Hot Springs Tour

My mom was helping me look for something fun to do this weekend in Valencia when she stumbled upon Do! Valencia day trips on trip advisor. She told me to check it out and I immediately knew it was something I wanted to do! They offer many day excursions, such as wine tours, shore excursions, and the hot springs tour, which I chose. Let me just say - it was AMAZING! 

I got picked up by the tour guide, Miguel, at 10:30AM and then we went to pick up the other group members (3 girls from Florida and 1 girl from Chicago). I loved having a small group because we all got to know each other and had more freedom to do what we wanted. After leaving Valencia, we drove through the country side to our first destination. All along the way, Miguel was telling us about Valencia, cool festivals, and answering all of our questions. I learned so much!

First stop: waterfall

We arrived in a small town about 40 minutes outside Valencia to see a waterfall and swim in the water. The town was so neat and looked just how I imagined a Spanish town would look. The waterfall we were going to is NOT a tourist place - very few tourists know about it so it was all locals enjoying the sun and the water. One thing I've learned on this trip is that if there are locals at a place, you know it is good! The waterfall was beautiful. We all went under it for pictures and then went down a rock slide into the water. It was really, really cold but totally worth it! 

Next stop: Feria de Aceite

There was an Olive Oil fair happening in one of the towns we drove through on our way to our next destination and since our group was so small, Miguel asked if we wanted to stop and check it out! We all said yes so he stopped the van and led us to the town plaza. It was a very small town and the fair only had a couple of tables set up but we were able to try the olive oil (which was delicious) and walk around for a bit. We only stopped for about 30 minutes because we needed to get to our next destination...

Next up: The Hot Springs

When we arrived at the hot springs, we knew we were in for something great. You could see the crystal clear blue water from the parking and tons of locals with umbrellas, towels, tables, and picnics all set up for the day. We decided to eat lunch first at a little cafe at the bottom of the hot springs and then we adventured into the water. It wasn't as warm as I predicted but considering it was 90 degrees outside, nothing would have felt hot! The hot springs stay at about 77 degrees year round so in the winter, it really does feel hot. 

Miguel then took us swimming the opposite way of where all the people were hanging out. He had been coming to the Hot Springs since he was a kids so he knew cool stuff to show us like different caves and a jumping rock. The caves were really cool and you could see bubbles form underwater where the springs were coming up. I would have never known to look for that if Miguel hadn't mentioned it! Then, we went to the jumping rock. The place on the rock where you jump from is abut 25 - 30 feet high and was really scary! I decided I wanted to do it and climbed up. When I saw how high it was from the top, I freaked out a little but with Miguel's help, I finally jumped! It only took about 15 minutes...

Surprise stops #1: Canyon

 Surprise stop #2: the dam

(town in the valley before)

(after)

Surprise stop #3: 

All of this fun was completed with drinks and tapas at a local restaurant. It was a GREAT day and something I will never forget! 

Love,

RLD

Valencia

I've only been in Valencia for less than a week but... I love it here!!! 

First up: housing. 

I am staying at the University, which is where my classes are held. It is like being a college freshman again living in a residence hall but being so close to my 9am classes makes it worth it. The other major bonus to staying here is that it is a 20-minute, straight-shot walk to the beach. However, I decided to rent a bike for the two weeks I am staying here (the city is fairly bike-friendly and has many parks to ride through) so it only takes a few minutes to get to the beach. Luckily, I have a private room at the residence hall so it isn't too bad!

Next: the Old City

The old city is about a 15-minute bike ride or a few stops down on the metro. Unlike Barcelona, the metro is not the main transportation in the city. The buses are fairly popular, bikes (as mentioned before, and I guess cars/taxis. The public transportation stops at midnight so it is fairly common to take a taxi home from the old city. The architecture in the city is amazing and there are great plazas everywhere. Also, there are gardens and parks surrounding the out city where a river used to run. It is a great mix of nature and architecture!

The Beach

Biking to the beach is so easy! It only takes a few minutes and there are bike paths the whole way. The beach I am near is called Malvarossa. It is the middle beach in Valencia and very nice! The beach is wide and there is tons of space to spread out, unlike Barcelona where everyone is cramped together! The water is warm and there are some waves so it is fun to plan in the sea. Also, there are restaurants all up and down the boardwalk with seafood, sandwiches, and drinks. I love the beach so being this close has been great!

To-Do List:

As always, I have to have a "to-do" list. Some of these things I've already done but I still want them on my list! It is too hard to number what is more important so I'm just going to write it all:

• Drinks in Barrio del Carmen 
• Cathedral 
• Iglesia de Santa Catalina 
• Mercado Central
• Plaza del Ayuntamiento 
• Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias - can't wait to go here! It is made up of three main buildings (which are super cool by themselves!)

Hemisferic - IMAX dome/planetarium 

Museo de la Ciencias Principe Felipe - a science museum with exhibits on genetics and electricity 

Oceanografic - Europe's largest aquarium

• Gulliver - a giant playground shaped like Gulliver

• Jardines del Real
• Jardin Botanico
• Jardines del Turia

Hopefully I'll be able to see everything before I leave! Another post soon...

Love, 

RLD

Finishing Up Barcelona

My last week in Barcelona was a very busy one! There was so much I wanted to do before leaving and luckily, I was able to get it all done! Here are the highlights:

Casa Batllo

Casa Batllo is a house on Passeig de Gracia that was built by Gaudi for the Batllo family. It was truly spectacular and so unique. There are no straight lines in the house - everything is curved to resemble nature (a lot looks like it was influenced by the sea and waves). My mom, aunt, and I toured the house and used an audio guide that walks you through the entire house giving history and information as you go. It was great to learn about the symbolism and meaning behind the details. Everything in the house had a specific purpose and influence. It is amazing what Gaudi created! My favorite parts were the colorful mosaics and the staircases.  

La Sagrada Familia

I saved the number one thing on my to-do list and it more than lived up to my expectations! My mom, aunt, brother, and I all toured La Sagrada Familia on Thursday and it was amazing. I feel like that is the only way to describe it! We got tickets to go up one of the towers on the "Passion" facade so we took an elevator up and then had to walk up some stairs. When at the top, we had a great view of Barcelona.

Then, we picked up our audio guides and began our tour of the inside. The inside was made to resemble nature, like most of Gaudi's works. The columns look like tree trunks that branch out and the ceiling looks like leaves and the top of trees. Everything inside and outside La Sagrada Familia has a specific biblical purpose and is extremely detailed. I can't wait to return when it is finished (they predict 2030) so I can see Gaudi's masterpiece in its fullest. 

I was very sad to leave Barcelona but I know I will be back soon. It is an amazing city with so much to do and see! Next stop: Valencia!

Love,

RLD

The Last Weekend in BCN

Well, my last weekend in Barcelona is officially over... but I still have 4 more full days here before heading to Valencia! 

Yesterday, I spent a lot of time in churches! In the morning, I went to my mom's hotel for a delicious breakfast (croissants, hams, cheeses, fruit, etc.) and then we all headed out to Barri Gotic for our first stop: La Catedral. We got there around 11 and went inside to look around (it is free until noon). There was a Catalan mass in progress so we couldn't wander as freely but we were still able to see a lot! Then, we went back outside to watch the traditional Catalan dance of unity and identity called the Sardana. It was really neat to see and the music was entertaining! After watching the dance, I wanted to attend mass inside the Cathedral in Spanish. I couldn't understand hardly anything but it was still a great experience. 

Afterwards, we wandered around and my mom read us the history about all the places we passed. She is going to read it to us whether we want to hear it or not so I've learned it's better just to nod and smile (JK mom!). We found a little plaza where we grabbed a quick bite to eat and a drink and then continued on our way. The next stop was the Picasso Museum. It is free on Sundays after 3 and apparently everyone else in Barcelona had the same idea as us because the line was about 400 people long. We decided we would try again later, so we made our way back to the metro. 

After my siesta, I hopped back on the metro to go to La Sagrada Familia for their Spanish night mass. It was completely different from La Catedral! There was a band, contemporary music, and the priest was telling jokes (well, I couldn't understand what he was saying but everyone was laughing so I assume he was funny). The other great thing is that they had the readings on a sheet of paper in English so I could try to follow along as they were read in Spanish. The mass wasn't in the main area of La Sagrada Familia, but was in the crypt below. It was a really neat area and it made me even more excited to see the whole thing this week! 

Once the mass was finished, I met my mom, brother, and aunt at the bottom of Montjuic for the Magic Fountain show. When I got off the metro, I remembered that it was also the Harley Davidson festival at Montjuic so the whole place was set up like a fair ground. We watched the fountain show, which was beautiful (lights, music, etc.) and then went to the fair! My brother and I rode one of the rides, which was a blast! Then we ate hotdogs and fries and decided it was time to go home.

Over all it was a VERY busy day! I'm taking it easy today to rest my feel and back. Still to come this week: full tour of Sagrada Familia and hopefully going to Casa Batllo and the beach one more time!

Love,

RLD

So much to do!

With my last week in Barcelona starting today, I've realized how much I've done while being here... but I've also realized how much I still want to do! My mom and aunt arrived yesterday so I'm very excited to do some exploring with them and show them the city! Here's what I've been up to the past week...

On Sunday, my brother and I went to the beach (as usual) and then I wanted to walk around and visit one of the museums that I was really excited about seeing - Museu Maritim! The museum had a great exhibit called Planet Ocean with the purpose of increasing awareness of the dangers that threaten our oceans. There were beautiful photographs of ocean life and towns, cities, and communities that are directly affected by rising sea levels, pollution, etc. The photographs were amazing and I really enjoyed the exhibit. There is also a full size replica of Don Juan of Austria's flagship. The original was launched to lead a Spanish-Venetian fleet in a battle against the Turks in 1571. Below are a few pictures:

On Sunday evening, Spain was playing Brazil in the FIFA Confederations Cup Finals... In Brazil. The game started at midnight our time so we decided to go to an Irish Pub to watch. It was packed and I would say it was about half Brazil fans and half Spain fans. Brazil scoring in the first 2 minutes didn't get the game started the right way... and Spain ended up losing pretty bad... but it was a great experience! Both countries take their soccer VERY seriously!! I was very tired Monday morning but it was well worth it!

This past week I also went on a Fat Tire Bike Tour with two girls I met here in Barcelona through school. It was AWESOME! I loved getting to bike through the city and learn about all of the history, architecture, and culture... in English! Majority of the tours are in Spanish so while I still enjoy them, it's hard to understand since I know about 3 weeks worth of Spanish! This tour was great - the guide was knowledgable about Barcelona and hilarious, we got to majority of the major places in the city (Plaza Sant Jaume, Plaza del Rei, La Catedral, Palau de la Musica Catalana, La Sagrada Familia, and many more) and we got to stop at the beach for some sangria and cerveza towards the end. They also have bike tours in Paris (and a night bike tour!) so I am definitely planning on doing that once I get to France. 

Let's just say that 4th of July outside of the states is not the same. Two of my American friends and I went all over the city trying to find other Americans to celebrate with but it was quiet. We went to a few American bars and even some Irish pubs (Americans tend to hang out here) and nobody was celebrating! We still had a great time but it was nothing like grilling out, drinking beer, and fireworks in the states! Hey... at least we still rocked the red, white, and blue all day!

Last night, I took Flamenco lessons with two friends! It was SO much fun but I was absolutely terrible - as expected! We all had such a great time learning the steps and hand movements and laughing at ourselves the entire time. Luckily, no one was good at it so my poor dance skills didn't stand out as much! 

After the lessons, we all needed a drink so we found a small little plaza and had dinner and cava outside. It was one of the best dinners I've had since in Barcelona! 

Plan for today? Headed to the beach now then touring La Catedral tonight and hopefully getting to see the Sardana, a traditional Catalan dance symbolizing unity and identity that is performed multiple places in the city on Saturday nights!

Love, 

RLD

Two weeks down... Two to go!

This week was much different from the first week we were in Barcelona! We seemed to have taken a step back from doing "touristy" things every day and just went with the flow of the day... which led us to the beach many times. Here are a few of the highlights:

• On Tuesday night, we went to the "welcome dinner" and free tapas as Hotel Indigo. This is a weekly event hosted by our language program and another similar language program in Barcelona. It is a great way to meet new people, eat free (and delicious!) tapas, and grab a few drinks. I decided to not be boring this night and went out to a nightclub (or "discoteca" in Spanish). We went to a place near the beach called Shoko. It was quite an experience! Let's just say I was a little tired on Wednesday morning!
• On Thursday night, I met up with some friends to watch the Spain vs. Italy soccer math for the FIFA semi final. We went to and Irish Pub off of La Rambla with a big group and cheered on Spain. They ended up winning in penalty kicks! It was so much fun to watch the game with people who love soccer and Spain so much!
• On Friday, my brother and I decided to hike around Montjuic, an area of Barcelona with the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Olympic history, and gardens. We started at the bottom, at the magic fountain and the museum, which is a huge mistake because everything is uphill from there. The best way to see Montjuic is to take the cable car from the beach to the top and walk down. I plan to return with my mom when she comes to see all of Montjuic. Honestly, a 15-year old boy does not find it that interesting and doesn't want to just wander through a garden... but my mom will! 

• On Friday night, it was my friend's last night in Barcelona so we decided to go out as a group and have some fun! We went down the the W hotel on the beach, went up to the 26th floor to a really nice bar and had a few drinks. Then, we wandered down to the beach below the hotel to grab some dinner. We didn't end up eating until after midnight so I was really tired (and hungry) at that point! After dinner, I called it a night and went back to the residence hall.

(view from the top)

• I had to be well rested for... Cavas Freixenet tour and tasting on Saturday!!!!! This is one of my favorite things I've done so far. I've always wanted to go to a winery tour and tasting so getting to go in Spain, to taste cava, was one of the best experiences. Cava is sparkling wine (basically champagne... just from Spain). We got to learn the history of the winery and the family that started it, see the caves and cellars 30 meters below ground, and taste cava. The only thing is that the whole tour was in Spanish and the woman talked very fast. I was able to pick up some words/phrases but luckily there was a girl there with me who helped translate the main points after the lady was done talking. After the tasting, we were able to go to the gift shop to buy bottles or souvenirs. I ended up buy 3 bottles for only 16 euros! What a deal! I can't wait for my mom to get here to share it with me :) 

I would love to go to Museu Maritim tomorrow... let's just hope I can get my brother on board!

Love,

RLD

"Top 10" Update

So... before arriving in Barcelona, I made a "Top 10" list of the most important places I wanted to see while I am here. Here is how it's going...

10. Museu Picasso (possibly going on Sunday - it is free after 3PM)

9. Tibidabo

8. Montserrat

7. Port Olimpic

6. Barcelona Beaches still many more visits to come though!

5. Casa Mila

4. La Rambla 

3. Monjuic

2. Park Guell

1. Sagrada Familia (waiting for my mom and aunt to get here to experience the masterpiece with them)

In two weeks, I've had the chance to see so much on my list! However, there are more that I want to see and add to the list now that I'm here! A few on this list are places I have already been but enjoyed so much that I want them added to a list!

• Museu Maritim 
• Parc de la Ciutadella
• Mercat de la Boqueria (I'm going again tomorrow to shop for fruit, breads, and cheeses for the week)
• La Catedral
• Esglesia de Santa Maria del Mar

Hopefully, there will be more crossed off this list by next weekend!

Love,

RLD