Tuesday 31 March 2015

The Relaxed City

Sunday 30th March

After a nice hot shower (and washing our clothes by hand), we went out to find some dinner. We were not really hungry, but still have the western habits of "you need three meals a day". We found the Cafe Strip, which offered everything and anything you could want, although some places were only just opening at 8:30pm. We had the Menu Diario, which was like 3 starters between us, then a main meal. It includes a beer or wine each, and coffe, for 20€ each. We were so full, that when we didn't need a proper breakfast today.

Oh my God!  We didn't even try one! 
After breakfast, we walked into the old town, which was amazing. Beautiful buildings, little alleys, heaps of cycle paths, and all really clean. Lots of people wandering about slowly, and checking out the city.

The streets of the Old Town. Cute. 
No,  really,  my nether regions need a rest. Lets just walk.
First stop, the Mercado De Colon, which looked like it was an old train station, but was now full of shops and cafes. A brass band came through while we were there, and the sound was awesome.

Mercado Colon.....I'm sure there's a better name. 
Walking through the narrow streets, that are paved with marble and cobblestones, we stumbled across some great gothic doors for Giants.


Awesome doors everywhere.
We went to the Museo Ceramica, which was stunning, but obviously touristy and busy. It is full of really old stuff. Obviously ceramics, but also furnishings, paintings and the most ornate candelabras. Worth a look.

Museo Crramica - better than I expected.
                    



Valencia is super easy to get around on foot or push bike, but bugger driving a car. Scooter, or motorbike maybe.......or even a quad Bike???

Not the first one we saw,  registered,  on the streets.
                    
Tiring work, this walking, so it was definitely time for Beeras (Valenciano) and Tapas. Just a little snack, as we're still full from last night. More walking, down to the dry riverbed, Jardines del Turia, which is now park, and recreation. It is lovely and heaps of people relaxing on the grassed areas in the shade.

                    



                    
Siesta time, before going out for some Sangria and another food experience. Tomorrow we ride off what we consume today.

Sunday 29 March 2015

The Race to Valencia

Sat 28th March

It wasn't really a race, but so many cyclists past us that it did feel like we were in the La Vuelta E Espana. Not looking like getting a place either. But what a gorgeous day for a ride. 24C, sunshine and a bit of a head wind. But the road was mostly flat, and we found some good bike paths and secondary roads to meander along.

Almost on our way

It was a noisey night, as most Friday's are in Spain, we are told, and we woke up early. Not a bad night, but we have been spoilt. We ate our cereal and drank our juice. Too lazy to break out the stove to make coffee.....We'll regret that.

Which way now?

We headed off about 9:45am, getting better, and warmed up slowly. We're a little stiff this morning. But there wasn't much traffic yet, except for cyclists.  Frickin everywhere. Most were friendly, some did not acknowledge us (they were in the zone), and some looked bewildered and looked at us trying to figure out if we were crazy. As they passed, they usually were grinning. Decision made?

Beautiful,  quiet roads

Another Palaton 

More orange groves, and irrigation drains, and lovely peace and quiet. More and more cyclists, passing us. "Valle, Valle....." and other things in fast spoken spanish....always made me laugh. 

Coming into Cullera

Coming into Cullera was really strange, as again we had a mountain to get around, and it was very disorienting, which did cause some navigation errors again. Nothing drastic, and we did get to see the shopping centre, which was super quiet on a Saturday.

Bridge into Cullera
                     

Water doesn't look that nice, but very peaceful.

We took a wrong exit at a round about (becoming a common habit of ours, they are not simple circles with four symmetrical exits like most Aussie ones) and had to leg it over the grassy verge. We found ourselves in the shopping centre car park, next to a gym, that was next to MacDonalds.  Hang on a minute, it IS a MacDonalds gym???? What the hell? Eat what you want, work it off next door...cool!

Ronalds gym? Hey?

Heading around the mountain, we came to a road detour, which was going up hill around some roadworks.....stuffed if I'm doing that, bugger it, I'm going around the barrier and along the road. It turned to good compact dirt road ready for new Tarmac, and it was flat...aahhh! The landscape changed to sparse farm land for bit, before we turned onto the CV500 towards the national park and Valencia.

Flat farm land not far from the beach. 

We stopped at a little village for some lunch, so we didn't do what we did yesterday and get too hungry.  It was a town pub in Mareny De Sant Llorenc, where some local gents were enthusiastically playing dominos and drinking sherry. They don't speak Spanish in this part of the country, they speak Valenciano. Same, same but different...made it fun to order some cokes, beer and some strange sandwiches...

Little pub, speaking no English. Exciting Dominoes. 
Will does love his onions....add some pickled ones. 
The ride along this road was great. It was flat, and the views changed regularly. We were surprised to see canals, glimpses of the ocean, farming, and so, so, many cyclists.

Valencia - El Perellonet
The traffic began to increase the closer we got to Valencia, and the variety of good quality cars that passed by was amazing too. We even saw two brand new shiny red Ferraris, too slow to get the camera out, doh!

Valencia - La Punta (always thought that was rude)
Coming into Valencia, we followed a fantastic bicycle path all the way...oh, that was once we had gone over the river on the busy freeway like road, whilst getting passed by a huge palaton. It was so funny, again I was too slow with the camera, but Will had powered up the on ramp, and was a good way in front of me when the cyclists passed me, there was a photo opportunity when Will was in the middle of them, but I missed it. The race to Valencia.....it was on....I was just laughing....

The view into the city centre.
Cycle path all the way in, and awesome super wide footpaths. Easy road crossings and great things to look at. It looks like a clean and easy going place.

L'Umbracle - it is the Arts centre. Awesome building.           

Yay,  we made it to Valencia.

Love gargoyles. These look vicious. 
We found our pre-booked B&B really easy, and discovered it is within one kilometre from the city centre. Awesome, we can do some walking and exploring.

Pants off Friday,  at last! 
Bikes chilling on the terrace. Nice. 
                     















Oranges, Prostitutes and Camping

Friday 27th March

The alarm went off at 7am......What the hell is that? Who did that? Bloody Will! Didn't stop us laying in bed for another hour or so, having tea and coffee, before getting packed up to head off again. We tidied the villa (thanks again Toni and Ken) and we were ready to go about 10:15am.

Will's way of drying the washing....not quite how the Spanish do it.

The ride out of Javea was pretty good, better than expected as far as the hills went, as we opted for going around the big mountain instead of straight over it. It was a reasonable incline that I could manage with just a bit of huffing and puffing, but all pedalling.


A few stops for roadworks, weird for bikes, but fun too. The rest of the day was pretty flat or slight inclines, leaving us plenty of energy for sight seeing.

                    

Going around the mountain

             
We spent a fair few kilometres riding on the N332 highway, which is pretty safe with a very wide shoulder. When we mentioned to Karen we were planning to take that road, she sniggered and asked "You know about the N332, don't you?"......Well, it was obvious we had no idea what she meant, so we asked her to explain. Apparently, there are "Special Ladies" all along it, with "Special Skills". I didn't believe her.

Look closely,  she almost had no undies on. ...

Choofing along at about 20kms per hour, and I could see lots of Orange groves, and then a lady, sitting in a plastic outdoor chair. Hmmm, that is odd, and she was wearing nightclub heals covered in bling. "Hola" I say being friendly .... hhmmmmmm ..More oranges, and more ladies! They seem to be wearing less and less. Then I am looking up a way, and there is a small car parked on the shoulder and a "Lady" talking through the open door, who quickly kicks her plastic stool into the gutter and jumps into the car. We had to slow right down to wait for the car to head off across the road down a laneway ....ugh, I was shocked...."Special Ladies!"

                    

They really were all along it, the police don't seem to give a damn, they were also all along the N332. We veared off that highway, just after Oliva, onto a dedicated cycle path, that went straight into the centre of Gandia. It was lined by orange groves, and we had to keep our teeth together so we didn't eat too many bugs.

Hard taking photos on the go, but no "ladies"
Coming into Gandia
We stopped at the Port in Gandia for La Comida, Menu Del Dia, as we were starving. It was a very relaxing place, and we could watch all the fishing boats. 

Gandia port
              
Much needed lunch break, but won't need dinner.

From there we followed the beach, which had a lovely cycle path that went for about 6kms then we deviated to get ourselves to the Camping San Vincente. Big ride, but fun! Now for shower and bed. Don't need dinner, but need our own toilet paper...! Things are very different as far as caravan parks go......
                   
Gandia beach front board walk.

                                      
                                       If I swapped vehicles would they notice? They're the same colour.

Last bit of the beautiful ride along the sea front.

Camping San Vincente.  Different but first one.

A very kind German man, Peter, came over and offered us two little camp stools. We were seated on the little tiled wall, me on the ground. He was very nice and told us him and his wife holiday in Xeraco every year, in their luxury mobile home. We also had a lovely chat with John, who was a local, but had been educated in Australia, and had relatives still living in Australia. Nice.