Valencia, Spain - rain! and Paella.

 It was forecast to rain all day today so we didn't really plan anything. Slept in, showered, Nic and Dave did some work, read, Rick went for a walk and came back soaked.

I worked on this painting of the back of Rick on the beach. Unfortunately as I pulled off the masking tape on the edges it ripped some of the bottom of the painting off. Such a pity, I was proud of the deck chair.

 

I forgot to post this on yesterdays blog. In Segunto, just before Daphne picked us up we found this fabulous bakery and bought 6 eclairs. They were real choux pastry. 2 had whipped cream inside, 2 had chocolate whipped cream and 2 had custard. All had a crunchy toffee type of glaze. They were amazing and we all loved them and had different favourites.

It was supposed to stop raining at 2pm and it did slow down so we ventured out to the grocery store to get the "fixings" to make Paella. The main concern being the kind of rice we needed so I took a screenshot of the recommendations from the recipe and
 

We found it at the grocery store.

On our way back it started raining again but we took a quick walk

to the beach as we were feeling rather "house bound".

We played some cards - with wine and olives- and the first one out had to start the Paella. That was Nic.

Muslims in Al-Andalus began rice cultivation around the 10th century.^[7] Eastern Iberian Peninsula locals often made casseroles of rice, fish, and spices for family gatherings and religious feasts, thus establishing the custom of eating rice in Spain. This led to rice becoming a staple by the 15th century.

One likely theory is that paella was invented by Albufera rice farmers in the 15th century. Farmers gathered in the paddies to cook a one-pot dish with ingredients that were readily available in the surrounding fields: rice, snails, aquatic birds, green beans and water from the Albufera de València.^[8]

It became customary for cooks to combine rice with vegetables, beans, and dry cod, providing an acceptable meal for Lent. Along Spain's Mediterranean coast, rice was predominantly eaten with fish.^[9][10]

Spanish food historian Lourdes March notes that the dish "symbolizes the union and heritage of two important cultures, the Roman, which gives us the utensil and the Arab which brought us the basic food of humanity for centuries: rice. From Wikipedia.

A recipe from the internet and

our largest frying pan. A Paella pan would have been better (wide, flat bottom with handles on the sides). Onion, garlic, green and yellow peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes simmered.

Rice, vegetable stock, paella seasoning, white wine, chicken thighs cubed simmered.

Shrimp and frozen peas. Simmered and then covered to sit for 10 minutes.

Served with baguette and butter. Declared a resounding success.

Valencia, Spain - Sagunto Castle a second time.

 When I rented a car, when Gord was here, we met Daphne. She and her husband have a small local car rental agency and have also picked up Nic, Dave and Fiona at the airport. They will also be delivering everyone back. Today she picked us up at the apartment and dropped us at the museum in Sagunto and when we were done for the day, came and picked us up. It was so convenient.

The museum is in the basement of a new apartment building, excavated when it was built. Wall outlines of houses, wide and narrow streets and it is well signed in 3 languages, including English.

 

There was also an area with the history of Sagunto and maps of the town during each significant era. There are Roman remains scattered around the town.

From here we headed up.

Needed some caffeine for fuel.

Protest going on in front of city hall. We couldn't figure out what it was about. Lots of chanting and singing and a police officer stopping traffic.

A British couple walked by and offered to take a picture of all of us in the archway next to the restaurant that we ate at later.

Tiles and wrought iron

had Fi, Nic and I snapping. Photo by Nic.

Arches too and

narrow streets.

Up, up to the amphitheatre

where, for some reason, they don't allow Scotty dogs.

Last time, with Rick and Gord, I only did one end of the castle so

this time

I walked to the other end.

It is almost a kilometre from one end of the hilltop to the other.

Photo by Nicola.

The views

across the orchards of the plain

and the mountains behind were rather hazy with the low clouds but luckily the rain held off.

I sat and got some paint on the sketch I had started last time. Photo by Nic.

We were ravenous and ate lunch at the same little bar as last time. Rick had his hamburguesa con huevo and

the rest of us shared tapas; patatas bravas,

calamares,

gambas and croquetas (no pic) along with wine, Fanta, agua con gas.

Walked back to the museum for Daphne to pick us up. Great day!

Valencia, Spain - into the city with Nic, Dave and Fi

 Fiona arrived via Dublin, jet lagged

so, to keep her awake, we went for a walk, had coffee and then ice cream at a cafe that Nic and Dave had found.

 

Then today it was on to the bus and into Valencia.

Still keeping us all fired up with coffee. The pigeons are going to love all those croissant crumbs. As you can see from our clothing, we are in a cool spell. About 15 degrees, cloudy, occasional light drizzle and very windy.

It was fun seeing them enjoy the city, taking photos, noticing things. As usual Rick and I saw things we hadn't noticed before. There is so much to see.

Neo Hobo is a distinctive street art project in Valencia, Spain, created by artist Ismael Barcelón (@stka_mx). Focused on urban intervention, this work contributes to the city’s vibrant street art scene, particularly within the historic Barrio del Carmen, which is known for murals by artists like Escif and Blu. from AI summary.

We went into the Placa de la Virgin where the fountain was in full flow again.

 

Dave was quite prepared to pose,

Fi, not so thrilled with the idea.

We skipped the Cathedral

but peaked in the church where there was a mass in progress.

From there we went around to the back, where the others went into the Archeological Museum and I sat and sketched/painted on the steps outside, while listening to the fireworks display going on, very noisily at the city hall square.

From there it 

was through

the streets and squares

with a focus on

gargoyles,

Until we got to the market.

Here we loaded up with our choices which ranged from ham and cheese baguette, though shrimp salad pincho to caviar and croquettes. We took them outside and sat on a bench to eat and then

returned for round 2. This was caramelized pumpkin in a pastry sprinkled with sugar. We had no idea what we were getting but it looked good, tasted a bit odd, but that didn't stop us trying it.

Then to the Silk Exchange

where I sat and sketched in the courtyard,

while they went inside. Photo by Nicola.

Photo by Nicola.

We made our way back to the bus

snapping

as we went.

'Knitting pattern" of wires.

We stopped to talk to 

this young painter. The painting was being donated to a charity auction. More of his work at www.smiralles.online.

When we got home the wind was really whipping up

the sea

and the palm trees.