Day in Valencia

Thanks for comments - yes Carolyn, we are actually relaxing rather a lot - there´s something about warm sunshine, no responsibilities, other laid-back people around us, good food and cheap wine!!! Sorry about the computer problems at No.11 - welcome back to speed-mail. Good to hear from the Dunnings too.

We didn´t do the geocaching, reported the other day. Realised the ones we´d found were rather a long way north and as we are going to be going that way one day next week (making our way home) decided to try then. So it was back on the bikes on Wed afternoon, but the forecasted high winds began about that time. So we had sand blowing in our faces and into our cup of tea! But that was only the start of it. During the night it was up to gale force with gusts of up to 80 mph - we think the strongest winds we have experienced in the van. Had to take down our little outhouse, just in case - well, we did that before we went to bed. During the night 4 awnings were destroyed and several branches had fallen off trees, including one landing on the roof of one of the chalets. We were fine, but along with everyone else, had very broken sleep.

Then we had to be up (relatively) early for the trip to Valencia yesterday. It was still blowing a gale and unfortunately Val and Bernard decided not to go after all as wind really affects Val´s heart condition. So we went off on the coach, first passing a white van that had toppled over the edge of the road, then a huge fire on the hilltop - not sure what could have set that off, maybe the strong sun - but sending billows of smoke over the houses and roads. No more hazards though until we reached the city. We were unloaded by the station, so that we could use the facilities for 10 mins before we were to be taken on a guided walking tour. In those few moments one poor couple had their wallet stolen, so we all waited while our guide helped them get sorted with the police. Eventually we got on our way, visiting some beautiful and interesting sights. The post office was one of the best!! It was only build in 1922 and refurbished a couple of years ago (don´t remember it when we came 2 years ago, so it was probably covered in wraps then). It´s a magnificent building with columns outside and inside, marble floor, circular and actually seemed more like an ancient library (not a bit like Horsham!!!) with a domed glass roof. Went on to see the Silk Exchange, built around a courtyard with orange trees growing in it, the outside of the cathedral - not sure why we were n´t taken inside´- and another chapel. On the way through the streets we kept seeing people in fabulous costumes, all getting ready for the ´Fallas´, an important festival in Valencia later in the month. The ladies-in-waiting had beautifully hand-embroidered dresses and the chaps had similarly decorated waistcoats. Then came the chaps with huge paper mache heads on and they carried things a bit like witches broomsticks, but flat and tapped people on the heads with them. I got two lots of tapping! Then in one of the squares, we were asked to wait at the side as a group of dignitaries were coming through. Then a lady dressed to the nines, but as John noticed, with grubby shoes, came and asked where we came from (this is the group of us, not just us) and then started shaking all our hands and saying nice things (we think!). One of her body-guards then confided to us that she is the mayor of Valencia. Well, we only meet the best people!!!

After lots more foot-slogging, but enjoying it all a lot, we arrived at the point where we were picked up by the coach to take us to where we could get lunch (it was now nearly 2 pm). Imagine our surprise when we pulled up a few yards from the spot where our van was broken into 2 years ago!! There´s a huge, very upmarket shopping mall there and we found a super place to eat - a Buffet Mediteranean where we could eat as much as we wanted for 9.35 Euros. Just what we needed. You should have seen the desserts!!!! We were now opposite the Ciudad Arts and Science Centre that we visited before and although we didn´t have time to go into any of the museums, we enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere around the gardens and lakes surrounding them.

The wind had eased a lot while we were in Valencia, but as soon as we got back to Benicassim, it was still blowing quite well. Not as badly though and by this morning it had all died out completely.

Back to sunshine today, so a lot more relaxing, including a barbecue lunch and more of those yummy chocky bananas! Well you have to use up the heat in the coals don´t you?

Hope to hear from more of you soon,
Love A & J