A day trip out to the beautiful city of Valencia reminded us that we are just tourists and therefore will be charged Tourist Prices for a drink in the sunny square right under the most popular church in the city!! 5 for a 330ml beer and 8 for a sugary sweet flavourless Sangria bought us back to earth with a bump, having got used to 3 for a pint, 1.50 for a soft drink and 1.50 for a glass of wine in Benicassim.!!nnWe were spoiled by the choice of Tapas available and enjoyed several mid morning as well as a bowl of paella late afternoon. We had been to Valencia before and felt no need to rush about and explore churches, the parliamentary buildings or fantastic architecure, so just wandered and took photos in between eating and drinking! Sticking with the food theme, we wandered into the Mercat (fresh meat, veg and fish market) and soaked in the sounds, smells and sights.nn
One small selection of tapas! You take a plate and eat as much as you want, you are charged per “stcik” left on the plate. Cream cheese was popular here, topped with strawberries, crispy bacon and cherry tomatoes; egg mayo was topped with crispy bacon or avocado; goats cheese topped with sardines or fried aubergines; mini croissants filled with cocktail sausages and fried onions!!
One of the many salad, fruit and veg stalls.
At a charguterie stall, you can buy parma ham ranging from 69 per kilo (on the right) to 189 per kilo on the left. Behind the counter you will find the “cheaper” range, averaging 15 per kilo!!
The butchery counters are the same as the charcuterie, you can buy fresh rib beef at 10 per kilo or aged (read yellow fat, mouldy bone ends) beef at 90 per kilo!! I’m sure it tastes nicer!!
Not being a fan, I cannot comment on the fish, apart from saying the displays are so neat and colourful!!
Talking of colourful, one square was full of florists!
This is the Town Hall; once you pass through Seciruty, you can wander about the building alongside the Town’s ministers and dignataries.
The town’s railway station (on the right) and bullring (in the middle)
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We also paid a visit to the House of Rocks, so called because the statues that are paraded around the City are on bases that are so solid, they are called rocks. The statues represent worldwide nationalities that the church reaches out to across the world and are 20 feet tall. The mythical beasts are part of a religious story told to nurture friendship and love.
The “horsemen” are part of the parade.
Looking down on the statues….
We paid a brief visit to the more modern Arts, Sport and Culture part of the city.
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