing university memories, catching up on life, being with friends…and of course, touring the city. It’s a joy to have them here.

On Saturday, we went to the annual Paella Festival and enjoyed some rice with seafood.

A highlight for me was getting a tour of the tower of the a Lonja de Seda. It was something on my bucket list that I had never done.

The Lonja de Seda is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in the 15th and 16th Centuries as a center of commerce. For many years, Valencia was the center of the silk trade in Europe. “Seda” is Spanish for “silk.”

I always love showing this building to my visitors. Finally, our schedule aligned and we were able to get a tour of tower.

Today (Sunday), Sarah and Greg went to Alicante. So I’m preparing for the week, doing laundry and routine chores. They return tomorrow evening and will be here until Wednesday.

Here’s wishing you a wonderful new week.