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Published: August 8th 2007
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Valencia got behind the America's Cup big time
Kev, it's the new Splinter, just needs some rigging and 18 tonne of lead for a new keel!! The time in Valencia has gone a little fast, but it´s time to move on back up north into France. After the first night in the Hostal that was a bargain basement price with ´free´ parking I found a better quality of Hostal in a more central location. This was after five attempts though, €28 a night and all was well. It had all that was needed, clean (not like the two others I looked at!), didn´t smell of mould (not like one of the others) and it had a lift (not like the one that was on level six with a spiralling staircase). Plus I discovered another parking bonus, more about that soon.
Since I was in Valencia the plan was to try and see a Louis Vuitton Cup race. It was time to try and get a ticket for a spectator boat, since I'd done a recon of the venue the night before when I drove onto town. Parked outside the venue this time, just like parking outside Aussie Stadium on the street. Went over to the tourist info booth and got more then enough information, the map, the book and how to catch the metro. Which is
when the parking bonus arrived, I asked where I could park, she said anywhere in the street here is fine, there´s no meters or limit. Oh yeah how good is this, just leave the car directly outside the America's Cup venue for the three days and all is good. Just get a 10 trip superpass for the metro and come and go to the car when needed. Now if this was in Sydney during any sporting event, the car would have been towed, fined, locked up or you´d be charged mega $$$ for parking, but not in Valencia.
With some time to kill before the yacht race it was time to wonder the streets of Valencia. Just like most of Spain there are some amazing buildings. After razing the four corners of the world in search of the Holy Grail, it´s here in the Conjunto Cathedral, well they claim it is. As I´m heading out what appeared to be the exit door, handed over €2 for the what I thought was the thanks for coming, the next thing I know I´m heading up 4 000 000 spiralling steps to the top of the bell tower. Absolutely fantastic views from
the top of the city though. Plus there´s this huge bell and that´s when I realise that it´s 7pm. The bell starts ringing just like the start of AC/DC Hells Bells, a quick check and there´s no Angus Young swinging from it. Then there´s the Virgin Mary statue in the Basilica Virgen de los Desamparados that everyone walks past to touch.
Located in the cenre of town right beside the railway station is Valencia's main bullfighting arena complete with the toro museum. Who would have thought that the afternoon that I decide to visit this grand piece of architecture that the local political party would be holding their launch for the upcoming election. Seeing a few people walking through the gates I decided it would be a good idea to just go and see what was happening. Well haven't they got the merchandising sorted out this lot, you walk in there's the free flag, the folding paper cap, the t-shirt (we'll open the bidding to see who gets that), bottle of water and best of all, a packet of sparklers with the candidates photo and slogan on it!! There was singing and dancing the crowd was been wound up
with renditions of songs from Grease and that's when I took the booty and left.
Back to the yacht race, head out early enough to check on the car and realise it's a bit windy out by the ocean. After loitering for a while around the models of all the America's Cup winning boats I begin to wonder why not much is happening considering it's race day. Well the sea was a bit rough so they cancelled the race, that's why all is quiet on the docks. The way to get another ticket for the next day is to get a refund then buy a new one, yes just like normal except they hand you your money and then you give it straight back to them go figure.
Deja vu head back out to the yacht race again, talk about groundhog day, but this time there's action a plenty around the docks. When I booked the ticket I had a choice of boats, so I went for the nice stable looking catamaran. Well it wasn't, the sea was up again and it was pitching and rolling all over the shop. But I got to see the Louis Vuitton
Semi between NZ and Spain, right up with the action and through some minor miracle didn't get seasick. NZ won and are now through to the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup along with Italy. Whoever wins that challenges the defender of the America's Cup, the Swiss.
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Yeatesy
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W...
Should I mention the W word? or have you taken more than your 4 weeks holiday! we met a dwiss guy now living in NZ who says if NZ makes the final of the Americas cup he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Who does he cheer for. He can only be a winner. By the way, my wife wants you to post a close up photo of yourself to see if she recognises you from the the steps of Grind!. Enjoy, let us know if you are heading towards Bosnia!!