VALENCIA

Valencia has many botanical gardens and museums of art and ceramics. The City of Arts and Sciences is a large complex that features a planetarium, science museum, and arboretum.

 The day was cloudy but warm so we decided it would be a good day to walk from the city centre towards to the science museum. On the map, it didn't look too far along by the Turia river.   But having walked in 31c heat for nearly 90 minutes, we were both very relieved when we eventually say the glass dome building in the distance. I stood at the Valencia sign for a quick photo before we both flopped down on a nearby seat. 

On a very warm sunny day we went to the Turia botanical gardens.  Again we took cover from the sun in the shade of the giant cacti plants while we sat by a beautiful pond with huge koy fish.

We got to know the city centre quite well by just wandering through streets and finding interesting shops and plazas. 

Up, up and away!! To Spain

 Our last flight was in March 2020 just days before the lockdown.  It has been such a long wait and we thought at times 'will we ever go abroad again?'  But hey ho, the time has come.  We have been vaccinated and boosted.  The virus while it's still here, is thankfully more manageable now and cases have decreased significantly world wide.  The airports are busy again.

Off we go over the Atlantic flying from Cork to Valencia.

We rented apartments through Airbnb. The first one in Valencia was very central. The entry method was a little daunting to begin with.  I had to use an app on my smartphone to enter the main door of the building and again for the door of the apartment.  Mr. D does not have much tolerance for Smartphones and apps.  He still uses a flip phone and often refuses to answer my phone when it rings!!  After three attempts at clicking the different boxes while Mr D ground his teeth and cursed  I did manage to figure it out and now I have declared myself an expert! 

 This apartment while basic was clean and had air-conditioning.  It was within walking distance of the old town where many of the historical sites are located.

We did a lot of walking and relaxing in the shade.  Thankfully the buildings are tall so there was plenty of shade to protect us from the midday sun. It was nice to sample the paella which is very popular in Valencia. 

The next apartment was near the seafront just 15 minute bus ride from the city. It was located in Port Saplaya, a popular resort where everyone seemed to have a boat!

                                         Above:  Evening on the balcony.

Below:  Sunrise at the beach and the morning light on the apartments.

 We loved the beach. There were plenty of seats on the promenade and we would sit in the late afternoons reading our books intermittently while watching the cruise liners and yachts on the horizon. 

The water was quite shallow so very safe for children.  I swam most days and there were people on the beach and swimming until 7 or later in the evening which was wonderful in the month of October.  Hard to believe it was lashing down with rain back home in Ireland.  

Some days we would take the bus to the city centre and visit a museum or art gallery.  

Some days we would just relax on our favourite seat on the promenade.