April 2 – Valencia

We arrived in Valencia around 8 AM and went for breakfast shortly thereafter. At 9:45, we boarded a bus and proceeded to the Albufera National Park. There is a large freshwater lake south of Valencia, which is a used for growing of rice and traditional fishing. When we got there, we proceeded to a boat to ride around on the lake.

Our guide told us much about the fishermen/farmers of the area. The are is protected from development. There is a high rise from the 1980’s, which will probably eventually be removed. We saw many mallard ducks and few heron.

After the boat ride, we went to the restaurant where we saw the chicken paella being prepared. Valencia is the birthplace of paella. The food did not include traditional rabbit meat as she wasn’t sure whether we would like it. Seafood paella, which is what most people probably think of as paella is not the original, although it also comes from Valencia also.

While we were waiting for the paella to be finished, we had wine, beer and antipasti (not sure of Spanish translation).

Finally, the paella came out and it was awesome.

After the meal, we walked back to the bus and travelled back to the city. Our guide told us various things about the city. As with other regions of Spain, it has its own language, Valencian, which is the same as Catalan, but both regions claim it as their own. As we neared the city, we passed by the City of Arts and Sciences, a collection of modern buildings including the aquarium, opera house and many other buildings built in the early 2000’s.

Tonight, we will probably get room service while we pack up our belongings. The suitcases must be outside of the room by 10 PM. We will dock in Barcelona overnight and will disembark by 8:30. We have arranged a locker to store the luggage and will then go to the Barcelona History Museum. We will then check into our VRBO for two nights. All six of us have tickets to a presentation of the Mozart Great Mass in C, followed by dinner. More on that in tomorrow’s installment.