Valencia

I found it really difficult to write this blog post, mostly because I really wanted to do Valencia justice. I thought it was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been and completely fell in love with the place. So here goes....

I had my doubts before I went to Valencia, I have been to Spain previously and never really liked it, having been to the tourist-laden areas void of any real Spanish culture.

However having only spent a couple of hours in Valencia, all the old memories of Spain were wiped away. 

It is an astonishingly beautiful city, every building is reminiscent of it's grand old days, each with some magnificent painting or masonry. Most also have the most incredible, huge double doors at the entrance, probably with the original wood and metal nuts and bolts. I think I annoyed S with amount of times I said "Look at that DOOR!!!"

The weather is pretty much guaranteed over there and Valencia also lies right next to the beach so those, like me, who need a Summer break with some sea in it too, it is perfect.

From what I can tell, Valencia, the 3rd biggest city in Spain, has not been affected too badly by the recession and the troubles of the Eurozone. Designer shops, extremely well-dressed women and men in suits all litter the streets, so it is still a fairly bustling and rich city in the grand scheme of things.

There is an area of bars and clubs in Valencia, (you'll know where it is from the direction hoards of people are travelling) but during the day it is does not look seedy or dirty at all. It is a nice area, we even ate there one night (where we also happen to see the most gorgeous man in the history of the world. Seriously, he was not real).

Things you HAVE to see (after the jump!) :

The Cathedral. 

Built in the 15th century, however laying upon foundations of a mosque built in the 1200s (from the old Moorish Empire) it holds inside what many consider the Holy Grail. For those who aren't afraid of the height you can also climb up the tower and get a beautiful view out over the city.

Mercado Central

Or the Central Market in English, was my absolute favourite place in the whole of Valencia. It is a food lovers dream. Open every day, apart from Sunday, take a trip here and grab a picnic instead of buying lunch out. It will be a hell of a lot cheaper and much tastier. Prices are ridiculously cheap and you can find everything you could ever want. Huge pieces of delicious fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, nuts, pastries, fresh bread, cheese and most importantly, any kind of ham you could ever want. I've never eaten that much ham in my life. Our staple lunch became figs with manchego cheese and aged Iberico ham.

Bottom left! Hi S!!

Our haul

The guy we bought our jamon from!

Don't bother having your €15 "continental" breakfast in your hotel either. Look out for Forn Patisserie, who do a breakfast deal of a glass of orange juice, freshly ground coffee and a sandwich, pastry or muffin of your choice for €3. Yes. I did not make a mistake there. THREE. EUROS. Ridiculous. Needless to say we were there nearly every day.

Inhabitants of the city actually frequent the market for their everyday shopping, it is not just a tourist trap so the prices reflect what the normal people can spend.

Opposite the Mercado Central is La Lonja, an old silk exchange and an incredible example of 15th century architecture. There are gargoyles on it!

The Bull Ring

I find bull rings so fascinating. I don't understand or perhaps agree with what they do inside, but it is an incredible tradition and one that is synonymous with Spain. You can get a guided tour of the bull ring, if you're lucky see the actual bulls they will use, and a detailed explanation of the customs during the performance. You also get a tour of the museum, where you can watch a video of a bull fight.

There are only around 25 performances a year, so if you can stomach it, go and watch one. After the video in the museum, we decided we couldn't do it.

Horchateria Santa Catalina

You may have heard of horchata (Vampire Weekend song!), but if not it is a speciality of Valencia. It is dairy-free, refreshing nut milk drink, with spices and sugar. Head here for the best and most authentic in the city.

The City of Arts and Sciences

This place is huge. It is a collection of sculptural buildings containing museums of fine arts and science, an aquarium and an opera house among many other things. If you don't want to go inside, just go to see the buildings themselves, they are huge and pretty amazing. You can take a walk in the nearby Turia Riverbed Park at the same time.

We decided to go into the aquarium, the largest in Europe. If you've ever seen the famous photos of someone standing in a tunnel with a shark swimming above them, this is that aquarium. Dolphin shows happen periodically throughout the day so check times if you want to go.

It is open till midnight every day and then from 1am you should head to the rooftop bar and club that is situated in the middle of the "city". It's called Mya (pronounced Mia) and it is huge and the best night you will have in Valencia! It is huge, with palm trees all around, loads of seating including little private booths. Grab a drink, dance and watch the sun rise!

BioPark

The Biopark is essentially a gigantic zoo. But it is the best zoo I have ever been to and one of the best things we did in Valencia. I would definitely recommend you going. I have never been so awe-struck by animals before. Open till 9 o'clock, they recommend leaving at least 2 hours to see the whole park.

The Beach and Marina

There are two main beaches Malvarrosa and Las Arenas. The beach is huge and there is plenty of space for everyone. There is of course the opportunity to rent umbrellas and sun beds, but there are shops near by selling cheap umbrellas if you only want them for a little while.

The best food you will find is, strangely, by the beach. Valencia is the birth place of paella so for some of the best head to Hemingway's favourite haunt, La Pepica. Also near by is Casa Montana, where I had the best tapas whilst I was there and they also have a wine cellar with over 2000 wines. Their wine of the day cost us just €2 a glass.

The marina is a little walk up the beach, where many huge boats are. If you're a sucker for a gorgeous (super) yacht then have a gander. It's also where part of the Americas (?!) cup is held - that world sailing thing. I'm not sure if the Americas is a golf tournament. Anyway, you can see all the teams work stations, it wasn't on when we were there but still cool to look at.

Tips: 

- Getting around the city is so easy. From the airport take the metro to the nearest stop to your hotel and then within the city, buses are €1.50 for a single journey.

-  Get a hotel in the old part of town. That is where everything is so you will be in the middle of it all. You will have to walk for a while if you get one on the other side of the riverbed park in the newer part of town.

- Don't expect to eat dinner before the sun goes down, 9pm earliest. The Spanish have a long, late lunch during their siesta and then the sun dictates when they eat. Tapas you can eat all day long however.

-Watch out for that bread they so kindly bring over at restaurants. It might be costing you €1 per piece, so if you're on a tight budget don't touch it!

-Paella is a lunch time dish, so head to your chosen restaurant for one at the appropriate time. They might not serve it later.

-Although it is a big city, don't expect them to speak English!!

Strangely, Valencia isn't packed with tourists. I would love to be able to keep this city all to myself, but I don't think enough people appreciate as a holiday destination. I can't stress how breathtakingly beautiful it is! So please please go and show this city some love. I absolutely loved it and I know you will too.