Tonight I was determined to eat paella! So I had the front desk make dinner reservations at L'Estima. This restaurant at the beach that got recommended to me by another travel person. He was right this place had some good paella! But in order for me to get there I had to take the bus. The bus stop however looked much easier on the map than it did in actuality. I got dropped off in this dark neighborhood that was more commerical than residential. The map said to walk straight south and you should hit the beach. What you see around you was nothing like what was shown on the map. So I started by following some guys who appeared to be hungry, but they got inside a vehicle and left. Then I figured just head south, so I did. One park of the way had this beginning of a horror movie set look. A dark street with no one around you just the strong beating of your heart as you picture the worst case scenarios. Needless to say my had kept holding on to that mace and I walked faster trying to find out where the people had gone.

I got to the street where my restaurant was located. The back of it was on the beach and they had this nice paved boardwalk area. I was about an hour early so I wandered around the neighborhoode and beach for a while. The only people out were joggers but the comforting part was that I saw the police car pass by about four times while I was in the area. So that made me feel safer along with calling my mom. I'm sure my guardian angel was busy keeping me safe tonight!

Dinner was fantastic!!! I had the menu dinner whiche was a four course meal. For starters I had a Valencia Salad which is lettuce, tomatoes, green and black olives, shredded pieces of fish with an olive oil and vinegar dressing. That was followed by muscles cooked in vapor with a hint of lemon. Paella Valencia was the main course. Usually it is served for two people and it even says so on the menu, but I have been wanting to eat this thing since I read about it. Paella Valencia has chicken and rabbit as meat. Yes, I ate Thumper! He was delicious too. I hate to say it but rabbit tasted like chicken. If you look at the album "last day in Valencia" you will see I cleand up my plate. And yes I kept the spoon as a reminder of a great meal! Dessert was Kiwiw in Orange juice, I know that doesn't sound great. But this wasn't just any ordinary orange juice it was Valencia Orange juice. Valencia oranges are much sweeter and tastier than other kinds of OJ if I say so myself! And of course as is common in Europe you end the meal with coffee. I am getting my fill of great tasting coffee.

Now don't get too worried as you can tell I lived to write about my night. Instead of taking the bus back I opted to grab a taxi. The waiter at the restaurant was kind enough to hail me a taxi and I made it back to my hotel safely. I had to pack tonight after dinner since I leave Valencia tomorrow afternoon.

I've really enjoyed my stay in Valencia. For being the third largest city in Spain, Valencia has manged to keep the small Spanish town feel. They keep the old tradition of having a siesta time and all the stores closing at 2pm until 4pm. Hardly anyone here speaks "tourist" English or much English at all. Spanish is the primary language and even in their musuems the signs are all in Spanish with no English subtitles. People here are healthy, lots of joggers and walkers. But can you blame them with all this nature right in the heart of town? Or the beach a few kilometers away as their backyard? I must saying coming in town I was really hesitant to use my non-existent Spanish. But slowly this place has allowed me to try out my Spanish and though the people just blurt things out at me in Spanish when I try to communicate with them. I'm getting the hang of listening and trying to catch key words that I do understand or can look up in my phrase book.