No Regrets!

The bus rolled into Valencia, a full-fledged city. I had imagined something smaller because I’d never heard of it.

After dropping our bags, we headed straight to the beach for some much-needed relaxation before dinner. This beach is massive, as wide as a football field and as long as the eye can see. And with sand so fine, it feels like velvet when you walk on it.

After bickering with the rude Abby Hostel staff about the rental charge for towels and the flooding problem in our bathroom, we walked and walked and walked (thanks, Fredy!) to dinner and had some wonderful paella and drinks for Djenny-Ann, one of the girls celebrating a birthday in our group.

Then some more walking around to explore old town Valencia.

We were all pooped and passed out early. Except for me, of course, who stayed up late working on photos.

Today, I mostly had to myself. First stop was Valencia’s top attraction, the City of Arts and Sciences. It’s an enormous museum complex and adjoining aquarium with some impressive architecture, but I found it the actual exhibits a little underwhelming. The giant buildings are filled with giant structures and giant displays, but the content inside is a little sparse. These days, I feel like museums are more and more for kids, with the internet taking over most science education for the truly curious. Turns out my right hand can squeeze with 70 kg of force.

Then back to old town, where I intended to grab lunch at the Central Market but found it closed. Instead, I grabbed a cold horchata (yum) and meandered the streets. I popped into the Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas, a Spanish palace that dates from the 15th century with some impressively decorated rooms.

I’m now waiting to catch our overnight bus to Granada. I hope it’s comfortable, because it would be great to actually get some sleep tonight.

Now at the halfway point of the tour. It’s flying by.