I'm a long way from home
But even across the Atlantic Ocean, the city of Valencia makes you feel right at home with ease
It's a coastal city with a dream climate
So trading in my usually brisk Canadian Novembers for beach weather -- nothing to complain about
But the sunny Spanish coast has more to offer than just that
The country's third-largest city boasts rich cultural and architectural history
But also, sections of striking modern entertainment complexes
And with the addition of several beautiful beaches
It's a formula for a great tourist destination
And by no means as busy as Madrid or Barcelona
This time around though, I'm not a tourist
Valencia is my temporary home
for just a short little while, as I take on a contract as an English teacher at a private language school
So while I'm here trying to live like a local, I'll show you around
Here's a day in the life in Valencia -- through my eyes
-Hola, buenas
-Uno de esos
Bienvenidos a Monteolivete
It's my neighborhood -- in the Southeast region of the city
Just walking distance from one of the top must-see places in Valencia
La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
Or, the City of Arts and Sciences
An iconic series of buildings, including a planetarium, museum, aquarium and performing arts centre
Its stunning design and composition helping it claim the title as one of the 12 Treasures of Spain
The work of Valencian-born architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava
Easily able to take your breath away
That cultural and entertainment complex
it sets at the end of what used to be the riverbed of the Turia
A river that was drained and rerouted after a deadly, catastrophic flood in the late 1950s
Now, it's one of Spain's largest urban parks
Nine kilometres of gardens, cycling and footpaths
Connecting some of the city's most interesting spots
The green belt running like a vital vein through Valencia
Follow the Turia north and you'll eventually reach Valencia's historic centre
lined with restaurants and cafes
Where, by the way, you can actually sit and enjoy your coffee -- no caffeine to go here
But the area is rich with a twist of cultural influences injected over time
From the city's Roman roots all the way back in 138 BC
to its Muslim rule starting in 714 AD
and to the Christian siege and reconquest in the early 1200s
Some of the city's major monuments were built in this time
Including el Torre del Micalet
a 15th century gothic bell tower overlooking a cathedral
And for only two euros, you can climb it
All 207 steps -- each one worth the view
-Empiezo? Empiezo la canción? (Start? Start the song?)
-Vale (Okay)
Speaking of views, no photo or video can do this place justice
While you can find a handful of beaches in and around Valencia
Playa de la Malvarrosa is a must-see destination
Its long and vast beach bordered on one side by tranquil waters, and the other, by a busy boardwalk
Where you can grab some Valencian paella, a traditional rice dish woven into the city's identity
(Doorbell)
-Hola
Or if you're having a lazy day like me
plenty of restaurants in the city also do home delivery
All of it readily available at your fingertips
-...traditional Valenciana salad
Maybe I went a little overboard
But if you're planning a night out in Valencia you better fill up, cause you may be in for the long haul
Unlike in North America...
...nights are a little longer in Spain
And in a bar hopping haven like Valencia
there's plenty of time and room for all different flavors of fun
Or even some bad and memorable decisions
Kind of like this one: A late-night snack from a streetside hamburger vending machine
-That's like the best one! Or should I get the waffle? No, that's cheating if I get the waffle, right?
-You're going to taste it
I'll spoil the moment and just tell you:
Zero out of ten, do not recommend
But, what I do recommend is enjoying a taste of what this city has to offer
Its wealth of history
Its prime cafe culture
Its easygoing atmosphere
And its friendly folk
Many of whom, if you ask, wouldn't live anywhere else in the world