As we are moving against the flow up toward the historic district, a lot of the people passing us are dressed in some sort of traditional costume. There are scores and scores of men and women dressed up – plus marching bands. And they are very accommodating with pictures as you’ll see – they just stop and smile at you and wait for you to snap.
We’ll have to look up the Falla festival when we get real internet access. Obviously a huge deal for the city – and a huge deal today! We march along against the tide and find the next restaurant with our free tapas – Navella. Right on the main walkway to the towers (and all our ship mates who have to huff it back up there to get the bus). The free tapas are great – have no clue what they are – some sort of meat mixture in filo dough. And Ed is happy with his beers – even though they are sissy beers!
We’re still hungry so we order more – I have the Jamon Croquette (more Papa than Jamone, but still good!) and Ed has his Polpo. Yum. We’re happy sitting here in the sun, on the cobblestone walk with our food and the view of the cathedral in the background.
Some of the singers and dancers from the ship are here as well, so we chat with them a bit. They are so great – and so fresh and new (and young)! But all lovely. We asked about whether the Showdown show always had the same winner – and they said no, they had different songs for the different singers – that answers that! I told them they were all great, but really, last week, the guy who sang Rolling Stones should not have been voted off. We’ll see tonight!
After a bit, we head off to find the crypts, the one museum I knew I wanted to see. And, just our luck, we walk up at exactly 2pm (as the fireworks are going off in the square at the south end of the city sounding like a whole barrage of M80s) and the docent is walking out and locking the door. Darn! They reopen at 3, but that’s too late for us, we don’t want to cut it close on the bus. pooh. So we go around the corner to the Almoina, which is an excavation where you can see the history of the city of Valencia. Parts of the Roman, Visigoth and Arab cities that predated current Valencia are all in existence here. Baths, Forums, baptistery and necropolis have all been uncovered. Sadly for us, the excavation is only partially open. Not much to see, but we take a couple pictures then skeedaddle.
Back down to Plaza Reina, through Plaza de la Virgen, we take in the lovely old buildings and festival paraphernalia.
We’re close to the bus stop now, and decide to stop for a final beer and wine….and Bunuelos! This is my splurge – I didn’t do the French pastries, but these delectable little things were driving me crazy this morning as we walked past them being made fresh. They are basically a cross between Beignets and donuts and oh so good (well, probably better fresh in the morning, but the reheated ones were pretty darn good too!).
As we finish our afternoon snack, the crowds return going in the other direction. Here come all the costumed ladies and the marching bands….Wow! That was a fast festival!
We watch them all pass, then get up ourselves to go catch the bus back to the ship. It all works flawlessly, and we are aboard, and I am napping in no time at all! Another new port, and another great adventure.
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