This is truly a wonderful walk although quite bonkers idea. Valencia had a nice river running through it and in the 60’s the good town people, fed up of being flooded on a too regular base decided that it would make sense tova divert the river and turn the river bed into a landscape garden, park, playing fields, just for pedestrian and bikes. Only in the 60’s… we think the whole council must have been smoking something quite strong… not only it must have cost a bomb, but the logistic of it cannot have been simple. Still the result is absolutely brilliant, although the guide book mentioned that the Valencia’s tax payers may not all agree. The trees and plants are well established, and they have kept plenty of water around with fountains and water features. It is quite fun to pass underneath the bridges, some of them quite old with great statues, on foot. On our way we are passing the city of sciences and art. Again, architecturally striking buildings, all of them futuristic, but with loads of reference to the Gaudi building of the turn of the century in Barcelona. The white tiles shimmer in the sunlight and the water features are swimming pool blue. The reflections in the water make it even more unworldly. In places like this, you realise the vision some people have are quite extraordinary. What I would give to chat to them and try to understand how it all is created and come together and work so well.
The dry riverbed led us to the old part of town with all the old monuments. The town was quiet, except for the bars and restaurants which were heaving, Most of the shops were closed for the siesta, we had the town to ourselves. We did find the market which was just about to closed but we managed a few minutes to admire the structure, the stain glass and the tiles.
Although we had talked of taking the public transport to get back to the marina, I was quite keen to see the city of sciences and art in the fading light of early evening so we retraced our steps back down the river bed and it’s gardens. The place was now alive with loads of people and kids playing everywhere. And I was right the evening light on those building was just beautiful. Ian had a job tearing me away from there.
3rd September
We decided to stay another night in Valencia as the wind was really light and Ian wanted to spend the day fiddling around with stuff. So I spent the day sorting out all the pictures I had taken the day before, and there was plenty of them. I had been promised that we could go for a swim later in the afternoon, the water in the marina was at 28 degrees according to our instruments. We had new neighbours this morning, Ed and Nicky from Belgium, on Fast Ana, when I mentioned swimming in late afternoon, they were keen to join us. Nicky has been working on the ARC for the last few years so she was a mine of useful information. We had a great evening on Mr X, around dinner and a nice bottle of wine. Loads of entertaining stories were told and experience shared in both French and English, Ian could finally fully participate in the conversation, and not work under enemy lines as he likes to term it.