Finally, after our first week of classes, it was the weekend. But this weekend was not a weekend of rest and relaxation. We started our days early and ended them late, as this was our first opportunity to actually tour Valencia.
Since we don’t have Friday classes, our program ISA planned a Scavenger Hunt for us around part of the city. We were split up into two different groups, and we had to go from one clue to the next until we were lead to a restaurant called Horchateria – El Siglo. We visited places like the Market, the Basilica, the Cathedral y más. The Cathedral definitely slowed us down, as we had to trek up 204 stairs to the top of it. It was such a beautiful view, and from that point on, we kind of gave up on the Scavenger Hunt… Our team did come in second place/last, but it was a fun way to tour the city.
My friend Jenny and I at the start of our Scavenger Hunt...
The Cathedral in the Plaza de la Reina.
Before we knew that we were going to be climbing 204 stairs...
But the BEAUTIFUL view of Valencia from the very top of the Cathedral!
More of our Scavenger Hunt!
At the end of the Scavenger Hunt, we all met at the restaurant. We were told to order Horchata (a drink made from a plant and nuts), which originated in Valencia. There is also a Mexican version of Horchata, but they have different ingredients. The drink was absolutely amazing and refreshing (as we ordered it cold), and it definitely resembled some kind of vanilla milkshake to me. After drinking our Horchata, we walked around the Plaza de la Reina for a little bit – where the Cathedral is located.
After an eventful day, a large group of our ISA program went to a dressy club on the beach, where we celebrated a group member’s 21st birthday.
After an exhausting Friday, we all met at the City of Arts and Sciences part of Valencia on Saturday. I left the apartment around 9:30 in the morning, as we were meeting at 10:30 there. But I didn’t arrive at 10:30, as I got lost. I called one of my friends who is good with directions, and she said that I needed to keep walking… Little did she know that she was wrong about where I was located. I almost walked along the side of highway! I had gone way past our meeting location, but luckily, we figured it out, and I made it there just in time!
At 11 that morning, we went to the IMAX show in the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia. It’s no IMAX show like we’re used to in the States. Instead of watching the movie on a big screen in front of you, your chair goes all the way backwards, and you watch the movie on the ceiling. Yes, definitely different. The movie was about NASA actually and the Hubble Spacecraft. It was a rather appropriate show for the area of the city that we were in. The Arts and Sciences section of Valencia is known to be a WAY more modern and futuristic part of town. And you will be able to tell that just from the pictures! The buildings are very abstract, and each building looks as it is sitting in a pool of water.
The City of Arts and Sciences.
IMAX Movie.
After watching the IMAX show, we ventured to the Oceanográfic, which is the aquarium in Valencia. This aquarium is actually the largest aquarium in Europe. It took us almost 4 hours to walk around the entire area, as there were at least 3 different buildings with outdoor areas to view animals, such as birds and seals. But there were also indoor tanks to view fish, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, beluga whales, penguins, walruses, etc. We were able to step inside a bird sanctuary to view the rare birds closer, and most of the tanks had walkways through them, so that you could view the marine life above you. At the end of the day, we went to a dolphin show, where it seemed like both the dolphins and the humans were performing tricks. While the dolphins were performing a command, divers would climb up a super high diving board and dive into the water. It was a very entertaining show, and the group of us had a blast.
Things to Note:
1. In Spanish homes, you must wear shoes at all times. If you are getting ready to get in the shower, you must wear your shoes to the bathroom, etc. So much for total relaxation…
2. Always have a map on you at all times!!!
3. If a sign says that a store is open 24 hours, it’s definitely not true...
Happy early 4th of July to everyone!!! #proudtobeanamerican
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