The Guideless Traveller: Espana: Days 17 & 18

Day 17:
Our plan for Saturday in Valencia before we head back home to El Campello was to check out some of the sites and then head back to the beach, Malvarrosa, for lunch and to meet up with our new friend "Donny."

We left our hotel and parked near the site we wanted to see, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. We just wanted to check it out because the buildings are so cool looking! We didnt even need to go inside because we were really just enjoying the exterior and it's architecture! This entire complex is made up of 8 buildings all dedicated to arts and sciences. The building we walked around the most was El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia. This building looks like the Tommy Trojan helmet! Maybe thats why I like it so much. I also just read that it opened on October 8th (in 2005)....a day after my Birthday date 😉. Ths exterior is beautiful because of the metallic mosaic-like shell that makes up most of the building. This building holds an Opera house which is the biggest in the world. When we go back to Valencia we plan to visit the other buildings in more detail.

El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia

Ciudad de las Arts y Las Ciencias in Valencia

Scott and Coco in front of L'Umbracle

El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia

L'Hemisfèric (in forefront) and El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe

Contrapunto Restaurante

While looking at these buildings, we saw a park below with a small fountain/pond and some dogs running in it & the grass surrounding it so we thought we'd take Coco down there to check it all out. I believe this is part of Jardins del Turia. I had the brilliant idea of taking my shoes off to walk in the water, an act of trying to get Coco in the water, and I slipped on the slippery algae. Flat onto my right side. It felt like it was in slow motion and I couldn't get a grip anywhere. It was a really bad spill but more than that, I was so embarrassed....and then I realized my Chanel passport holder got wet 😢. Scott kept asking if I was hurt, if I was alright but all I could say was how embarrassed I was. And how icky that water is. After that Coco sure the hell wont go in there. Scott tried to get her chubby nubbins wet but I think she was too worried about me (and scared as fuck)!

The site of the accident

I fell in that ick....

In (or around) Jardines del Turia

We headed back to the beach we were at yesterday, Malvarrosa, and the paella place I've been wanting to try, La Pepica. It looked packed again so we had to find somewhere else to eat....I stumbled upon a place along the Passeig de Neptu called Balandret (hotel/restaurant). By this time it was like 3pm and I was "starving" so I ordered this croquettes assortment for our appetizer. There was cod, Jamon and turkey croquettes so I really only ate the cod. It was ok. I then thought it was a great idea to get the crab paella since Valencia is the place paella started. I had crab paella years ago in Barcelona and it was so fantastic that we went back a second night.
However, this is a different story...
Utensils were brought out, many utensils. The direction this is going in is making me have flashbacks of my worst meal in Key West, Florida when I couldn't crack open my own crab. East Coast relatives, please dont be disappointed at this. So, the paella pot was brought out and there were 2 giant crab shells waiting to be cracked open. I have no problem with whole fish being brought out, that's not my problem. My problem is, I dont know how to properly do this! So, what do I do? Well, the determined lady I am, goes at it....and she gets stabbed in the hand by the crabs spiney claws. All in all, it probably was great paella but the whole experience was ruined.

Crab Paella at Balandret

We made our way home and stopped off at some middle of nowhere gas station to get some caffeine. As we pull off, the Policia had the road blocked off and were checking everyone exiting/going to the gas station. They asked Scott questions about what we are doing there, where we are going and looked in the backseat, then let us through. A little nerve-racking to say the least! For dinner we went back to one of our favorite spots, il Cuore di Napoli Pizzeria Restaurante where I decided it was time to try a pizza....without cheese 😉. Let me tell you, they know how to make the best pizzas here. Scott agrees!

Pizza Margherita Sin Queso at il Cuore di Napoli

Pizza Margherita at il Cuore di Napoli

Day 18:
It's Sunday the 24th of July, 2016 and in El Campello, Espana, there is yet another festival....this was pretty low key. A line of horses and horse-drawn carriages paraded through Carrer de Sant Vicent with a drumline following. This was to celebrate the Fiesta Sant Jaume, the Patron Saint of Alcudia which actually takes place in Mallorca. I dont know the relevance of the horses and why they are celebrating here but I guess any excuse for a celebration! Shortly after we noticed workers building a stage practically right out in front of our balcony. This will go on for days to come....

For lunch it was back to La Tasca Marinera!