around Valencia

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hi all! So I never write about the week since it isn't interesting at all, I go to classes, come home for meals and sleeping and trying to get on the internet...which has been hard to do lately from home. Anyway, this weekend was really nice and relaxing. On Friday we went to the Fallas Museum and the Hemispheric (which an IMAX theater part of the Arts and Sciences City). The Fallas Museum was pretty cool, we saw all the Ninots (figures) that won (and so were not burned). It was interesting to see the progression since the first ones were very plain and had people with real clothes on and the newer ones were a lot more creative and detailed. At the Hemispheric we saw a documentary about the Titanic, it was by James Cameron and came out a few years ago. The plot was a bit silly, but the scenes were really cool, especially on the huge screen!

On Saturday, my friends and I decided to go to La Albufera, which is a nature preserve only a half hour bus ride outside of Valencia. It had a pretty lake, some foresty area and a beach on the Mediterranean. We spent the early afternoon at the beach, it was a really nice day, the water is still really cold, but we stood on rocks in the sea and looked at the gorgeous views. Then we laid in the sand for a while and ate our bag lunches. After that, we took a refreshing walk through the forest...which isn't really a forest, since there are not many trees, mostly bushes, and the ground was sandy. Then we took a little boat ride to an old fishing village that is known for its Paella. We also watched the sunset before we went to a restaurant for Paella. It was a cute town, but probably the smallest town I have ever seen! There were probably a hundred or so inhabitants. Anyway, I didn't have paella since I don't really like it that much, it has meat, and I didn't want to spend extra money since I had lunch packed for me by my senora earlier anyway. Then we headed home and went to bed since we had to get up in the morning for an excursion.

On Sunday we went to Teruel and Albarracin. They are both small medieval towns in the mountains. They were really pretty, especially Albarracin. They had Mudejar architecture, which is unique to Spain and mixes Muslim and Christian styles. Albarracin was much smaller and had tiny streets that had stairs that went up the mountains. We took a little hike up the mountain to the old walls to the city, it was a really breathtaking view! On the way down though, I fell and broke my camera. Only the screen is broken, but that means that I cannot see the pictures I am taking or have taken....I was really upset. I was glad that was the last thing we did and right after we got on the bus, but since we are leaving for Morocco on Friday I have to decide whether I want to buy a new camera or deal with this broken one. I think I am going to buy a new one since Morocco will be the most exciting and different place I will see, I really want to be able to take my own (and decent) pictures. It is a bummer, but I am thinking that I had to have something go wrong at one point in my trip, and that is not the worst that could happen.

Other than that, we had a meeting today about Morocco. I can't believe we are going in only a few days! It will be a lot of bus riding, but worth it to actually experience a completely new culture and see the Sahara desert! I am going to buy lots of souvenirs there, so if you want anything in particular, send me a message! Things are cheap...if I bargain well...I think I will watch some masters first before I try. Anyway, it will be an exciting trip. But, for it seems like after that is almost the end. Mom and dad come a few days later and after that just a month until I come back home. Time here has flown by! Well, I will update with a long blog entry when I get back from Morocco!

Oh, and pictures will come eventually, I have been busy and the internet hasn't been working well. And also...I have gotten really sick of labeling pictures and such...I should stay on top of it, I promise some will come soon.

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Comments

[g;-pa]

dont worry
sorry to hear about the camera get one and send me the bill . we can see your pictures when you get home.

[Robin_in_Valencia]

I got a new camera yesterday, actually the same exact one that I had. This way I know how to use it already! It wasn't too expensive, just a little more than US because of the euro. Off to Morocco later today!

[Mom]

Have a grand time in Morocco. Have someone take a picture of you riding a camel in the Sahara.....This I gotta see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!