Academics:
International Studies
Garrett in Spain
Journal #3
Posted 10-20-03:
well hello all! just letting you all know about my valencia trip. well i left on thursday night at 10:30pm to valencia. this was my first trip on train and of course i was not able to sleep but soon enough i landed in valencia...i guess it was about 6:00 am friday morning.
since i had a while before i could check into my room, which i had already reserved, since i did not want to run into another problem like the one in cadiz. (actually i wanted curro my host brother to call and make a reservation but he would not do it.
he said it would be good practice for me so i had to do it.)
anyways i am in valencia and it is still dark so i decided to start to walk the city, since there was no one on the streets it was very peaceful. it was beautiful and since i had my travel guides i actually knew where i was. so i headed to the cathedral and took pictures with my wonderful camera (thanks memaw).
soon i got very tired and walked to my hostel to get some rest and on the way i did what every good person would do... i helped feed the needy (i don't mind helping at all, especially when afraid of the person).
i found my hostel and crawled into bed for an early siesta. i got up around 12:30 and was off to attack the city.
valencia is a larger city and there is a lot to see so i knew that i needed to hurry. well i believe i hit almost every museum and art gallery in town before 9pm. (ok ok so i missed a few but we will get them tomorrow...)
so i went and ate at this wonderful Italian food joint and of course the waiter tries his best to talk to me in English so i once again tell him that i understand Spanish and they give me the look (like i am just another stupid united statesian). i finally convinced him and i believe that this meal has been the most enjoyable meal i have had thus far in my adventures. the wait staff was great and the food was wonderful. i wish every place in spain had the this kind environment.
also that night i went to the center of town and took pictures of the town hall and their fountain out front. this is a sight to see.
the next day came soon enough and i was off to the museum de falleros. each year, i think in march, valencia has a huge event called "falles?" where people carve sculptures (falleros) and carry them throughout the town...ok ok i may be completely wrong about this but i believe this is what i read...anyhoo at the end of this festival they burn most of the falleros but leave the best ones to put in the museum. it was very interesting and if i knew how to send you pictures, i would send you some pictures of the falleros.
that afternoon i went to the science park which consists of the science museum, the hemispheric, and the oceanographic which are all side by side.
the science musuem was very interesting even though i hate science. the hemispheric is what we would call the imax theater and the oceanographic was very cool. it was kind of like a sea world with out the rides-only animals and information about them. plus they had under ground aquariums as well which were very neat. i would be walking through a hallway and i shark would swim over my head.
after i was finished visiting the park it was late so i went to eat and i needed to plan out my next day.
i really wanted to go to a town called sagunto but it was thirty minutes away so i had to think about it.
well i got up the next morning at 8 and headed for sagunto. i got off the train at 10 and headed for the medieval castle which happens to be a national monument. it was great. i am so glad i went.
i was also able to see their roman theater which had just been renovated. i came back to valencia that afternoon and headed for the palace of music.
it was probably one the newest looking buildings in valencia. pretty cool, and below the palace was a huge row of fountains that were close to the length of a football field. it was very impressive.
that evening i had to kill time before my train ride so i went to see a movie called carmen. it was very intense and really good. it made me wonder how much one would do for love.
well that night at 12:00 i got on the train and headed back to granada. i got here at 8:00am and headed for bed. this week was my first real week of classes and i have really enjoyed them. i like all of my teachers and i think all is going to go well.
so now i am off, for the sangria calls....
garrett
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