The sights and sounds of Valencia Spain are ones that you'll never forget. The chatter of shoppers haggling at the Mercado Central to the smell of freshly cooked paella wafting through the air from the myriad of restaurants that we encountered on our walk through the city was just part of her charm.
Valencia, the first stop on our Mediterranean Cruise, did not disappoint. We decided to forgo the shore excursion offered by Celebrity Cruises and hired a local tour guide to do a more personalized tour for our group of 7.
Sonya met us promptly at the designated time with exuberance and hugs for everyone. A born and bred local, she would spend the day showing us "her" Valencia in a way that only a local could. We saw the history of the city, the artistry, and the beauty of the coastline. We were grateful for the amazing lunch when treated to the local delicacies, and finally, we were awed when she took us to where technology meets old world Spain as we toured the City of Arts & Sciences ( Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias ). Let me break the day down for you.
While on a walking tour through the old part of the city, we learned of the history of Valencia, the spanish wars, and the Catalan Countries. Catalan Countries refers to those territories where the Catalan Language, or a variant of it, is spoken. They include the Spanish regions of Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands and parts of Aragon and Murica. as well as the city of Alghero in Sardinia, Italy. In the context of Catalan nationalism, the term is sometimes used in a more restricted way to refer to just Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. Parts of Valencia are not Catalan-speaking.
After touring cathedrals, the Mercado, the old walls that protected the city from wars, and several other places of interest, we entered a small courtyard where our guide was warmly greeted by the owner of the restaurant where we would be dinning.
For our late afternoon lunch, our guide treated us to the specialty of the area, paella. Sitting in a small courtyard surrounded by merchants and locals, we dove into the two special types of paella deemed "the only real paella" in the world, one made with saffron and chicken, and one made with rabbit meat.
After this amazing meal we boarded a small bus and went to the newest development to arrive in Valencia, the City of Arts and Sciences, and it was a spectacular contrast to the old world part of Valencia that we'd just seen.
An architectural marvel, the center houses a museum and concert venue as well as having space for small gatherings or significant art exhibits.
This place was truly magical and you could feel the energy all around you. Such contrast, such vision, such beauty. I was enthralled.
I would love to go back to Valencia one day to spend a few more days enjoying all that she has to offer.
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