Day 30

It's been a while since I've updated my blog.  My apologies to everyone reading, but, it's been a mixed bag of events here in Spain.  On one hand, I've gotten to see a European country for the first time in my life, on the other I've been sick half of the time and have missed a lot of Spanish school as a result.  So, I've been resting a lot and trying to get back into normal mode.

Our AVE train going the maximum speed - notice how I couldn't get a steady picture!

It's hard to believe I've been in Spain for a month now.  It seems just like yesterday that I was landing in Spain on my first international flight.  On Friday, Philip and I took the AVE train to Valencia to spend the weekend there and get out of Madrid for a couple of days.  The train travels at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) so it only took 1.5 hours to get there.  I've taken many trains in the US but they top out at 72 mph, so it was interesting, to say the least.  The downside is you can't see much as you're going too fast.


Valencia reminded me a lot of Florida as it has palm trees and is on the coast.  Still, it was very dry there - just as I've found most of Madrid to be.  Next week is a big week in Valencia with a week-long event known as Las Fallas (click the link to learn more).  So, everyone was setting off firecrackers (and I'm not talking about the US type but the ones that would send the NYC Police running!).  I'm happy we arrived the week BEFORE it really started as it seems like it would be one big loud crowd of people.

My new nick-knack, courtesy of Felipe.

Philip's new Lladró piece.

On our first day in Valencia, we went the a world-renowned porcelain factory of Llardó for a private tour.  Philip's mother and her sisters collected the figurines from the company for many years.  The company is know for their ability to create an expressiveness in their pieces unlike other porcelain manufacturers.  They have grown from simply 3 brothers working in a workshop to over 1,000 artisans now working for the company.  Philip and I both wanted to buy a piece but, with the Euro conversion, it made no sense to buy it at their prices.  When it became clear to the tour guide that we weren't going to buy one of their "firsts", she quickly directed to their "seconds" shop - which we had no idea existed prior to that point!  Philip bought the above piece of soccer players and I guilted him into buying me the Asian boy carrying the potpourri bowl.  Needless to say, my Asian boy was MUCH less than the soccer players.  So guilt works when the economics are in your favor!

Later in the day we went to view the City of Arts & Sciences which - as the Wikipedia link explains - is a series of buildings designed and built in the late 90s in period of transformation and growth in Valencia.  Philip's Blog does a better job of explaining it than I am.  But, here's a few pictures of the cool buildings.

Philip pretending to be a harpist.

So, that was the first day in Valencia!  I'll post some more tomorrow.

I've decided to reinvest in Spanish school as an American friend that I've met there has asked me to join her in the next level of classes.  I don't hold out much hope for understanding the teacher any better, but I'm going to try it for a day or two to see how well I can survive.

¡Hasta luego!