Hola from Valencia! (Land of oranges!!)

(Note...still finding pieces of confetti from last night!)

Up fairly early in order to pack and reassemble the flat. Took about an hour and a half to get everything done, and of course we were ready to go about 7:30 a.m….for a 10 a.m. train! Managed to kill time until about 8, then made the move to the train station. Found a cab very easily right in front of the flat, and were whisked away to Sants train station. Got sandwiches for breakfast and then looked for our train. Amazingly enough, they had a train platform posted by 8:30 a.m. Very odd for a train station – it was like boarding a plane these days! First a scan of the bags through security (although to be honest, the man running the machine wasn’t looking at the screen…) then seated in a controlled area, and finally, about 9:30, down to the train platform. Train pulled in and on we went! Very, very comfortable seats – and in 2nd class! Lots of foot and floor room, as well as a man coming through the coach passing out headphones for the movie! Turned out to be A-Team – which I wouldn’t recommend, even though I watched it in Catalan and without sound…a tad too violent for me! The train pulled out right on time at 10 a.m., so smoothly that at first we weren’t sure if we were moving or not! The train stopped first an hour out at Tarragona, where we’ll be heading on Wednesday, and again at Castellones, but for most of the time, it followed along the coast, with gorgeous views of the Mediterranean and beautiful beaches.

Pulled into Valencia into the Joaquin Sorollo station. I knew we were supposed to get off at Valencia Nord…however, we were told to get off, and take a bus to the Nord station. So…out we all trooped, and found the bus stop; it comes every 10 minutes. Bus pulls up, we all get on with baggage – and – I’m really not joking – the bus drives around the interior traffic circle and goes approximately 200 yards – and we’re at Valencia Nord! I thought they were kidding, but they weren’t! R figures a moving sidewalk would have been more efficient…

A bit more train station, including the bull ring directly next door!

R went into Nord to find a map and our hotel…which, as it happens, is immediately adjacent across the street from the station! Talk about a long walk…took possibly a minute, maybe two! Incredibly convenient! Checked into Hotel Zenit Valencia and got room 505 on the 5th floor. Lovely room with French windows overlooking the train station. Unpacked a bit, then headed out back to the train station, as R in search of a bus map.

The train station (Nord) is stunningly beautiful! Lots of ornamentation in the Barcelona “modern” style. In fact, one of the rooms in the station – perfectly empty – was incredible! Also, it is interesting to see the ubiquitous “orange” mixed into the decorations! Oranges among the roses! Would love to find out more about it! From there we walked half a block and were virtually in the center of a lovely city! Valencia is amazing – lots and lots of interesting architecture, about the same vintage as Barcelona – late 1800’s to early 1900’s; towers and spires galore; very interesting rooftops. The city is spotlessly clean and it has a very livable and friendly feel about it. We were able to find the tourist information center, so R now has his bus map, as we plan on riding about a bit tomorrow, especially to explore the City of Arts and Sciences section of town.
It being about 2 p.m. we turned in to a nice Japanese restaurant for sushi and noodles. Great place, good food – curry chicken, chick teriyaki, pad Thai noodles and gai pan, ebi sushi for me and tuna roll for R. This was all washed down by two glasses of lovely local white wine…after which we decided that rather than continue our sightseeing, and after two very late nights in a row, we’d take a break and headed back to the hotel for naps. Must have slept three hours, as awoke about 7 to the sound of a parade/political demonstration in front of the train station! (Only lasted a few minutes and had what looked/sounded only one drum…there are elections this Sunday.)

More of the center of town, including the Rialto Theatre! Thought we left that one in Pasadena!

So now we’re slowly pulling ourselves back together, with the object of heading out at some point for dinner! More later!
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