Valencia, Spain

Itinerary planning is a norm before holiday. 7 days to cover 3 popular cities in Spain, possible?

Yes... lol

Anyway, itinerary is always a guide. Usually use to pin those "MUST-GO" places, but not necessary to follow the itinerary strictly.

Itinerary for our Valencia -> Madrid -> Barcelona trip

We took a evening flight to Valencia. Still in the summer time, we will only say goodbye to the sun after 8:30pm - 9:00pm. So we will be expecting daylight when we arrive. After 3.5hrs, we touch down Valencia Airport (Aeroport de Valencia). We did not check-in any baggage, after alighting from the flight, we took a slow stroll towards the metro station.

Left: Quite standard ticketing machine. Easily found just next to the gantry.
Right: Nice decorated ticket. Kids below 12 year old are free.

The train is much well maintained, comparatively.  ☺

After 40 mins of train ride from Valencia Airport Station to Colon Station, we reached the city of Valencia. It give me a good impression instantly. Clean and well lighted street, minimum "artist" painting on the wall. Weather ranging around 25 Degree Celsius.

Accommodation is with "Richmond by Hoom". It is a 1 bedroom apartment with a sofa bed in the living room. apartment still look new and functional. Location is superb. The 2 downsides are; the extra cost (EUR 35) for check-in after 8pm and you are suppose to collect key from another location. No doubt is just a 2 mins walk. There are no concierge counter; so in short, you will receive no help if there is anything happen to the apartment.

Regardless, quickly settled the accommodation, we "fast-hand fast-leg" head out to walk on the street, and look for dinner...

Night view of Valencia Catheral

We had our first meal in Valencia at "El Micalet", located at Plaza de la Virgen. Sitting between some ancient buildings and there are street music performers to enhance the ambiance.

Shall have a good night rest as tomorrow will be an intensive walking day.

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Day 2:

First stop: We head to The Central Market of Valencia for breakfast. Just 5 mins walk from our hotel.

Main Entrance to the market.

Wide variety. From dried preserved to fresh.

One and only stall that serve cooked food. Delicious, but its quite a heavy breakfast though.

Just beside the market, there are many people walking in and out from this ancient building. Not pinned in the itinerary, but we decided to check it out. The building is Esglesia dels Sants Joans, it is actually a Catholic Church.

Interior look of the Cathedral

We make our way back to Plaza de la Virgen, to visit Basílica de la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats.

Basílica de la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats is known as a renowned shrine to the patron saint of Valencia.

Beautiful fountain sitting on Plaza de la Virgen.

Exterior and interior view of Basílica de la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats.

While we are heading to Torres de Serranos, we come across some advertisements on Segway Tour in Valencia. There are many Segway Tours in every parts of Europe, but we are always been reject due to my princess age. However, this company agreed to let her try on the segway.

Look at how much she focused on the Segway.

So we decided to join the 60 mins Segway Tour for EUR105 for 3 of us.

Excited!!!



Geared up and ready to go...

Fruitful 60 mins tour and tour guide (Patrick) trying to fill us with as much information as possible.
It should be easier to be wheeled around the city than walking, but standing and balancing on that Segway platform can also be tiring. lol...

After all the fun, we go for lunch in "El Forcat" which is introduced by the Segway guys. Then, we shall continue with our itinerary to Torres de Serranos.

Delicious!!!

Torres de Serranos, its known to be a gate to enter Valencia City. As according to Patrick's introduction, Valencia city was walled in xxx century, there were total of 12 gates and the only way to get into the city is through one of these gate. Till today, 10 gates were destroyed by "don't know what", so this is one of the precious gate left behind.
Obviously that I am not focusing on what he is introducing, I am having fun on the Segway... LOL

Seems like we had accomplished the point of interests pinned in the itinerary. Feeling still energetic, we head towards Bullring of Valencia.


Had an experience on the local bus system. You do not need to hunt down the ticketing machine, just pay to the bus captain either by cash or card.

EUR 1.50 per pax, regardless adult or kid.

No doubt there is no bullfight on that day, we just go there to appreciate the arena and there is a museum regarding bullfighting.

Entrance fee is just EUR 2 for adult and EUR 1 for kid.

It covered the entrance to the arena and the museum.

Grand suit wore by the warriors (Left).     Actual size of the bull (Right)

Have never experience a bullfight in my life before. All I though was a warrior holding on to a red cloth to play around with the bull, to exhibit his brave heart to face the bull that is much bigger size than him.

Partially right!!! That is not the end of the exhibition.

There is a short video clip to show the overall bullfight in the museum. The end of the fight is literally killed the bull with these equipment.

Cruelty??? Thousand of people fly from many countries to witness the fight. I would say; this is the culture.

Last event of the day; sweetness will always enhance the mood. Lets go for a feast of Chocolate.

Valor Chocolate; well recommended in TripAdvisor. Many choice of chocolates. Princess opt for a crepe, while Queen go for 4 taste of Chocolate. The top-right photo is not 油条 with Kopi-o. Its like 油条 but its called Churros, with melted dark chocolate. 

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Day 3: Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias comprise of Science Center, Art Gallery, IMAX, Opera house and Underwater world. A huge landscape that required half or 3-quarter day to walk around.

Opera House of Valencia. Resemble of a ancient warrior helmet.

IMAX of Valencia. Resemble of an eye with an eyeball inside.

Pricelist of different package

Artistic sculptures along the walkway

Lunch at restaurant in Underwater World. Delicious seafood combo.

Spend 3-quarter day walking in the warm weather, finally going to end our day and head towards Valencia Joaquín Sorolla Intercity Train Station.

Travelling to Madrid Puerta de Atocha tonight.

>>>>> Continue Madrid, Spain

Tulcea, Romania (Danube Delta River Cruise)

I have never imagine myself doing this, even though sometime I find it useful to read other blogger's posting.

After several requests from the queen, to record memorable events in the web. Let's start from here:-

 Danube Delta River Cruise

Leaving home early in the morning at 6am, to catch the speedboat at 10am. A decent 3.5hrs drive from Bucharest. The morning traffic didn't hold us back a lot, we arrives slightly earlier.

 

We board a 6-man speedboat which able to bring us out to the delta. Cost at 200lei per adult and 100lei per child. There is another young couple join us in the boat. So, if you want the speedboat to be exclusive to you. it will cost 800lei per boat. Of course, it will come with the captain.

Contact of the speedboat:
Ana (Speak English) : +40726218170
Pontoon 1709
*Didn't evaluate the price among other companies, therefore not sure whether is it the cheapest.

Original objects are too far from this photo.
The flock of swans & pelicans at the far end.

This happy family swim near to our speedboat
to have some photo taking... gorgeous...

Captain cruise quietly towards this pelican to allow us to have some close shot.
I caught him just before he took off.

Not far, we arrive to this huge field of water lily section... We move here and there, busy posting even though the speedboat are rocking vigorously...

An idiom says; Birds of a feather flock together... hmm... so this is how it looks like... **gags**

After 2 hours of cruising around the delta for bird-watching... we reach Mila 23 for lunch.
Mila 23 is one of the fisherman village in the delta. There are restaurants and accommodations, if you wish to stay for a night. Take note, data network does not seems to be working. Unless you want to experience villager's life , 30 years ago.

Steamed Sturgeons and Craps for lunch

Steamed fishes for lunch. 45lei per pax. You can really taste the freshness on every piece of fish in your mouth. There are actually fried fish, fish with salted vegetable soup, salad and coffee, included in the lunch. We are too hungry and it is too delicious, we literally forgotten to take photo for the other dishes.

Some dried fish head specimens for decoration.

Heading back to mainland after a delicious lunch.

We check-in to Hotel Delta for a night. Wonderful view from the hotel, viewing over the port.

Basic hotel though, it has whatever you need for a night. 250lei per night.

We took a rest and getting ready for some sunset excursion. We drive 30-mins south to Cetatea Enisala to enjoy the sunset in Tulcea. It's a beautiful scene indeed. Panoramic unblocked view...

Cetatea Enisala is fortress or you call it a museum on a hill.