Last night I had a late dinner and went up to my fifth floor bedroom, which is also on the roof, to have a shower. I tried the shower in the ensuite but besides being a trickle there was nothing hot from the shower or sinks. I grabbed my stuff and stomped very quietly down to the fourth floor to try the bathroom there. I let it run a few times and felt hot water! Finally some success! I jumped under before considering the "spray" coming out of the shower. To say it was a trickle is being generous and after 3 presses of the timed switch my hair was just getting wet. You can imagine what shampooing was like. I finally managed to get clean and as I entered my room a flash went off. Just someone taking a picture I thought to myself....and then booming thunder. A storm! I love storms at bedtime! The pitter patter of the rain, the cool air, the thunder....awesome!
I have gotten pretty used to my hostel breakfasts which is all carbs. I have had a protein at one hostel and luckily fruit at a couple. My hostel in Barcelona had pears, apples and oranges! I figured being in Valencia, home of the Valencia oranges, I would be getting something with an orange. Nope! My breakfast this morning was almost all sugar. White toast that was so thin that it couldn't have had anything nutritious in it. Puffed wheat, which I thought would be a healthy choice, but was actually covered in a really sweet sticky syrup like coating, and orange juice....no I mean tang. It was all finished off by a Magdalene or Madeline in English, which is a cake like muffin. At the end of breakfast I was on sugar overload. Especially after avoiding the stuff for the last few weeks. I appreciate the free breakfast but really wish hostels would consider some nutrition when planning this meal!
I was all ready this morning to do the free walking tour and headed out to the square an hour early to do some people watching. I was met with a dance recital of some kind where both kids and adults performed traditional Spanish dancing! What a way to start the day! Afterwards I met Jamie, my Scottish walking tour guide. Sadly, this may have been one of the worst tours I have done. He had been out very late the night before and wasn't feeling very good, which showed. Not to mention he gave all the information at the beginning so I was overwhelmed and then bored as he went on and on and on.....however, as always, walking tours show off some of the great architecture in a city and this one was no different. I saw cathedrals, roman walls, a market, government buildings, statues and squares. It was a great way to spend a couple of hours. I also tasted Valencia's traditional drink called. Made with tigernuts, water and sugar. It was tasty, not at all what I expected....a lot of sugar of course. I am not sure if it was related but afterwards I had a but of a tummy ache. What I did like about my guide was that he informed me that even though paella is 13€, it is for the whole skillet so if I ask for a plate it is much cheaper! Hallelujah! I have been dying to try some so that is where I will be going for dinner!
After my walking tour I got on the bus to go to the Playa...the beach! It was a bit if a walk from the bus stop. I think I took the wrong bus. But my driver was so friendly and with hand gestures told me when to get off and where to go. I wandered along and it started to sprinkle. But as I continued the rain stopped and I ate my lunch. The wind was picking up and as I turned towards the land and looked up at the sky I noticed how dark it was. I had my umbrella but really hoped I wouldn't have to use it! I walked towards some benches and found some people making a huge sand castle! So cool. I sat and read for a bit at the beach but it started to get colder. I caught the first bus I could back towards my hostel. I didn't know what stop to get off at so I waited till it looked right and then found myself very lost. I was walking in circles! No worries, I knew I was in the old part of the city and would find my way eventually....which I did!
It was a very nice day in Valencia. I am off now to find some dinner and pick up my lunch for my long journey to Seville by bus in the morning!
I have gotten pretty used to my hostel breakfasts which is all carbs. I have had a protein at one hostel and luckily fruit at a couple. My hostel in Barcelona had pears, apples and oranges! I figured being in Valencia, home of the Valencia oranges, I would be getting something with an orange. Nope! My breakfast this morning was almost all sugar. White toast that was so thin that it couldn't have had anything nutritious in it. Puffed wheat, which I thought would be a healthy choice, but was actually covered in a really sweet sticky syrup like coating, and orange juice....no I mean tang. It was all finished off by a Magdalene or Madeline in English, which is a cake like muffin. At the end of breakfast I was on sugar overload. Especially after avoiding the stuff for the last few weeks. I appreciate the free breakfast but really wish hostels would consider some nutrition when planning this meal!
I was all ready this morning to do the free walking tour and headed out to the square an hour early to do some people watching. I was met with a dance recital of some kind where both kids and adults performed traditional Spanish dancing! What a way to start the day! Afterwards I met Jamie, my Scottish walking tour guide. Sadly, this may have been one of the worst tours I have done. He had been out very late the night before and wasn't feeling very good, which showed. Not to mention he gave all the information at the beginning so I was overwhelmed and then bored as he went on and on and on.....however, as always, walking tours show off some of the great architecture in a city and this one was no different. I saw cathedrals, roman walls, a market, government buildings, statues and squares. It was a great way to spend a couple of hours. I also tasted Valencia's traditional drink called. Made with tigernuts, water and sugar. It was tasty, not at all what I expected....a lot of sugar of course. I am not sure if it was related but afterwards I had a but of a tummy ache. What I did like about my guide was that he informed me that even though paella is 13€, it is for the whole skillet so if I ask for a plate it is much cheaper! Hallelujah! I have been dying to try some so that is where I will be going for dinner!
After my walking tour I got on the bus to go to the Playa...the beach! It was a bit if a walk from the bus stop. I think I took the wrong bus. But my driver was so friendly and with hand gestures told me when to get off and where to go. I wandered along and it started to sprinkle. But as I continued the rain stopped and I ate my lunch. The wind was picking up and as I turned towards the land and looked up at the sky I noticed how dark it was. I had my umbrella but really hoped I wouldn't have to use it! I walked towards some benches and found some people making a huge sand castle! So cool. I sat and read for a bit at the beach but it started to get colder. I caught the first bus I could back towards my hostel. I didn't know what stop to get off at so I waited till it looked right and then found myself very lost. I was walking in circles! No worries, I knew I was in the old part of the city and would find my way eventually....which I did!
It was a very nice day in Valencia. I am off now to find some dinner and pick up my lunch for my long journey to Seville by bus in the morning!
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