Valencia, Spain - Peniscola, Part 1

I already know that this will be a mulipost recounting as I took so many pictures and it was such a lovely and fun day. The drive was about an hour and a half, through a different landscape. We have been on the fertile plain along the coast but this took us through the foothills; valleys, steep cliffs, mountain top castles, olive groves and vineyards. We decided to park by the beach as there was lots of parking there and I didn't want to have to deal with any narrow or one way streets.

How many tourists does it take to figure out the parking machine?

 

Fi got it figured out just as a passerby told us we didn't need to pay (winter rules I think). 

First stop was a beach side cafe for washroom, coffee and cake.

Then a walk on the beach.

Hotels and houses climbing the hill on one side of the cove

and the old town, topped by the castle on the other side.

Through the little port that was mostly fishing boats and some pleasure.

To the tidal pool where boats used to be able to 

get right up to the walls.

Cormorant,

Moorhen and

a Little Bittern.

Then up on to the harbour walls to 

check out the views.

Then up into the castle. There was a couple of tour buses in the parking lot so it was quite busy at the start of our visit.

Everything was so darn photogenic

everywhere we turned

was

a photo

waiting to be taken.

Also musicians taking advantage of the rock and building acoustics.

Restaurants, with views, waiting

to welcome the influx.

Also waiting,

some of the biggest Sea Gulls I have ever seen.

End of Part 1.

Valencia, Spain - another rainy day

 We are quite willing to go out in "drizzle", "light rain" or "occasional showers" but this was another day of "off and on downpours" so we stayed home. We read books, played on devices, worked and gave Fi a chance to improve her euchre skills so she could fend for herself better in the Youth Hostel environment.

This photo of the tourist pirate ship going for a spin was taken through the apartment window.

 

We did all get out for a walk at one time or another.

These funny little balls have appeared on the beach.

Some round, some oval. There was much conjecture and then Rick used "Google Lens" and found out that they are "Whale Barf Balls" or "beach balls" made of sea grass and other material that storms have rolled into balls and deposited on the beach.

We also noticed a boat of some kind floating the pipes out to sea, that have been on the beach. Internet research has led us to believe that they are going to be used to pump sand up, on to the beaches that have been eroded by the winter storms.

As Sunday was to be a good day weatherwise, Rick's last day in Spain and Fi's last with us, we rented a car for a road trip to Peniscola. We just got back. I took 190 pictures, Drove for 3 hours, walked and climbed and ate and am too tired to post any more but tomorrows post will be of a location that was used in Game of Thrones!

Valencia, Spain - Estacion del Norte and Jamon Del Medio.

 

Had to take a Hard Rock Cafe picture for Christine, who used to be into them from every country she visited.

Just a block away from City Hall Square is the main train station in Valencia.

The magnificent buildings continue here.

Fi will be heading from here when she leaves, for Seville, in a few days.

It is a terminal station of monumental character and modernist Valencian style inaugurated in 1917 by the Company of the Iron Roads of the North of Spain, who commissioned its construction to one of the architects of the company, Demetrio Ribes. In 1941, after the nationalization of the Iberian-wide railway, it would pass into the hands of the newly created National Network of Spanish Railways (RENFE). The season stands out both for its ornamental richness and its great proportions. In 1983 it was listed as a cultural interest.^[6] It also enjoys the consideration of historical station by Adif.  from wikipedia.

We walked around, awed by the decoration.

 

Ceiling 

Walls

Clock.

Right next door is the bullring.

During March, to celebrate the Fallas, they still conduct bullfights.

Dave co-operated with a pose with the matador.

At that point it started to rain again and we hustled through the streets with little time

for taking pictures.

We were headed for the restaurant that we went to with Gord, on just such a rainy day. Jamon del Medio.

We ordered drinks and tapas and as usual I was a little late taking the picture.

We went all in as it was dinner time and one of the last all together. Bread and olive oil, grilled mushrooms with pesto, deep fried brie with blueberry jam, iberion ham, date and bacon croquettes and crispy chicken with honey mustard dip. It was a great meal and, just like last time, the rain had eased when it was time to leave

and we walked through the Turia jardin

 

to catch the bus at

Serrano Gate and make our way home in the dark.