Hello Valencia

Published: 19.11.2021

When I stand on the balcony of the apartment in the morning with my coffee, it reminds me a little of the days in Barcelona, which I also started that way. Only here the sun is not shining in my face. It is cloudy and rain is forecast.

I'm happy about the breakfast table that Gerardo left for me. These are the little things in life that can bring joy to each other.

My Valencia discovery tour begins with the first step out the front door. Because I'm already in the middle of things! Just a few steps further is the Mercado central, Valencia's huge market hall, with vegetables, fruits, regional products, and Spanish and international specialties as far as the eye can see... a paradise for me! :-D

I buy some delicacies from the oriental stand for lunch with Gerardo. We talk a lot about our travels, he has also traveled a lot and his apartment is a collection of objects from various countries around the world. He also shows me some curious musical instruments, and even though he should actually correct exams, he plays a few songs on his guitar.

In the evening he has dinner with colleagues, and I go to a Couchsurfing meeting, the start of a larger event that takes place in Valencia all weekend. It seems like I'm here at the right time.

It has been a long time since I met so many new people at once. Since the time of Corona, we are no longer used to that. After getting to know each other, we walk to Ruzafa, the district with many cool bars. On the way through the rain, Sylvia, a 70-year-old world traveler who speaks many languages, and I lose the group. Thanks to digitalization, we can find the group again soon at the next meeting point. Later I isolate myself with a smaller group and we finally go to eat something. ;) The mealtime between 9 and 10 is even a bit late for me. A tortilla de habas (scrambled eggs with peas) in bread is the only nutritious thing the menu has for me as a vegetarian. With a little aioli, it doesn't taste so dry anymore. I talk for a long time with Albi, an Italian who has been traveling the world as a nomad for a long time.