A Long and Tiring Trip

Saturday, June 10, 2017--Valencia (Pronounced with a "B" instead of a "V"), Spain

Today was a long travel day I had been dreading--a 9 1/2 hour bus trip from Granada to Valencia.  We left the apartment at 8:45, took 40 minutes to walk to the station, caught the bus at 9:50, and arrived in Valencia at 19:25 after twisting and winding through mountains all day.  There was an added pressure, too.  Our reservation in Valencia was for the B&B Almirante which keeps reception open only until 20:00 and was a 23 minute walk from the bus station.  Since the bus arrived at 19:25, we thought we had enough time, but when the driver opened the luggage compartment, our bags had been pushed far to the back behind and under other bags.  By the time we got our bags, it was 19:32!

We rushed to the B&B.  Fortunately, I had already made arrangements for them to wait late for us after 20:00 at a cost of 10 Euros, if necessary, but I wanted to beat the clock and not require anyone to stay later than normal for us.   We ran across streets against red lights when no traffic was coming (which is common in Spain).  We took the most direct route.  And we beat the Google suggested time to walk the distance by 10 minutes!  We arrived at 19:50!!

Juan, one of the owners, was outside waiting having already closed early for the night knowing we were the only ones left to arrive and that we might be late.  He brought us into the old building just a few blocks from the Cathedral, up the large curving staircase, and into the door to the B&B.  There are 9 units, but only 7 on our side which also includes an outdoor patio, a living room, and a kitchen area.  We have a small suite that includes a bedroom with two twin beds, a small living area through an arched opening that includes a sofa and a TV, and a bath.  Our windows look out onto the open patio. 

After settling into the room, we left to go to a nearby supermarket to buy some happy hour supplies for tonight and tomorrow night, since stores will be closed tomorrow.  On the way to the store, however, we could hear drum music.  We headed that way.  On a major square just 4 blocks away, a samba band was performing.  And while watching the activities on the square, we noticed that the Basilica de la Mar de Deu was open.  We first noticed it because of the rose petals and rice on the ground that had been thrown at couples getting married today.  We went inside and were able to see the beautiful, ornate chapel.

Just past there, we noticed that the Cathedral was open, too.  We entered just as mass was ending.  The building is nice with LOTS of gold in the alter area.  There was also an impressive doll-like image in an open case at the alter which made us wonder if the case was open only because this is the period for the celebration of Corpus Christi starting today and lasting for 4 more days.

Best of all, the door was open to the side Capila de Santo Caliz, a Gothic vaulted chapel.  A wedding of an elderly couple had just ended there, so we got to see the severe, but beautiful, features of this chapel, too. 

After that, we headed to the store for bread and wine.  At home we sat at a table on the patio with votive candles around us and had a bread/salami sandwich, olives, peanuts, potato chips, and wine happy hour. 

Now we are back in our room and tired.  Wes is having some pain inside his knee that feels like a muscle cramp.  He is researching it to see what might be the problem.  We are both tired and will go to bed soon.

But one other interesting thing about today:  We passed a town called Benidorm which neither of us knew.  Wes researched it while I was writing this, because we were amazed at all the skyscrapers there.  Online, he read that it has the most skyscrapers per capita of anywhere in the world.  It looked like a Manhattan or a Hong Kong.  But with all the skyscrapers we saw, it only had a population in 2014 of 69,000 people!!  Apparently a lot of the owners of units in the skyscrapers are absentee owners--probably British and other EU members who want a second home close to the nice beaches in this area of Spain.