The Adventure Begins: Hello, Valencia!
August 2-12
Our journey began with 10 days in Valencia. We LOVED our time there, despite the (nearly indescribable) heat and humidity. We tried to balance exploring with settling in, wanting to see as much as possible while also easing in to travel and trying to just “be.”
Some favorite moments included a city bike tour (a highlight of the trip so far—depending on who you ask :)), a visit to the aquarium, and a trip to the beach. We also really loved our apartment here, which provided a great home base to begin our adventure.
See some “postcards” below.
We left on August 1st with 3 large bags, 3 small bags, and 4 backpacks. We knew it was too much before even starting!
Across the Ocean we go!
When we landed in Madrid, Rachel and Amelia decided to test out gluten right away, and... no issues! They have been enjoying all the bread and pasta that they want with no ill consequences.
After an overnight flight, we boarded a train for Valencia.
Vineyards along the train route
Our first apartment in Valencia was located in Mont-Olivet. A great location with access to the Turia (large park that expands across the entire city), the Metro, and plenty of grocery stores.
We immediately loved our living space.
A sweet little balcony off the master bedroom
The kitchen was great for cooking meals. We made breakfast every day and often cooked dinner as well. Normal dinner times in Spain are 8-9pm, so if we wanted to eat earlier, it was best to do that at home.
One big adjustment has been how we do our laundry. Washing machines are a lot smaller, and dryers are not common. Our washing machine at this apartment was outside on a little balcony off the back.
We did pretty well with hanging the laundry to dry off outside our back patio. Rachel only lost one sock to the patio below! :)
The perfect little reading nook
Our first ventures in the city took us to the Turia and down to the City of Arts and Sciences, with futuristic buildings and lots of reflecting pools.
Rachel and Amelia in front of the Hemispheric, an IMAX theatre
From far away to the front: The Opera House, Hemispheric, and the Science Museum
We really enjoyed walking along this area- one more stop on another hot, but beautiful blue-sky day.
What marine-animal can you see? The (Calatrava) architecture in the City of Arts and Sciences is amazing!
Tree-lined and sun-drenched pedestrian avenues. (John's favorite).
Blue skies and the hot, hot sun. Temperatures were in the high 90s most of the time during our first visit. Shweww...and the humidity!
Sunsets were around 9pm, and the city kept hopping long after that.
Playgrounds are spread throughout the city. I think we've stopped at most of them. Haha.
Puerta de la Mar
The "Ficus Centenaris de la Glorieta" park across from the Puerta de la Mar has these amazingly large Rubber trees (originally from Australia)
Beautiful gardens throughout Valencia
Fruit and vegetable stands are found on almost every block.
Rachel might prefer to shop by herself in the U.S.; but in Spain, it is a family event! :)
The cheese selection at the grocery store is magnificent! Our favorites include Manchego and Iberico.
Grocery shopping is especially fun when you can make your own orange juice!
Straciatella Greek Yogurt! Yes, please, and thank you!
Nescafe was a staple during our shorter stays in apartments and Airbnbs. We found that we rather enjoyed it in Valencia.
El Mercado de Colón: A Beautiful Foodie Pit Stop
Gelato, Fartón, and Horchata: Starting the Dessert Game Strong. :) Quick fact: Horchata in Spain is made from Tigernuts, which are not a nut at all, but rather a tuber.
These extremely large basil bushes (Alfabegues) were found at special locations throughout the city (City Hall, The Cathedral of Valencia, the Mercado Colon). They were a gift from Betera, a local community known for growing basil.
Strolling through the Ciutat Vella
We loved capturing the flags of Valencia, Spain, and the EU right outside the Plaza de la Virgen.
These views never get old.
Balconies, windows, and street lamps, oh my!
The cross-walks in Valencia are equal opportunity, some female, and some male. This made us giggle.
The Cathedral de Valencia is on the north end of the Plaza de la Reina. The entrance is right off the square where you can clearly see the octagonal bell tower, El Miguelete.
The Cathedal of Valencia is also called the "Cathedral of the Holy Chalice." There is a separate chapel containing a chalice that is believed, with papal recognition, to be the same cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper.
The Cathedral was built between the 13th and 15th century and combines Valencian Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. The main alter features Renaissance frescos.
One of our book guides clued us into a hidden little shop at the nunnery behind the Cathedral. They are only open a few hours each day. You knock on the door and if someone answers, they will unlock the door for you. Our first visit was successful, but when we went back again, no one answered.
Inside the nunnery is a little window where you can place an order. They did have a list of options, but we were there for the chocolate truffles.
The best truffles we have ever had- made fresh at the nunnery!
A Spanish fan was not just fun, but also necessary. The heat was unreal, and having a little air moving made a big difference.
Restaurants throughout the city advertise "Agua de Valencia" - a cocktail made from cava (champagne), orange juice, vodka, and gin. John and Rachel split one (since it sounded a bit potent) and it was "okay."
Gelato is a staple in Valencia, well, perhaps in all of Spain. We indulged in gelato almost every day during our first stay (although our waists and budgets will not be able to do that for the long term).
We really enjoyed sitting outside and sharing tapas for meals.
TAPAS! One of our first days and it's time for croquetas and olives. Yum.
Patatas Bravas is collectively one of our favorites.
Sangria!
Our first paella of the trip. Not fully traditional "Valenciana" because we didn't include the rabbit. We opted for chicken only. It was delicious, and the setting was beautiful.
We finished it all off!
We took a bike tour around the city (a dream of John's). John and Joshua thrived on this trip. Rachel and Amelia were a little more unsteady and had to work hard to keep up!
Trying out the bikes for the right size
Our guide, Luke, from Valencia Bike Guy, was great! We had quite a few stops along the way for him to tell us history or stories about the city.
As we rode through the Turia, we saw a bird like we've never seen before. The kids were especially interested in this. This is a Common Hoopoe, found in North Africa and the upper Mediterranean countries.
More beautiful views along the way
Luke was great helping the kids navigate traffic.
A long bike ride to the beach. And now, time for a quick snack.
We had an excellent bike tour with Luke. It was a hot and tiring day but a tremendous way to see the city.
During our bike ride, we also learned about the street art culture in Valencia. Rachel wondered why there was so much "graffiti" only to learn that the city has freely adopted it. Joshua loved the tigers!
Julia LooL's paper paste black cats can be found hiding around the city.
We're always on the lookout now for David de Limon's robot man.
Spread your wings little one!
We went to visit Gulliver Park three times before we were successful with arriving at a time that the park was opened.
This diorama shows all of Gulliver Park in a miniature version so that you can see all of Gulliver on the ground after he was captured by the "little people."
Joshua and Amelia were so excited to play in this park. You can see Gulliver's head (with slides and climbing walls) behind them.
Rope climbing up Gulliver's arm and slides down his coat.
The determination to climb this rope wall up Gulliver's arm was intense!
Even John joined in to ride down some of the big slides.
We ventured out to La Malvarrosa Beach during our first week. Joshua and Amelia loved that the water's depth increases very gradually. And the waves were perfect for them to play in.
Eventually we all got in the water. We were shocked at how crowded the beach was on a Thursday afternoon.
We had a great time with an afternoon at the beach (and you know we stopped for gelato on the way home)!
When you look to the right down the beach, you can see the Port of Valencia...
And when you look in the other direction, you can see the mountains!
We were so impressed with the Metro system in Valencia. Large, clean, and so easy to use!
Just hanging out waiting for the train
Amelia and Joshua have become pros at reading train lines and knowing how to get around on the Metro (yay for life lessons!)
Most of the Metro cars were open from one end to the other. We haven't experienced that in any other cities.
The train station on the left and the bullfighting ring on the right.
The bull fighting ring is still in use. No, we won't be going to any bull fights. Joshua would never permit it.
John went to La Cantina when he visited Valencia last November. He was excited to share the experience with the rest of the family.
Super cute kitchen- and yes, olives!
Delicious sandwiches and a drink called "Cremaet" a combination of espresso and rum.
El Corte Ingles. A high end department store that houses clothes, home goods, electronics, and whatever else you may need!
The Oceanographic de Valencia is the 6th largest in the world. We enjoyed the dolphin show and beluga whales so much!
The Aquarium of Valencia (Oceanographic) is right next to the City of Arts and Sciences. The fun architecture continues right into the aquarium.
We spent a lot of time with the Beluga whales in the Arctic Antarctic experience.
Joshua was on the lookout for this Green Moray Eel. He was super excited to find it. Check out that stingray!
We especially enjoyed learning about the beluga whales that were rescued from an aquarium in Ukraine.
We also were able to see a dolphin show. The aquarium was very focused on conservation and rescuing/caring for animals well.
We found that the sea turtles were so inspiring for the kids...
...that they wanted to become turtles themselves.
There was also a great penguin exhibit. These guys were very active.
We were able to visit El Faro church and hope to make it our home church while we are in Valencia. During the summer they have multilingual services, which made it a lot easier to follow along. Once back in the Fall, the church will have separate services. We will probably try both the English and Spanish service.
We made a stop by the neighborhood, El Botanic, where our longer term apartment is located. We'll be renting it out from September through December (although we will still be traveling, we won't have to take all of our belongings with us every time).
City Hall. It's open to the public, includes a great museum (with A/C :)), and features a great balcony to see a beautiful view of Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
The coat of arms for the City of Valencia. Notice the bat at the top, which is on almost all symbols related to the city. Common folklore suggests that during the 13th century war for rule over Valencia, a bat flew into the tent of King James I waking him up in time to respond to a surprise attack from the Moors. With the defeat of the Moors, the bat was adopted as a symbol of protection over the city.
Salon de Cristal in the City Hall, named for all the crystal chandeliers. Notice another Albabegues (Basil)!
Amazing view from the balcony of the City Hall. We loved getting a picture with the 3 flags.
We were told we had to stop at Hundred Burgers because they had won "The World's Best Burgers" award for 2026.
The restaurant had a cool vibe and the burgers were delicious. World's best- we're not so sure about that.
Amelia's dream of sitting in a coffee shop drinking Cafe con Leche. She hopes to be able to sit in a cafe while doing her school work in the Fall.
Beautiful entrance to the Mercat Central Valencia, the biggest market in town..
So many stands of produce, spices, and meats.
The colors and textures draw you in at the market.
La Lonja de la Seda (The Silk Market) is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was very important in the silk trade from the 15th to 18th century.
The Contract Hall at La Lonja with it's twisting columns and gothic ceiling reminded us of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
The Orange Tree Courtyard at La Lonja
A quiet moment in The Orange Tree Courtyard
Can you see the oranges? They will turn from green to orange by December.
We had a bit of a hiccup when we realized that John needed an International Driving permit before we could rent a car for the next part of our adventure. It took a lot of cross country international work (with the help of John's parents) to get it to us in time.
Goodbye Valencia! We were sad to leave our little apartment but excited to know that we are coming back!