Getting to Valencia

Sometimes flexibility comes with great price. This time in big bold EUROS!

When I was invited to visit Ibiza, I checked flights and found the tickets were cheap (50 Euros), so I booked it. Because I didn’t know how long I was gonna stay or where to next, I thought I’ll leave that for later.  This is both good and bad I guess. The tickets out were really outrageous.  It was over 300 euros to Barcelona, for example, and 600 euros to Paris or Amsterdam. If I knew beforehand, I’d probably passed out on Ibiza and missed my great Ibiza party.  But because we really couldn’t afford the flights, we found another way >>> Barcos a las Islas Baleares that goes to Valencia, still steep at 103 euros.

Balearia

aboard Balearia

 

Charming Valencia

Valencia was very charming. We were here for 2 days and we feasted on tapas, local wines, and paella. Popular attractions were Plaza del Mercado, Torres de Serranos, La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, the beach, and the churches. What I love more here were the religious tiled artworks found all over the place.

Plaza del Mercado

Plaza del Mercado 

Torres de Serranos

Torres de Serranos

tile work

religious tile work of art

cathedral

one of the Cathedral

plaza de la virgen

plaza de la virgen

sto nino

sto nino image

 

When we tried to check out the night life (yes, because we hadn’t had enough in Ibiza), and were surprised the places were kind of slow, if not empty. Only to find out the next day that life starts to happen after midnight! So following the Spanish, we had siesta and started the night later. We went to a popular spot RADIO CITY and were fortunate that there was a flamengo show.

San Miguel

San Miguel Beer is not Spanish

Why I will never forget Valencia

Valencia is one of those cliche town where travelers came and decided to stay. And why not? The weather is great, you have great food, and the beach. I saw in the hostel that there are many activities organized for students. The night life is also happening. But I would forever remember Valencia for different reason.

After saying goodbye to Michele at the hostel, as he had a later flight, I rolled my bag towards the Àngel Guimerà  station where it has a direct line to the airport. I went to the ticket window and inquired about the metro to the airport. It was a major station with 3 connecting lines you see. The nice woman at the booth told me it costs 2.9 euro but I have to get ticket at the machine, so I went over and did. After buying it, I looked over to thank her and she pointed to the direction of the line.

When I got to the platform waiting for the metro, I dug into my bag for my wallet so I could keep the ticket as I’ll need it at the exit. My heart started pounding when I couldn’t find my wallet. I dropped to my knees and started taking things out of my bag, obviously panicked. Small group of curious formed around me.

“I think I lost my wallet.” I explained desperately wishing it’ll come out of the bag.

“F*ck! this is the end of my trip!” I wanted to faint. My passport was in it… with all my visas! I have to go home.

“Who would return a wallet?” I just took money from ATM and had over 500 euros in it. I was almost crushed. I was already thinking I have to go to a Philippine embassy, get a new passport, go home. Round the world project failed! just 4 months.

“Miss Cobiao?”  I looked up (was still sitting on the floor). It was the lady at the ticket booth, holding out my wallet!!!

I screamed, stood up, and hugged her! I got a small cheer from the crowd that gathered. I was literally shaking all over. I couldn’t make out if she found the wallet or someone found it on the floor and gave to her. I didn’t understand Spanish. I must have dropped it after buying my ticket when I thought I shoved it in my bag. I just kept saying thank you, thank you, and the next train pulled up.

It was October 5, 2011 at  Àngel Guimerà station in Valencia, Spain. It was about 11am in the morning.

To the kind lady at the booth that day, I thank you a million times! It was a miracle. I thank God a million times!