Valencia, Spain - much quieter on a Monday

 Slept a bit better and DIDN'T see the sunrise! Yay. Still not tons of energy so after my usual morning routine (described previously) I headed out to find the other grocery store.

Right outside the gate to the apartment building are the garbage and recycling bins. On the positive side, I don't have to go far to dump it. On the negative side, loud collection trucks early in the morning.

 

I followed the gps instructions to walk a couple of blocks and deeked into a park on the way. Although this is not a particularly attractive area with so many apartment buildings, there are little parks scattered around...green space, shade trees, benches and

they all, even the smallest ones, have a children's play area. Each of the apartment blocks also have an area that was probably originally a tennis court but now set up for basketball and soccer, and some play equipment. Perhaps it is in the building code here and it really should be everywhere.

If there are days, in March, that I find it too hot for the beach, I may come and sketch here, in the shade.

This grocery store I have heard of, I have shopped at Mercadona in other places. It's large, clean and well stocked and if you are prepared to look around I believe it is cheaper than the other one.

Different foods are popular here. Huge selection of tinned sardines. I had only come for some fresh veg to make a stir fry so only bought my backpack with me. Of course I bought more than I intended and had to carry some back in my arms. Here they don't offer to sell you a bag, you bring your own or you carry it out.

The main roads are quite wide, parking on each side and lots of large shade trees. They break up the "concrete jungle" vibe.

This is the first place I have rented that has beach chairs and an umbrella so after lunch I took a chair down to the beach to sit in the sun and read. Having tried to paint the palm trees I thought I needed to get to know them a bit better and did a quick sketch.

There are clumps of them, every so often, all the way along the beach. It was warmish (still had a t-shirt and fleece on) and lovely sitting in the sun with the sound of the waves, very few people about. I only stayed there for about an hour as even with sunscreen on I have to take it a bit easy, not wanting to start out with a burn.

This is a pretty light post, photo wise, so I will end with a couple of photos that Rick has sent me as he is looking after Rasta.

They seem to consistently be of Rasta giving him the eye.

 

The accusing stare - "I am starving. When are you going to feed me!"