Tonight we met Francisco and Isabel at the Mercat Colón around 6:30pm. We all walked over the Turía river to see the kick off fireworks for the Valencia Fallas of 2017. We took a spot on the Puente del Mar (Bridge of the Sea).
We brought a "picnic" (our beach chairs and cooler filled with wine, cheese and jamón, that Francisco and Isabel give me as a Birthday present, peanuts, plastic glasses, etc). We think many of the locals thought, what a good idea to bring chairs and a snack as they were all standing around us for at least an hour before the fireworks started.
You see in order to see anything you must get a place at least an hour in advance of the 8:00pm show. To make a point we had coordinated with Jorge & Ferni and Maria Marin to meet us. We told them exactly where we where, but they could not reach us due the masses of people.
I know in previous posts I've said that those fireworks were the best I've even seen, but this display was something quite special.
Check out this 10 minute display, you will know what we felt!
Sunday, February 26
When we visited Sagunto with David, Susan and Natan, we were going to visit Port Saplaya, which Francisco had invited to take us too. When we WhatsApped him that we were going to visit it he sent a funny video response that said do not go without me (us) we want to take you, so we didn't visit it.
I have to say that when we have driven by it we had no idea what the big deal was with the town. So on Sunday Francisco and Isabel picked us up and we drove to Port Saplaya. Once we walked away from the sea and into the little interior boat harbor we were surprised. This is Valencia's manmade "little Venice". What a gloriousday it was. We had a beer in the sun, and enjoyed the sea.
I forgot to mention that last night and ALL DAY TODAY we are speaking 97% Spanish ONLY, because Isabel does NOT speak English....so it's fun and challenging.
They then asked if we wanted to have lunch and we agreed. They took us to Estivella, a small town about 15 minutes from Port Saplaya. We went to a restaurant called Els Pins (The Pines) they had heard that the "traditional" Paella's (cooked over a wood fire) was wonderful and it was, we enjoyed it very much. I noticed that Els Pins is part of the Paella organization called Wikipaella, which has certain standards and promotes TRUE paella...not all the touristic paella's you get in other restaurants.
We were SO full but afterwards they took us to a beautiful place to take a short hike. The mirador (lookout) it is called El Garbí. It was incredible, check out these photo's. Typically, you can clearly see the sea but the sky is hazy with "dust" blown over from Africa - a phenomonea that occurs several times a year.
Fantastic day with wonderful Spanish friends, but my brain was fried after trying to think and speak Spanish all day.
Monday, February 27th
Today, we had another encounter with Valencia friends by coincidence (it's funny how often it happens). We met Eddie and Heather, (Valencia friends from San Jose) for lunch at the Cafeteria Colegio de Abogados ICVA (a restaurant overlooking the River). We were told about this restaurant in one of our Intercambio's (MeetUp with Maria) on Wednesday afternoons, by a wonderful women named Dora. Wouldn't you know it while we were eating Dora came in to meet some of her friends. She told us she eats there every Monday....Valencia is a small community!
View from our lunch
Wednesday, March 1
First day of the month of Fallas. Everyday, until March 19th at 2:00 pm in Ayuntamiento there will be daytime fireworks called Mascletá.
A few photo's followed by a few video's.
This is Ayuntyamiento using a new "paint a picture" feature on Beth's camera.
Before the start of the Mascletá....can you see temperature on the sign? 23 or 73
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