Nattaproblem

Barcelona being the main objective of my trip, Valencia was a pleasant surprise. Numerous trips to the library and online forums made me realize the benefits of a road trip along the Iberian Peninsula, and that when I started to take a closer look at other cities and sites along the southern Spanish coastline I decided that it was now or never.  I had two options: take a train from Barcelona, and then rent a car for the remainder of the trip towards Sevilla.  Option two was to rent a car from Barcelona, briefly visit the Tibadabo Cathedral overlooking the entire city after check-out and from there drive to Valencia.  Taking toll fees and alternative routes into consideration, we decided on renting a car straight from Barcelona.

The roads weren’t too busy and the toll fees average approximately 1 Euro per km.  Lucky for us, we didn’t have to spend more than 14 Euros for toll fees.  Plan in advance if driving is something you’re considering because the cost can quickly accumulate.

Checking into the hotel was a breeze, and we lucked out with a free parking spot in Valencia as well.  There was a man monitoring the cars and ushering drivers in and out of parking spaces for a donation.  This is an endearing way to park one’s car and made me feel welcome straight away.  After storing suitcases and violin in the room, and reading on where to go first, we decided on the Mercado Central.  This marketplace is in the middle of various landmarks such as the Torres de Serranos and other historical sites.  They were all centrally located within walking distance of one another which simplified the navigational process.  So, after a quick bite to eat at Mercado Central (where I had one of the freshest salads I’ve ever eaten), we took off.

Plaza de Reina

Fresh meal at the Mercado

More fancy doors

Torres de Serranos

Front view of Torres de Serranos

Valencia was chock-full of sights and fresh air.  I later found out it is known for its oranges as well, hence the plethora of orange trees.

Valencia Oranges

Market building

…as dusk fell on my vision of Valencia, the sights became even more beautiful

My future house

Under the bridge

Darth Vader building

Belltower

Old bridges

Cathedral

Science museum with my Boeing hat!

Downtown

Alien

Alien 2

T-Rex’ house

Palau de les Arts

The one area that stood out the most had to be the science museum.  These buildings were hands down the edgiest structures I’ve ever seen.  The sharp, white buildings surrounded by water made me feel like I was on another planet. It was quite awesome!

Valencia. Highly recommend!