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Published: October 30th 2011
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Note: All the events in this entry occurred back in April 15-16, 2007. For more updated entries and trips, please refer back to this blog at a later date. An updated entry to trip will NOT include a note like this. Thanks and enjoy!
I woke up early the next day to check out of my hostel and then head to my second destination, Valencia. I decided to take the bus, Spain's national line actually. The ride was 8 hours from Granada to Valencia, not what I had planned because now my visit there was now cut down to two instead of three, however this was my best option to get there. While at the bus station, I ran into a young lady who had stayed at my hostel in Granada. We hadn't really talked to each other before arriving at the bus station, however we did recognize each other. We started a very long conversation which pretty much lasted during the entire trip. Apparently she was from Alicante in the Valencia region, where she has lived for her entire life. I told her my story, that I was studying abroad in France for 9 months, my previous travels and
why I had come to Spain.
The bus finally arrives and the journey begins. We make at least two pit stops, one at a bus station and the second at a cafeteria, where I order a bocadillo de lomo (pork loin sandwich.) If you've ever had a pan de puerco (Cuban style pork sandwich) or a pork loin pannini, then you will have an idea of what a bocadillo de lomo tastes like. Like those sandwiches, it is put on the Spanish version of the baguette and placed on what is known as la plancha or sandwich press. However, the pork is seasoned simply with salt. pepper and garlic, and is not paired with cheese, lettuce or little matchstick potatoes. We then go back on the bus, and finally arrive to Valencia province, which becomes obvious because we begin to see lots of orange groves and the scenery becomes less mountainous in comparison to Andalusia and the region before. We stopped in just about every city in the Valencia region, including Alicante and Benidorm. It was around 6 PM GMT when I finally arrived in Valencia. I took a taxi to my hostel, however I noticed that very few
Church
I think this is the one with the Valencia cup in it shops were open. I later go out to get some food at a local cafeteria after I put my backpack in my locker, which is a simple dinner of grilled lamb chop, aioli, fries and I think it included a roasted tomato. It was delicious, however not the most outstanding meal I had ever had because the lamb was seasoned simply with salt, pepper and garlic. For desert, I went to a local ice cream shop that was selling horchata de chufas de tigre (horchata made of tiger nuts). Unfortunately this first taste of the drink was disappointing-it tasted like liquid chalk so unfortunately I had to throw it away.
On my way back to the hostel, I ran into a makeshift stage which had actors wearing period costumes from the 17th century I think, and singing art songs. I then go back to the hostel, I begin to talk to some of my roommates. The first people I talked to were five Americans, men and women, studying hospitality in a program located in Switzerland. They were accompanied by their taxi driver, who had graciously offered to show them around that night. According to my new acquaintances, the reason
why Valencia's stores were closed was because it was the feast day of a saint, but which one I didn't learn of nor did I remember despite my Catholic upbringing. One of the gentleman starts passing around two bottles of 5 euro red wine that they had purchased from a butcher's shop. I got to chug some, while many of the girls were mixing it with their orange Fanta, claiming it made it taste like sangria. I then begin to talk with the taxi driver, who apparently was from Malaga "Antonio Banderas' home town," he added proudly. I then begin to tell him about my travels through Spain and he about his internal migrations through his own country. Apparently he did live in Granada for a few years, noting it to be one of his favorite places that he had lived in. After they all left, I ended up talking with another roommate who was a European South African living in Ireland. I believe has was working in the field of architecture, and had been recruited to work and study in Ireland by the Irish government I think at his old university.
The next day, I decide to tour
the historical center of Valencia. I begin my visit in several of the major squares, touring the various cathedrals. I do see the famous one which contains the Valencia cup, which is a Pope-certified Holy Grail, however I don't remember actually seeing it, but I do remember that the church was being refurbished inside at the time. I did go inside, it had some lovely frescoes and very decorative statues of the Virgin Mary, Joseph, Jesus and of some of the saints. I then went into three other churches I believe, which were much larger and less decorated on the inside, however the exteriors were elaborate, with floral and curled designs carved in. I also remember visiting a little flea market, that sold lovely local ceramics, pottery, and other crafts and antiques. I also went into the indoor food market, which was two stories containing butcher shops, produce and delicatessans with chorizo and jamon varieties.
For lunch I go to a tapaseria (tapas restaurant) where I try gambas de ajo (shrimp with garlic). I don't remember ordering anything else however I began to realize that maybe I made a mistake only ordering one item. However, the shrimp was well
done. I end up going to a sandwich shop, where I order a bocadillo de jamon serrano y queso (sandwich of serrano ham and cheese) which was satisfying because the jamon serrano got nice and crispy and the cheese melted and the bread was nice and crunchy! I then decide to have dessert at the oldest horchateria in the city, which dated back to the 16th or 17th century I believe. Anyway, I decided to give horchata a second try; after all back home it was one of my favorite beverages, however Latin American style is made with rice, while in Spain it's made the traditional way with the chufas de tigre or tiger nuts, which give a very distinct creamy yet off-color nutty flavor. This horchata was defininately the best I had ever had; creamy, nutty, with a hint of cinnamon. If you dear reader are interested in trying horchata you must go to this place or any horchateria in the city; there are lots and this drink is unique to the region and also to the city of Valencia. It's always served cold in a glass, and goes down like a refreshing glass of milk or eggnog, however
not as rich, but it has that nice, spicy flavor from the cinnamon that gives it a special kick, and is sweet like milk, but has a nutty flavor that cannot be compared to any other nut, not even almond milk.
I then spend the rest of my afternoon visiting the Museum of Art, which contained pieces by many Spanish artists like El Greco, Francisco de Goya and others. There were a lot of pieces by more obscure artists from the Middle Ages and beyond, however I don't remember seeing a lot of abstract or modern art. I remember seeing a lot of paintings of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and scenes from the Bible, however I remember that the details and colors were more vivid and realistic than the French paintings from the same era I had seen back in Strasbourg in December 2006. I then went back to the hostel, ate a simple dinner of yet another bocadillo and then went to sleep.
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