We´ve spent most of our time in Valencia in the old quarter, a beuatiful, charming region of narrow streets, sidewalk cafes, and iron-balconied architecture. The streets come together at plazas where large civic building stand in over-ornamented splendor, angels and horses and gods and local heros in marble standing over everything. It began to rain last night as we were eating mussels and shrimp drinking fine wines. It rained hard for a few minutes and we scooted under the umbrellas. When it stopped, several children ran out to play on the wet marble plaza, splashing in puddles and chasing each other, so even the rain turned out to be charming.
More rain this morning that came down sideways, trapping us in a cafe for an extra coffee. Right now we´re doing laundry in a charming laundromat, and Akasha is scouting for a place to have lunch.
This really is a cool city. There´s a remnant of the old riverbed that must have long ago silted over, but it still cuts a channel through the heart of the city and is now a long, thin park with soccer pitches and groves of trees and hibiscuses. The trees lining the streets are orange and lemon, and they are currently bearing ripe fruit. We ate an orange that had fallen into a fountain, and are sorry to report it was a little bitter. So it isn´t quite paradise.
Okay, all for now. Tomorrow we get a car and head south.
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