Oranges? Paella? Must be...Valencia!

Sorry about this, but this week I interspersed pictures from Madrid with pictures from Valencia, but I tried to clarify with the captions. Anyway, I suppose I'll start with the Madrid Christmas festivities. Basically, last weekend, because my friend Ashley is obsessed with Christmas (just kidding Ashley, I wanted to go too, of course :)), we trekked out into the cold (I'll admit I was wearing long-underwear under my jeans) to see the Madrid Christmas lights. As you can see from the pictures, they were beautiful, even if it was cold. 

Joan and Me + Valencia 

Valencia Market

Okay, so now onto Valencia!!! I love Valencia! I love the paella, I love the oranges, I love the market of artisans (notice the beautiful abanico in the foto).  Going there was super easy. The seats on the bus were more comfortable than seats on a plane! The trip is only four hours and we took a stop halfway at a nice rest area.

Oranges!!!

As for the hostel--so Joan booked her bed after the three of us and there are only rooms of four. We assumed because she got the last bed in a four person room she'd be with us because she only booked it a few days after us. Well, you know what happens when you assume. Needless to say, Joan was not the person in our room, which meant that poor Joan was stuck in a room with three other strangers the first night and we were stuck with......ready for it...a 60 year old Canadian man!

Valenciano--yet another dialect of Spain who knew?

Kids must have so much fun on this playground, right?

That's right. We walk into the room after walking around Valencia and who do we see sleeping in one of the beds? A 60 year old Canadian man. How did we know he was Canadian? Suffice it to say I did some investigating (aka looked at a luggage tag on his bookbag...maybe a bit intrusive, but I like to know who I'm sleeping in the same room with...). Anyway, Ashley, Helen, and I were like schoolgirls giggling forever. We just couldn't stop!! And you know what? The man did not wake up!! Honestly, he kept snoring away!!! We were sooo confused. I mean, it was like the man could have slept through a nuclear bomb. We didn't know how he was doing it. Then, in the morning, I get out of the bathroom (in a towel, whoops) and the man is sitting on the bed and asks if he can use the bathroom. I say yes, he goes to the bathroom, and what do I see on the bed...hearing aids!! The poor man is hard of hearing. What the hell are the odds of that?

Me and Joan + Science Museum 

That day we went to the Science museum which had some neat exhibits--on about Star Trek and another about chromosomes with some cool interactive features. I highly recommend this museum for kids--the architecture will amaze the parents and the exhibits will be enjoyable to the parents and the kids.

But now onto my favorite part...the aquarium. If you happen to find yourself traveling in Spain, I don't care what part you could be all the way up in Barcelona--make your way to Valencia just for the aquarium alone. It.Is.Amazing. Firstly, It.Is.Huge. Secondly...they have amazing tunnels where fish swim over you (okay, I know they have this in other aquariums, but these are awesome, yes I said these, there's more than one!) Plus, there are baby belugas! Come on, how adorable are baby belugas?! There's also this really strange fish called a sunfish I believe. We had no idea what it was. At first I was convinced it was a turtle. I was mistaken. 

Star Trek anyone?

Omg 70 degrees. Dude it's December. Not sure what this is, but I know I like it 

Ashley and Helen Aren't they cute?

The next day we walked around the artisan market again looking for some gifties. Then we went into the cathedral and climbed up the tower. Easier said than done. Those stairs were quite the feat. But, it was totally worth it. The view from the tower is incredible. We had way too much fun literally jumping around the top of the tower :). Oh, and the inside of the cathedral is beautiful too, of course.

Jellies!

WHAT IS IT?!

Fishies 

Pre-Trip antics :)

Just a word about the "metro" in Valencia. It is actually part metro part light rail. After trekking from out hostel in search of the Mediterranean (btw sorry Helen we never actually got to the beach beach, but rather just saw a view of some yachts in what I believe was in inlet...hard to tell when it's pitch-black out) we realized it was getting late and we should try to make our way back to the center for some dinner. After finally finding the metro, we get on, only to realize after a few seconds that the conductor had gotten out! And, yes, we were still IN the metro. Suddenly nervous that we would have to live the rest of our lives in the metro car, we asked the conductor what was going on. Turns out, he was just switching ends of the metro because it was the last stop and the metro was going to start going the other direction. We didn't feel stupid at all....  

Pre-Trip lights in Madrid 

Plaza Mayor at around 12:00 AM/as if it were 9:30 pm in the US...

Me and Joan at the top of the tower of the cathedral in Valencia

It's cold in Madrid ah!

And, as my last trip, I'm glad it was to another city in Spain. I have had the most incredible time this semester. I cannot thank my parents enough for being so supportive of my spending a semester abroad. The things I have been able to do and see are truly priceless. Above all, however, I have made some of the best friends. What I realized about being in Valencia is that it wasn't just Valencia. It was the people who were in Valencia with me. The trip would not have been the same without the best roommie every and two of my closest friend who I've met through the program. Thanks girls for an awesome last trip in Spain. I know I'll be telling my granddies about it. 

Being kids at a crepe restaurant in Valencia 

Sol decorated so pretty :)

Pre the infamous metro/really a light-rail ride in Valencia 

Girls being girls in Valencia 

Who said we had to act like we were 20? (Playground at night in Valencia)

Same location, different jump

Joan, Ashley, Helen, and Me take on the tower 

This is where our luggage was....hmm...

Ashley....don't leave Spain!!!!!!

Will I ever have another roommate like Joan :(

Okay, so why is this giant animal tooth thing behind me in an  Italian restaurant? All I want is my food.  (Valencia)

Watch out...you never know when Joan might snap a picture! (Valencia)