Valencia, Spain - Canet Sunday market

 The Sunday I saw the Blessing of the Animals I noticed that there was a market just a few blocks from me. 

Today we checked it out. This was the first stall and already we were purchasing.

 

We bought a slice of this red and green pepper covered crust which we ate later for lunch. Also a slice of apple tart.

The truck in the background had rotisserie chicken (not for today but probably when Nic and Dave are here). At the front a stall with dried fruit and nuts.

I couldn't resist the flowers

and bought home a huge Primulae and

some basil. As close to gardening as I can get right now.

 There were a lot of stalls selling clothing, bedding, shoes and enough produce stalls to get everything you could need. Not as noisy and exciting as Sagunto's market or as crowded and varied as Valencia's. There was even an olive vendor so I don't even feel the need to go further afield for my olive addiction.

We passed this little church on the way to the market, full of people and with the sound of a sermon.

 

On the way back it was empty and I could take a look. Almost open air, propane heaters if needed. Simple but effective.

I finished the Blue Jay painting.

Here's Steve's photo, my reference. I took some artistic license.

  We spent the afternoon reading on the beach and then, as the slight breeze had become a little cool, moved our chairs to under our balcony which was toasty warm.

Blueberries and strawberries from today's market and 

 

yellow kiwis from the previous days market, made up a fruit salad for diner.

We were unable to find a way to watch the Men's Olympic Hockey final but kept track on update websites. Sad outcome. Hope they don't look as gloomy in their silver medal picture as the women's team did in theirs. Still proud of them!

Valencia, Spain - Saturday Sagunto Market

 We have been to the market in Port de Sagunto on Thursdays but this was the first time on a Saturday.

The path between the two communities was busy

 

Not really a day for sailing, no wind

but a good day for kayaking 

and paddleboarding (the owner gestured that I was welcome to take it out and I thanked her but using body language indicated my balance wasn't good enough, laughter) and

surf fishing.

A screw came out of my prescription glasses a couple of weeks ago and I have been carrying them in my backpack ever since, hoping to find an optometrist. Rick spotted this one and the woman behind the counter repaired them at no cost, so kind.

Unlike Thursday, on Saturday the streets around the market are closed off. Not that anyone took any notice of the signs.

We weren't there until about 11:30 and could see by the empty boxes how much had been sold already.

So tempted to buy some herbs but carrying the pots back to the apartment would be a pain.

Rick commented that we really needed one of these bags on wheels.

 We picked up two kinds of olives from our usual vendor then went looking for a cucumber. At one very busy stall, we took a number, stood around while others bought and bought and bought until there were no cucumbers left. By then I had decided to get onions and an avocado and then was handed a slice of yellow kiwi (yes yellow) and we had to have some of them too.

 Yellow kiwifruit, or golden kiwi (typically Actinidia chinensis), is a nutrient-dense fruit featuring smooth, bronze-toned, hairless skin, bright yellow flesh, and a sweet, tropical flavor with notes of mango and pineapple. Sweeter and less acidic than green kiwi, they are rich in vitamin C and fiber.  from AI summary.

At the playground by the beach a guy was making huge bubbles

 

and the kids were enjoying popping them. I may have to try painting bubbles.

The beach side cafe had more tables out than before and was absolutely packed.

Luckily we found a table. I had a fruit and chocolate crepe and a glass of white wine.

Rick ordered a tuna sandwich and was surprised that he was expected to put it together himself.

The beer made up for it. He had noticed that a table near by had tankards of beer rather than glasses and googled how to say "A beer like that" when he ordered.

Walking home we watched a catermeran sail into the marina,

an Egret fishing and

admired how the flowers are really popping now.

12,000 steps so I stayed in and started painting the bluejay photo that Steve had sent and Rick went out to the beach.

Valencia, Spain - afternoon walk around Canet

Don't know what this means but I wonder if the two places are paired.

 

This morning I had started out with a jacket on but as it warmed, took it off. When we went out to read on the beach, the wind had picked up and we sat on the path, sheltered by the dunes.

We were buzzed by a drone and noticed a kite boarder. Busy day on the beach compared to most.

When the wind shifted further East, making our spot cooler we went for a walk.

Better day for kite foilers than for beach sitters.

The plants beside the path had been irrigated recently and the snails were out in force.

A Common Kestrel was hunting over the dunes.

Rick was not prepared to give up on sitting and reading in the sun, so found a spot, out of the wind, below the bedroom balcony. He ended up coming in as he was too hot there!

Valencia, Spain - morning walk around Canet

 The last couple of days we have stayed home. Rick goes for regular walks, the weather is so pleasant for walking.

The first day I just went for one brief walk and spent the rest of the time completing this, of the church spire in the village.

 

Today, we had planned to catch the bus into Valencia but after a lousy nights sleep I didn't want to deal with the city, so went for a gentle walk around the residential area just north of us.

Blossoms are really emerging now on trees and shrubs.

Even the cacti are getting in on the act.

It's an established neighbourhood with some ultra modern looking infill homes being built.

But most of them have the traditional stucco exterior and tile roofs

Many with terraces, established gardens and solar panels.

Kumquat tree growing over a wall.

There were a row of these trees along the road. I don't know if this is how the leaves start out or if they will be blossoms.

Roof tiles on a wave shaped wall.

A simple but effective roofing material.

Tiles

for

house identification.

There is a large piece of overgrown land with these gates onto the passieg

and a place for the old gates further in. I have been very curious about The Pines.

Through a gate at the side of the property, it looked occupied with a dog sleeping there. But it was all too overgrown for me to get a good shot of the house itself. 

A black cat, pretending to be a jaguar in the jungle.

Even feral cats want a roll and a stretch.