Valencia, Spain Impressions

(The Blogger App is not allowing me to include any photos for some reason so I provide you with links that include text and graphics for your viewing pleasure. Yes, I know some text is in Spanish, but the photos are all in English.)

March 16:
We had a good long ride to get here and have been busy walking around the historical part of Valencia. Visits have included the Cathedral, which is unique in that unlike most cathedrals, it includes multiple architectural styles but like many others is overwhelming in it beauty.

Pictures of these majestic buildings do not, in my opinion, convey what one experiences inside, so I don't even take photos inside. I encourage you to visit Valencia when you travel, plan to spend time taking it in.

We also enjoyed time in the Museo Nacional de Cerámica y de las Artes Suntuarias González Martí, which includes more than ceramics - there are all kinds of decorative arts on display. Then we visited the Lonja de la Seda, which means silk exchange in English, another incredible building that was a center of international trade. The building details and scale are impressive and I am always amazed at how well these places hold up for hundreds of years.
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TOJ of the Day is Samuel Serfaty, an interesting resident of Valencia.

Technical Issues while having fun

Google's Blogger App doesn't work with images or links so I have been unable to share any images with you, but I will see if I can figure it out in the next few days.

Short version is it has been wonderful. We are in the Valencia Airport headed for Porto, Portugal.

Seeing the other side of Spain . . .

There is a five Euro note hanging on the wall of an apartment in Valencia waiting for me to share a beer with my friend Pablo who had joined us on my Camino walk in 2016.

So I decided to visit during Las Fallas, a festival celebrating, well, celebration, I guess.  Festivals are an important part of life in Spain, and in my desire to learn more about my about-to-be-adopted homeland, I am taking advantage of Pablo’s hospitality to learn more about festivals.

Featured Paper Constructions around Valencia to be burned the last night

A central feature of Las Fallas seems to be creating larger than life three-dimensional art from flammable materials and burning them up on the last day.  Oh yes, it is many days of festivities, all for Saint Joseph.  Yes, that Saint Joseph, husband of Mary, the earthly father figure who raised Jesus.

An example of the finale of Las Fallas

Traveling to Las Fallas is really a good excuse to walk around Europe again, this time with my wife, Ann, and my son, Jack.

At the conclusion of our days with Pablo in Valencia we will fly to Porto, Portugal and walk about 150 miles north to Santiago de Compostela, allowing Jack and Ann to experience a Camino and  to once again allowing me to enjoy the special experience of seeing new things and new people each day, live a minimalist life and discover secrets that lay in plain view.

I invite you to follow along with us as we post our thoughts, lovely sights and portraits of beloved friends.  Our plan is to walk starting on March 22 and arriving in Santiago on Saturday, March 30 to be there for Easter morning, April 1st.

After our walk, Ann and I will be exploring a couple of towns that hold promise for our first home in Spain later in the year.  Please travel along from the comfort of your home as we fly, walk, train and bus around meeting new people and seeing new places.