Valencia, Spain

Valencia is a real contrast city.  The old part looks just like all the other old colonial cities.  But Valencia has an art district of incredible buildings housing art, music and botanical gardens facilities.  Each building is more unique than the last. They have the quaint apartment buildings with all the Spanish decorations and also new modern design apartments. 

We stayed in an apartment with a sea view and slept with the windows open to hear the waves. Our first night the waves were crashing and we had to close the doors.  But after that, the waves were a soothing background for sleep.
 

We got supplies at the super market that is as big or even bigger than a Costco or a Super Walmart. They carried everything from appliances to clothing and food.  The Spanish love their "jamon". We were surprised to see hams on the bone hanging in the store.

Of course when you are in Valencia you have to try the Paella. Rick looked up a top rated restaurant from the local food site and we headed off.  We drove through the busy city and then onto a tiny, partially paved road through local farm land. It was only a block from the Metro and many high-rise apartment. This is the restaurant.  It looked like a dilapidated old farm building.  

But inside it had space for more than a hundred people in a garden like setting.  We had wine and Cava before lunch was served.

We ordered the tradition Valencia Paella...rice, chicken, green beans, fava beans and snails.  It was delish! 

This is us on the beach in Port Saplaya (outside of Valencia), Spain.