Valencia, Spain - Roman ruins (La Almoina) and the market again

Yesterday we were back into Valencia. Drove to Rafelbunyol, parked, metro into the city and off at our regular stop, in the Turia gardens.

More of those bottled shaped, spikey trees.

 

Up out of the park at this bridge and

into the warren of narrow streets, guided by google.

Mural.

How the police get around in the old part of the city.

Showed Gord around the 

Cathedral area.

Then we went into La Almoina Archeological Museum. These Roman ruins were found when La Almoina (a poorhouse) was demolished, thus the name.

Over the years the city has been built on what was here before, so these ruins are all below street level.

It is not a huge area (considering what sites I have seen in Cyprus and Crete) but still it is quite extensive and well signed.

Some of the artifacts are exceptional.

Back out into the daylight and we went looking for food.

So time to show Gord the market.

We all order from this stall.

Its all so tempting.

We sat outside on the steps to the market and ate - I had a salmon on cream cheese pincho, 2 mushroom croquettes and a roll with goat cheese and tomato jam.

Rick went back in and bought 3 cannolo which we shared along with the strawberries I had bought.

Gord was in his element, he has hollow legs and

grazed his way

up and down the aisles (it may have been the high point of his trip)

Can you tell I love the market.

There's a glass of wine with my name on it, so, although I haven't finished the post for the day, it's time to join the guys on the balcony with potato chips and wine.

Valencia, Spain - Aquarium (Its all about the jellyfish and the sharks)

 

The aquarium was quite expensive  at 27 Euro for a senior (about $45).

Wicker Beluga in the entrance, escalators down  

and a taste of things to come.

The first aquarium of Jelly fish had me mesmerized. There were lots of different varieties and they were one of my favorite species.

We were hungry and looking for a place to eat but the pizza place we had been directed to was closed, so we went down into the first set of aquariums. They were all underground, so steps or elevators to go down and then the lighting was very dim. Rick found it took his eyes a long time to adjust.

More Jellyfish

almost invisible.

Undulating.

These were called Fried Egg Jellyfish

and they had frilly tutus.

It wasn't all fish,

some birds

and turtles.

This Egret acted like a pigeon, cleaning off the tables at the restaurant we finally found.

Seals,

from below

and above.

The Spider Crabs were too creepy for me, they were at least 2ft across and looked way to much like spiders.

This is one of the 47 varieties of Sea Horse, the Leafy Sea Dragon.

Oh good, more Jellyfish.

Gord and the Jellyfish.

There were lots of huge aquariums

with living coral

and schools of fish but my camera struggled in the low light.

There were also places where you could walk through tunnels, surrounded by fish.

I tried my best to get the sharks,

rays and

turtles but my camera really wasn't having any of it.

Gord got the best shot of the day with his phone.

We wanted to get back to the car so I didn't have to drive home in the dark, so we rushed to the dolphin show and then caught a bus to the metro station.

 We spent about 3 hours at the aquarium and only saw about half of it.

On the metro; Gord on his phone and Rick and I in reflection.