Valencia - More than just oranges

It is Friday morning and an early start as I check out of the Hotel Petit Palace Italia bound for the coastal city of Valencia about 350km south of Barcelona and the same distance west of Madrid. With its idyllic coastal location, Valencia enjoys a Mediterranean climate, warm dry summers, mild winters, and beautiful beaches.

Having arrived in Madrid in my overcoat it would be a relief to pack it away at least for the next few days as I wind up the Spanish leg of the trip first in Valencia and then Barcelona.

The train journey took three and a half hours and the service on board the RENFE train was excellent - breakfast, newspapers and movies provided to those of us lucky enough to travel in clase preferente.

On arrival I immediately noticed the difference in pace of Valencia in comparison to that of Madrid. Valencia is definetly less hectic, it’s a city where cars actually stop for pedestrians to allow them to cross the road.

Valencia is famous for a number of things - it is the home of paella and of course the home of the Valencia orange. Just like in Seville the streets are lined with orange trees. They are an important part of the economy in Valencia.

After being mislead by Google (never trust it) and driven to the wrong hotel by my cab driver it was on to the Petit Palace Bristol, in the centre of the old part of Valencia.

It was lunch time so I was getting quite hungry. The lady at reception gave me directions to a very traditional restaurant for lunch - I immediately headed off, forgetting watch she said and stumbled upon a restaurant called The Sardineria - a great little fish restaurant. I love sardines (and I’m still thinking about those great sardines on toast with the egg in London) so I ordered some a la plancha and a serving of salt cod croquetas.

With my appetite satisfied for now, I wandered around the old part of town and then back to the hotel for a siesta. After my siesta I did some more walking and found my way to the Cathedral of Valencia. I took a few photos, stopped for a café con leche and then slowly returned back to my hotel confident in the fact that next time I go out I will find my way to that restaurant…hmm if only I remembered its name, let alone the directions!

Tomorrow I am going to see The City of Arts and Sciences - in stark contrast to the historical centre of town, this modern wonder is apparently an incredible experience. I might even pop into the Plaza del Mercardo one of the oldest fresh food markets in Europe, with over eight centuries of history.

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