Valencia, Spain

 Valencia was sunny and bright, but boy, was it cold🥶.

Valencia, the third largest city in Spain is far less bustling and far more laid back than I had expected. 

Maybe it's because it is basically a Port city.

We arrived there mid morning after hugging close to the shore when we left Morocco. 

Staying close to shore meant the water was calmer and the trip less rocky all the way.

Our theme today was experiencing Valencia like a local.

Andy from Shore Excursions was a great host .

On arrival, we immediately headed to breakfast at a patio bodega, where we got to know each other over local food, wine and beer.

Yup.good idea😁.

These bodegas usually have local markets near them where residents buy fresh meat, fruits, baked products etc. before going home 

Valencia is allegedly where the valencia oranges originated. They are best used for  industry.

Clean, beautiful markets with natural products.

We spent most of the rest of the morning at the Museum Faller de Valencia, admiring the extraordinary satirical images created by artists from the 350 barrios in Valencia to celebrate the feast of St Joseph, the protector of carpenters.

These are satirical images. In this one, a little girl is bottle-feeding a baby pig. There are more pigs than people in Valencia.

A marriage proposal in the olden days😡.

The huge sculptures are displayed on the streets for the year. They are then judged and the ones on display in the museum are the winners.

So they are the pardoned ninots',  saved from being burnt in a huge bonfire followed by massive fireworks at the feast of St. Joseph on March 19th each year.

Hippies. This won one year in the in the 60's

The event is also held to welcome spring.

It's an UNESCO cultural heritage event.

If you come to Valencia a visit to the City of Arts and Sciences is a must.

This complex was built in what was once the bed of the massive Turia River.

Section of what was once the river bed.

The decision was taken to divert it after the roaring river destroyed much of the city in 1957.

 Today it is a scientific and cultural leisure complex covering around two kilometres showcasing fabulous architecture. Many have become living legends.

Posing in front of the  huge Valencia sign.

You have to wait in line to get a pic taken there.

Several urban planners and landscapists designed different sections of the park, totally recreating the former scenery.

Had that powerful river not been diverted, the destructive flood which had a devastating effect on much of Spain last year, destroying homes and killing many under mudslides, would have affected Valencia. 

Thankfully, it didn't.

Here we stopped to celebrate its survival with a delicious liquour brought by Andy.

Then we went to lunch at another bodega.

Mealtimes are different to what we are accustomed to.

At breakfast and lunch, they have wine, beers cold cuts lots of different cheeses and rolls.😋 

Their main meal is between 9 and 11pm.

A typical bodega 

You will see from the pics above that Kadi is missing!

In New York, she is a chef/ caterer of renown so never misses an opportunity to upgrade her skills.

Yesterday she went off to learn to cook Spanish food.

She learned to make paella but did not bring us any.😡

Anyway we forgive her as we had a great day.