Valencia

Typical Valencia Architecture



Bull Fighting Ring

The Silk Exchange Building

Real Valencia Oranges

Columns of the Silk Exchange


Religious Pageantry

Spicy Tuna - Yum


Delicious Bread Pudding

 We left some of our luggage behind in Madrid, and headed off to the train Station to take the bullet train to Valencia. Why can’t the US have trains like this? It had wifi, it was very smooth and fast. We arrived in Valencia about 2pm and taxied to our hotel.

 

The hotel is in a hip part of Valencia, with lots of outdoor cafes and stores. The weather is definitely cooler than Madrid. I went for a walk (quickly finding the Apple Store), while Cathy remained in the room. When I returned it was time to head out and see our first sites. We decided to go to the Silk Exchange. It is the most famous building in Valencia. The taxi driver dropped us off at the Silk Museum instead. He must have misinterpreted where we were intending to go. The small museum was interesting, but not where we wanted to be. Luckily the Silk Exchange Building wasn’t far. We walked to it.

 

The Silk Exchange Building was built when Valencia was at the height of its economic power. It was trying to divert finance from the Ottoman Empire. Construction was started in 1492. It is a gorgeous building, the columns in the main hall are amazing, as they spiral to the ceiling. The building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After visiting the museum, we went to a nearby plaza for wine. As we drank our wine a thought of a new Spanish word that I learned yesterday. It has no direct translation into English but it well expresses the difference between Spain and America: sobremesa: "It literally translates to 'over table,' and it refers to the time that people spend chatting and enjoying each other at the table once they have finished a meal".


We then decided to taxi back to the hotel. We were in the very old part of Valencia, and it was literally impossible to find our way of the maze of twisty streets. We asked people along the way and they pointed in various directions. In our wondering we came across a Church Procession of men pushing a large cart of what we assume are relics. 

 

We eventually found our way out of the maze and found a taxi. We intended to go back to our hotel and clean up for dinner but decided what the hell lets go directly to the restaurant. When we arrived there it hadn’t opened, so we did the only thing we could do: go to an outdoor café and have some more wine.

 

The Canalla Bistrot eventually opened, and we got our table. The food was excellent. This is the down scale restaurant by the 2-star Mechlin chef: Richard Camerena. We had an excellent meal. We loved the Spicy Tuna and Rice, great Asian flavored Ribs, the dessert Bread Pudding was wonderful. This is a restaurant you should go to if you are ever in Valencia.

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