Montjuic Castle

Yesterday I met up with my friend and Spanish teacher, Noelia, at Montjuic Castle.

Inside La Pedrera

Remember La Pedrera, the Gaudi building?

Yesterday we went inside.

Pals and the Costa Brava

After visiting Gerona, we continued on to Pals.  Pals depends very much on tourism, and during off-season, it's more or less a very beautiful ghost town.

Girona

We crossed the foot bridge into  Girona  yesterday morning.

A Day at the Park

Everyone here agrees we've had unusually great weather in Barcelona since we arrived, and yesterday was maybe the best so far, 72 and mostly sunny.  We're just back from a few days in Valencia, and on Monday we're taking a day trip to Gerona, so we're relaxing on the days between.  Today we went to Citadel Park.

The warm weather brought out droves of people, especially kids.

Un poco mas de Valencia

We're back in Barcelona now, but I want to add un poco mas de Valencia.  What else is lurking down these narrow streets?

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All kinds of shops, of course.



 

Especially antique shops in old town, which is only appropriate.





 

Also, all sorts of street art, and not just the hi-brow variety.

I love the blend of old and new here.



 

And some of the street art is extraordinary.



 

On the street art tour in Barcelona I learned to look for artists with a particular theme that shows up again and again in their work.   This guy was all over town.





 

Some of these works are so large they would need ladders or scaffording.



 

 

I think this one is advertising for a real estate outfit.



 

But what is this one about?



 

 

I don't recall seeing street art in the USA urging people to vote.



 

I've also never seen a street musician playing a bassoon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYirPCfeDoc

 

These guys from the Valencia Conservatory were very popular, especially with the high school kids in the square.  Mary introduced herself as the mom of a fellow musician.



 

I was sad to leave Valencia, but we will return.

North Station and the Beach

We're taking the day off.  We arrived at our Barcelona apartment about 11 pm last night, pretty worn out.  The train was roomy and comfortable, but let's just say it was not an express.

We did have a very fun last day in Valencia, though.  We wandered outside old town, and as always, found cool stuff in the streets.





 

One of Valencia's impressive buildings.



 

Here's the statue on the peak of that roof.



These artists have great fantasy lives!

We discovered the old train station. 





 

We both love train stations, so we had to go in.  This is the lobby and ticket area.



 

Here's a closer look at that vintage lamp.



 

I love the contrast between the old stained glass windows and the modern ticket machine.



 

Here's a pretty clock for those of us who are perpetually confused about 12 versus 24 hour time.



 

Seems to me that large public spaces, the churches, markets and train stations, have a lot in common.



 

This is an ave train.



Our trip from Valencia to Barcelona took more than 3 hours on a conventional train.  The trip from Valencia to Madrid, about the same distance, takes half that time on an ave.

One last detail from North Station.



Sadly, our journey began from the more modern and more prosaic Joaquin Sorolla station.  We'll know better next time.

From the station, we splurged and took a taxi to the beach.  Here's the promenade at El Cabanyal, the main city beach.



Valencia has many other beaches, and unlike Barcelona, these are not man-made.

Mary is so content at the beach, strolling in the sand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elZjmaUW-A8

 

It's a pleasure to see her in beach mode.



 

While Mary was building her sand castle, I made an offer on the fixer-upper across the street.

 

 

It needs a little work, but you know what they say:  location, location, location.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valencia Market

The market here is as impressive as those in Barcelona.  The common design is a huge open space containing many small vendor spaces.  The ones I've seen in both cities are airy and full of light.  I think they are also meant to inspire awe.  

Think Grand Central Station, but for produce.



 

Inside is where the market is most impressive.



 

At the top, in the center, is a huge glass dome fit for a cathedral.



 

This video gives an idea of the scale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvKENNkkn8w

 

The market is alive with people, colors, and smells.

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I stood right under the dome, for this 360 view.  And yes, I'm a total geek tourist to do that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMslD9uXF0o

 

Not far from the market is this lovely square, with flowers we won't see at home for several more months.



And, of course, the famous Valencia oranges grow everywhere in the city.

We enjoy wandering in old town and discovering the many squares.  Each has its own quirky charm.

This square reminds me of Santa Maria del Pi, the pine tree church in Barcelona.



Pleasant place for coffee and croissants on a sunny Mediterranean morning, no?

I especially love the angel statue.



 

There are religious statues everywhere, but there are also some fun secular ones.  Here's a raised map of old town with brail descriptions.



 

This bathing man gets neither privacy nor respect.

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We found this fountain tucked away in a less traveled square.



 

I think I'm falling for Valencia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laid Back Valencia

There's a different feel to Valencia.  Fewer tourists, and fewer people in general.  It's easier to walk slowly here and enjoy the streets.  The weather is a little warmer, and the people are a little easier going.  We've had great food here, as well.

So, to begin the whirlwind tour, the gates.  At one time, to enter the city you would have to pass through one of the two gates.



 

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Inside the gates is the cathedral.







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The Cathedral of Valencia is said by some to contain the holy grail.

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And, as usual, I found some unusual stuff.  Here's an interesting beast, perched high in the church, ready to pounce.



 

Here are the sun and moon.

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Between them is this gruesome image.



 

These dogs eternally fight over the leg of some less fortunate animal.



 

And here is a very early Goya painting with smirking demons lurking over a dying, but unrepentant man.



 

One last image from the cathedral.  It's a relic.  Can you tell what?



 

Back to Barcelona tomorrow, hopefully by train...