Luckily we are staying within 100m of the central market, so we go on a foraging expedition for supplies.
The market is huge, and busy, full of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, bread, wine, etc. We visit several stalls and stock up on enough provisions for today, tomorrow, and probably the day after that.
Back to our apartment for a late breakfast/early lunch
and then back into the city for more sightseeing. I climb El Micalet, the octagonal bell tower of Valencia cathedral. Vera decides to save her legs and get some ice cream
It's a steep climb up a narrow spiral staircase. There's a one way system controlled by traffic lights, so that people don't have to pass as they go up or down.
We have booked onto a guided walking tour of the city. It's a small group of five people plus our guide Cristina. She takes us on a journey back in time from the grandeur of the early 20th century, through the medieval town, the missing Moorish city (all of the mosques were demolished when king Jaume I captured the city), to the Roman foundation
She was full of recommendations of places to eat, bars to drink at, places to avoid, and the best sights to see. We are going to have to return, if only to visit the ceramics museum housed in the above baroque palace. I also learn why so many of the fountains we have seen have no water. Spain is suffering a drought, and the dry fountains are a reminder not to waste water
Cristina had recommended La Lola as a place to get authentic paella de Valencia and we manage to secure a table for three. Paella originates from Valencia, and I have to say it was very good. Chicken, rabbit, vegetables, plus a few butter beans
We chatted until about 11.30 before returning home
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