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Published: October 22nd 2018
Bike Ride Along the Beach
Susan, the organizer, and Kathy enjoying a little snack by the beach in Pinedo Spain just south of Valencia.Sept 20
th 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, we would all be better off if you would just get with the program.” So I guess I’m going to get with the program….good bye retirement, hello late night study groups. I gotta go find some beer.
After the episode with the Spanish instructor and since we were out on our bikes anyway, we decided to head to the northern terminus of the Turia
Restaurant Along the Beach
Russ enjoying an adult beverage at a restaurant along the beach at Pinedo Spain just south of Valencia. Don't get me wrong...Kathy is enjoying one too. River Walk. What a lovely ride, Round trip was about 12 miles. Both Kathy and I find this park very intriguing in that the number of people and the variety of uses that Valencians use the park. Everyone is walking, running, riding bikes and riding these little single platform scooters. You have seen them ridden by kids mostly around Christmas. But these things are motorized and can get up to about 20 miles an hour. They routinely pass me on my bike. The people that ride them range in age from 10 to 60 or so. I may have to invest in one of these things. What a way to get around and you don’t even have to worry about gas, insurance, flat tires, or parking. You would have to be concerned about rain, walkers, runners and bikers like Kathy and I.
Free Concert: I have told several people that Kathy is the Queen of the Cheap Entertainment. When we lived in Lexington, she would find free concerts, cheap places to eat, and other free entertainment for several times each week. Friday, Kathy informed me that we were headed to the Berkley School of Music free concert starting at
Valencia Day
On Tuesday, Oct 9th, the city celebrated Valencia Day with parades, fireworks and other festivities. 7:00PM. So at 6:30 we started out toward the City of Arts and Science to enjoy some free music. We walked and looked and looked and walked all around the Berkley campus but never found the free concert. I was so disappointed that I suggested that we walk over to El Corte Ingles to look for shower curtain rods (our recent guests know what I mean). While there, Kathy decides she is going to venture out into the realm of “The New Haircut.” We have both been avoiding this dark and mysterious place since we arrived. So Kathy finds a clerk to ask, “Donde esta barberia?” This lady was kind enough not to laugh too much and points up the escalator. So we go to the top floor where sure enough there is a hair stylist. I read my phone while Kathy inquired within. A few minutes later she returns to tell me she be able to do this now. I ask her how long it would take and she tells me about 2 hours for a cut and color. I told her to meet me in the bar when she was done. Rather than carry me home, she reschedules
Parades
Quite a crowd was in attendance for the parades. Much of which seemed to be political in nature. Several times people would yell out political slogans mostly about the independence movement. It was entertaining. the appointment for Monday.
So some of you know that I have been looking for a U.S. based phone that someone could allow me to link my Google Voice number to in order to cheaply call my Mom. When I transferred my phone to a Spanish carrier, Verizon cut my phone off…good bye Google Voice. I sent out an email asking for volunteers and my friend Roger nicely agreed to take on my burden. So I called Roger and we set it up. Life was very good until I get an email from Roger stating that my Mom had called him twice and my buddy Kevin had called. I asked Roger if he had asked to borrow money from either one of them. That’s what I would do. He said no, but that my Mom seemed a little confused and disoriented. I told him of course, you didn’t try to borrow any money from her. She probably thinks that I had been spirited away by the Body Snatchers and was wondering “who the hell is this guy. Where is my Son???”
Earlier in the week, our previous AirB&B host recommended a restaurant for breakfast. So I went online
The Band Plays On
This group seemed to be having the most fun. They were in the rear of the parade and I think that was for a reason. If this was a video, you would see that they were staggering. to find the location and check out the reviews. It received high rating from most of the commenters. BUT one guy said that he wouldn’t go there again because he ordered a slice of carrot cake and a beer for breakfast and it was 9 euros. This guy has bigger problems than the cost of breakfast. I told Kathy that I wouldn’t trust any review from some guy that orders a carrot cake and beer for breakfast.
Recently, we went for a bike ride along the coast. Kathy organized this adventure through the “Americans in Valencia” website. . The woman heading up the ride wanted to bike on Sundays, and wants some company. So we biked about 12 miles (19 k) from our apartment to the beach. We had an adult beverage and then biked home. It was fun.
The most notable event was that Kathy and I received our residency cards on Oct 1st. That is our last major hurdle and we are now able to travel around without our passports. Hee Haw!!!
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Nelson French
non-member comment
Haven't said too much, but have enjoyed reading of ALL your adventures. Russ, your commentaries are both 'informative', and often 'hilarious'! SO, since you have to go to work again, (damn!); why not become a free-lance journalists for all those other 'wanna-be-expats' who are considering Spain?? Seriously, your photos are good, and your 'model' Kathy is quite photogenic, especially with her new Spanish Hair-do! ~~ Nelson