Vamos a Valencia!

So, on Saturday morning, Kate and I almost missed our first bus from Mandelieu to Cannes… luckily we made it, and then took another bus from the center of Cannes to the Nice airport. The flight went well, and soon we were in Barcelona! From the Barcelona airport, we struggled to find the right bus to Valencia. We asked many of the workers, and they were not sure of where the bus was coming or if it even existed… this was not a good sign… After running around and checking all of the buses, we found a sign showing our ALSA (our bus) times on it! This was a good sign! After many buses came and went, just as we were losing a little hope, our bus arrived! It was late (like 15-20 minutes) but we were so happy that we caught it! It was supposed to leave at 12 45pm, but we ended up leaving after 1pm, which meant that we would arrive in Valencia at about 4 30pm. 

The bus was quite comfortable! We had leather reclinable seats, and little TV screens where we could watch some spanish programs. We did pay for this comfort though, even though we had no idea what the bus would be like before we chose it, lol. It cost us about 34 euros for this bus ride- kind of pricy, but cheaper and more comfortable than the train would have been I think! 

I practiced my spanish by watching some strange movie about a special little boy with leaves or eyes on his legs, who comes to foster parents and stays with them for a while… then I fell asleep… and when I woke up, the movie was still going… and the boy was now leaving the parents and they didn’t want him to go. At the very end, he disappears, and the foster parents get a new kid, this time a little girl to take care of. That is the best synopsis I can come up with with my limited spanish knowledge, haha. (I later realized that the movie was the odd life of Timothy Green). Then, some english music videos came on and then some bugs bunny! It was interesting to hear the characters speak spanish…lol. 

As we were driving, we pretty much passed through what seemed like deserted areas… no towns, or cities in sight, but it was the highway I suppose. 

first glimpse of Spanish countryside from the bus

Once we got to the Valencia bus station, we met up with my friend Paco, who came to meet us there. We took a taxi from the bus station to his place, and it was quite cheap! (about 2 euro a person). This was the first instance in which I realized that things here are not that expensive (relatively speaking to other countries where I have been like Austria, Switzerland, England…). 

Once we got to his place, we got settled, and then went out to see a bit of the city. With Paco as our guide, we ventured out to explore Valencia! We walked around the city and there was some event going on, because there were little kids all dressed up in traditional outfits.

Tours de Serrano

Kate and I in town!

Kids dressed in traditional outfits

Such a pretty city!

Saturday night, we hung out with some of Paco’s friends and ended up going out to a nice club! I had a really great time there dancing and hanging out, except for when someone stole my iphone at the club… :(. I was really upset and honestly do not even know when/how exactly it happened…it was in my purse and the next time I checked, it was gone. It comforted me a little that someone told me that this happens quite often here (so I wasn’t the first or last to get my phone stolen in Spain) but I wish someone warned me beforehand… but oh well, there is nothing I can do now. Luckily, I brought my camera with me as well as a backup for taking pictures, so I should be ok. I will miss the convenience of using my iphone in wifi zones and for it’s camera, and apps though…

We stayed out really late, and slept in Sunday. When we got up, Paco took Kate and I to this cool restaurant where everything was one euro on Sundays! It was a great deal! We had montaditos, and they were yummy!

Some of our montaditos!

Then, Kate and I went to the beach for a while and just laid in the sun :). Now, I have been to quite a few beaches, and I must say that the sand in Valencia was the best sand ever! It is super fine, and soft, and heavenly… (just thinking about it makes me want to be back there…)

beautiful sand of Valencia 

We even ended up napping a little on the beach, and later going in the ocean! The water was a bit cold, but definitely warmer than the water in France. I even overheard two polish girls in the ocean, and decided to say hi :). I talked to them for a little while and it was nice to hear polish!

On Monday, Kate and I got Paella. We tried two kinds, and it was interesting to order at a restaurant in Spanish…lol. Luckily, the waitress knew a little bit of english, so we made it work in the end. We tried two kinds of Paella: Paella Valenciana (it had chicken and veggies) and Paella Marisco (it had assorted seafood). 

Trying some Paella Marisco!

After that, we sat on the beach for a little while, and I was in heaven!! Ahhh that sand! On the tram back to meet Paco, we met a guy who sat next to us on the tram, we practiced our spanish with him, and soon after starting the conversation, we found out he was polish! It was cool to chat with him in three languages!

Next, we met up with Paco, and we went up the Tours de Serrano to get a nice view of the city!

view of the city from Tours de Serrano

Paco, Kate, and I 

Then, we walked to this Gulliver’s playground, where we got in touch with our inner child, haha. But seriously, this playground was pretty awesome!

Part of the playground!

After that, we walked to the cool science museum!! The outside was just super cool! 

Science Museum

That evening, we had kebabs for dinner, and then played some pool.

On Tuesday, one of the guys we went out with Saturday night, Ivan, showed Kate and I around the city. We got some postcards, and tried these fried pumpkin beignets (Bunyols de carabassa) that were quite good! 

Next, we saw the water boat, and then we went to the beach!! :) I love the beach here and I am going to miss it so much!

Water boat

Kate and I

We even went into the water, and it wasn’t too cold, but the waves really pretty strong! I loved being in the ocean though! I had a lot of fun! :) 

Next, we just hung out on the beach, chatting, laughing, and just enjoying our time together on beach! It was a perfect end to the evening :). 

Ivan and I at the beach! :)

I am so happy that I got to go to Valencia and that I got to reconnect with yet another UGA friend! I am so grateful that he took time out to really make sure that Kate and I had a good time here! I am also thankful that he has such nice friends who also made our stay here wonderful and unforgettable :). I really hope to be back in Valencia sometime soon! I gotta keep up this tan that I’ve been working on ;)

On Wednesday morning, Paco and I headed to the airport because we both had flights to England! I also had to say goodbye to Kate :(. It was hard because we had pretty much spent every day together since September... but I am sure we will keep in touch, and I am so lucky that I had such an awesome roommate and travel buddy!! :D

I am going to visit my good friend Kathie (who I also met at UGA) in Nottingham for a few days, then going to London to catch up with yet another UGA friend, Ollie. 

Off to England,

Magdalena