Las Arenas Hotel Valencia

... That's crazy talk. Will and I allotted a good few hours one day for lunch to settle in to some Paella Valenciana from El Rall in the Old City. Paella Valenciana is typically made with rabbit and chicken and green veggies like lima beans, artichokes, peppers...etc. This and Paella Mariscos, with shell fish, are the most common.

Of course we did more than simply eat. We explored. Quite a bit actually. And being tourists as we ...

... interested. They have a great complex- The City of Arts and Sciences which you can easily spend two whole days in. There's everything from dolphin shows to films on Egyptology.
Found the city to be a little quiet and not just as impressive as other spainish cities, such as Seville, but def worth a visit- especially if you can join it up with a feista- I would love to go back for La fallas.

... to find our hostel after wondering around the city (translation: we got so lost! The directions on the website were literally, walk through plaza, there will be steps on your right, and cross steps...apparently it's too much to put street names).
Once we actually found our hidden hostel, we were pleasantly surprised. This hostel was more like a hotel. It was incredible! We had ...

I have started on the most unplanned section of my trip, and if you know me at all you know how unsettling that usually makes me feel...but this time I am liberated!

I was told by many people to make a trip down to Valencia for a night. It was touted as "something to see while in the country." So, I caught a train in the morning and was off! I got in to town an immediately I could see why ...

... transportation to circuit and hotel bookings, and also to have like-minded people in which to share the days events with.

We stayed about 40mins inland from Valencia, in a town called Requena...and our hotel was in the upper part of town right in the town square area. The village had a medival festival on whilst we stayed there......which was really neat....see pics.

Valencia, Valencian Country, Spain and Canary Islands foreman

... and delving into people watching once again, we realized it was Palm Sunday in a rather Catholic area in Valencia. Turns out we were right next to a Romanesque Cathedral in the city center. We were lucky enough to see the Palm Sunday Procession as many people followed the Church clergy while carrying nice palms (a la a Lulav Branch-but not lemon/etrog, Zengel. Sorry). We walked around the city some more, finding some cool places near the very center. After ...

... bench next to us got robbed however. And now I'm in Valencia. Apparently the true Holy Grail is here somewhere. I thought about popping in for a drink, but I'm tired of traveling. I've not got somewhere in India booked for the fist two nights. After that it's hit and miss. I hope I can buy a guide book.

... A LOT of motorcyclists, especially vespas. And everyone always wears their helmets. I want to ride on a vespa! Are motorcyclists park on the sidewalk so you'll see a lot of them riding on the sidewalk with with pedestrians. Actually, there a lot of areas that really were part of the sidewalk at one time, but now are blocked of to be part of the road. This can be confusing because the street and the sidewalk can look ...

... entree and shared a pitcher of Sangria. We went out for a little bit that night but had to be up for a very early flight the next morning so didn't do too much. Valencia was so beautiful and the weather while we were there couldn't have been better. It's been so interesting being able to go to all these places, I absolutely love it. It's not so fun though having to come back and go to class but I guess this isn't a four month vacation, but almost!

... came around collecting. Often the community is working on this project all year. Each Falla needs to be flammable and collapse inwards when it is burned. Therefore it is generally made with a wood skeleton. The outer portion is some kind of papier mache material. The Falla is built in pieces, transported to the site, and assembled the night before Fallas. Each neighborhood actually has a couple Fallas. The main Falla is the large one that catches ...