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I've decided not to fight it anymore espeically here in Valencia where the siesta is taken very seriously. I got in around 11 am and let me just say my flight was an experience. The plane was a so small that the wings were above and from my seat I could see the wheels. Man I haven't been on a plane like this (the kind where you walk out to the plane and then up five steps to get inside it) since the Philipines. The flight was quick about 50 minutes, enough for a drink and a sermon on my ipod since I only visited a church but never really attended a service yesterday.
The ride to the hotel was uneventful but my room wasn't ready so I had them hold my luggage and wandered around a bit. The main reason I'm visiting Valencia is not for the oranges, the fireworks or the "holy grail" it is for the City of Arts and Sciences or to be more specific the L'Oceanografico. After watching a Travel Channel special on how the largest Aquarium in Europe came to be and the while beluga whales that found a new home in Spain, I was hooked and determined to go see them. The special showed a few more times on the Travel Channel these past two years to help keep the flame of traveling to Valencia to see the whales alive in my mind. Yes, I know the Travel Channel is a dangerous thing to place in front of me, it just keeps giving me more ideas. But I love it!
As you can see from the pictures I posted the architecture is amazing and so modern. The lines, symmetry, reflection and asthetics of the designs of the buildings just mesmerizing. Well to me they are anyways! My artistic spirits were refreshed as I walked around. Then I sort of got lost, it was like trying to find your way out of a maze but you weren't sure where to go exactly since there was still construction going on in the park area. Fortunately this kind old gentleman helped me out, he spoke Spanish and pointed while I looked and nodded my head like I understood him. That was a nice guy not like the second guy I met.
Once I got back to the hotel my room was ready for me so I went upstairs to the 9th floor. Yeah I upgraded since I wanted the free internet and quiet. My room in Barcelona was facing the street and there were two clubs across that had their music beating and thumping till 4 o'clock in the morning. Sleep and rest is what I intend to do here. There are so many things besides the City of Arts and Science to see here in Valencia. I found that out once I asked the lady at the front counter. She pulled out a map and told me how to get to the old town via bus.
Okay now to my "excitment" for the day so far. I was waiting at the bus stop minding my own business, reading my phrasebook and rehearsing what to say to the driver to get a ticket when this blue old Honda SUV pulls up. This balding, old 290 (CA PC code for sex offenders)looking guy does a 'weeinie wacker' on me! I was so stunned! He kept yammering on in Spanish grabbing what looked like an old brown rotten banana slug. EWWWWwwwwww!!! I kept praying for him to go away and ignored him turning around to face the smart elderly lady who was two benches away near where the parked cars were. You could hardly see her but she could see the bus coming, yeah I know what to do know. Meanwhile that guy kept backing up his vehicle, jabbering while I was doing my best to slowly walk away and pretend to be really searching for the bus. Cars were passing by honking at him, mind you this guy was there for like 5 minutes before he finally gave up and decided I wasn't going to turn around. What is it with all these creepy guys that keep coming up to me? I mean I thought I was doing real well blending in, no one harassing me for postcards or anything then you get crazy 5150 types that somehow manage to find me. Needless to say I was really missing my mace can at that moment!
Old town was beautiful. I don't understand how people can just keep walking around without glimpsing up at the imposing structures and facade. So many beautiful buildings to gawk at and when you pass by some alley ways you get glimpses into the daily neighborhood lives or an old church is hidden. But come 2pm all the stores close and everyone flees to the nearest watering hole. Siesta time is still taken seriously here in Valencia. So instead of fighting with the culture I've decided to embrace it and hop the bus back to my hotel where I am now sharing with y'all my "interesting" experience of the day.
I'm going to have dinner at 9pm tonight. The hotel has a reservation service that will try to get me a table for 1 at a local restaurant that serves some good paella. Now that is a meal I'm looking forward too but now I must be off. I need to get some tennis shoes or comfortable walking shoes. It's only been 3 days but I've already got thee blisters on each feet and a few callouses.
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