Blogs from Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain, Europe - page 5

dagen efter vi ankom. gik meget ud på at se Valencia, vi var ned i midtbyen og se alle de fine ting, vi så blandt andet cathedralen i Valencia, og vi så den kæmpe park som gik midt igennem Valencia, som har været en flod, men som de tømte i 1950 på grund af store oversvømmelser i byen. så nu løber floden rundt om Valencia by. så, så vi også en af by portene. så fik vi også noget at spise. og der blev grillet mad, på en sten helt tæt på bordet. og nogen fik kæmpe pander med noget ris og kylling/harer. og nogen fik noget fiske ret. og da vi skulle hjem var der nogen der valgte at bruge de gode gamle gå ben, mens andre valgte at prøve kræfter med en app der ... read more

Wondering the city at night with different lights on each streets, eating oranges so juicy that it hits my face as I cut into it, and hearing the 'bombing' or Mascleta every day at 2pm. Yes, memories of my three trips to Valencia. Luckily one of my professional conferences is always held during the Fallas season in March. Yet, I have not been lucky enough to have been able to stay for the final night when all of the incredible statues placed around the various neighborhoods are burned. However, seeing them being constructed in the streets is quite a thrill. Fallas is a celebration to honor St. Joseph, that runs from March 1st to March 19th each year. Each neighborhood erects incredibly detailed and colorful giant statues that are placed at intersections in the streets. Leading ... read more

Sept 20th to Oct 12th: Kathy and I started the week by signing up for Spanish classes. We are going to take one week of the intensive class which consists of 5 days of 4 hour instructions with a couple of hours of homework. I told the instructor that I didn’t think that I could do that because it would interfere with my nap. He kinda frowned at me and continue his spiel. By the time he was finished, I was thinking that retirement was over for me and I might as well go back to work. At least I would get paid. As this is going, I’m paying him. But Kathy as convinced me that we would both would be better off if I would just get with the program. As she put it, “Russ, ... read more

Aug 20th to the 31st: Since last weekend, we have been nesting. We are buying some of the things that we sold like coffee pots, trash cans, patio furniture, etc. We are a little smarter this time in that we know we will give this stuff away when we return to the U.S., so we are buying cheap, cheap, cheap. But still, all the stuff adds up. Each day we move a little more stuff to our apartment. We have a week left at the AirB&B, so we are making the most of washing clothes, and internet, which we don't have yet at our apartment. Tomorrow, we contract for internet and Kathy's phone, we get our debit cards from the bank, and we buy a couple of chairs for our patio area. It seems that we ... read more

Well we are official. We signed a lease last week for a 3 bedroom flat along the Turia River Walk outside the City of Science. Sounds great doesn't it? Our apartment is in a working class neighborhood on the first floor (which is actually the second floor...the first floor is zero) of an older apartment building. But it is nice with laminate and tile flooring and a sitting area in the Light Well, which is the center section of the building where everyone hangs their wash. I figure we will not need to buy another piece of clothing the rest of the time that we are here. Regardless, the apartment overlooks the City of Science. In the words of HGTV, "our apartment has a view of the beach" from the small window in the bathroom where ... read more