Despididas, Goodbye Valencia, and ok fine, I love you!

Where do I even begin with this blog? I can not seem to organize my thoughts, my emotions, or my belongings. So please excuse the space cadet- like entry you are about to embark on. Its more of my random thoughts rather than an organized entry.

Its that time to move out of our cozy and flimsy apartment in Benimaclet that I call home. The place we love to hate. I hate it more because I look around and wonder "where did I get all this crap from?!?!" I came with 1 large suitcase, a medium suitcase, and a backpack....
Im leaving with the same... plus a small suitcase, a duffel bag, and 2 boxes.. and throwing away/donating about 7 bags of clothing, papers, books, etc.

I am the last one here. In a way I am happy I get to peacefully organize myself, but it is also very sad and surreal for me to be the last one. To throw away traces of what others left behind.

I have said goodbye to more roommates, and more friends. I have said goodbye more times in the past 6 weeks than I have in my entire life. This week alone we have had a handful of "lasts" and goodbyes. Now that its my turn, Im despidida-ed out! Ive said goodbye to the same people what feels like 10 times!

Im not very good at goodbyes. I cry when I say goodbye to friends, to bars, I cry knowing its going to be my last time riding a bici in Parque Turia, or drinking a Horchata at Horchataria Daniel, or my last night in my favorite bar where I always felt at home. As a result, I try to stay away from my own goodbyes. Thats why tonight, on my last night in Valencia after a week of "lasts" and "goodbyes" Im OK sitting at home reflecting on life, cleaning, and packing.

I have had such a great time in Valencia these past weeks, and have become close with more people, and met many more people I hope to keep around a while. The month of July has possibly been possibly the most fun month all year. I was blessed to share it with Molly and Rosemarie, my partners in crime. We have shared many stories, laughs and good nights here with friends.

the night i taught everyone the trick to doing a great split!

But that doesnt mean Im going to overlook my overall experience here.  I have had an unforgettable experience here. Let's leave it at that... unforgettable. I often found myself asking Nora: "Is this REAL LIFE?!?!"

As I wonder around Valencia these last few hours, I find myself thinking "man, I never got to do that here!" or "ugh! I always wanted to do THAT, why didn't I?"
But then I look back, and I have done so much here in Valencia. Its hard to do everything, and Im satisfied with my experience in Valencia. Yes, I could have tweeked some things, but why have regrets? I truly learned countless lessons this year

Now that Ive said goodbye to all my friends who have already left, It's my turn to be the one who departs. Its my turn to say goodbye to a city I have grown to love. Yes, I love you Valencia. Im ready to shout it form the rooftops while wearing an "I <3 VALENCIA shirt that I have not yet bought, because it will not fit in my bags.

I can't believe it's really goodbye, or see ya later, or however one may look at it.
Is it ok to look back? To be sad? To reminisce? To doubt? To close myself off?  Is it alright do this while living in the present, and looking towards the bright future and fun that lays ahead? Where do I look without tripping and falling?

Batalla de Flores

Since abut 1892, to celebrate the end of the Feria de Julio here in Valencia, there has been one last event called the Batalla de flores aka Battle of Flowers. This event takes place on the last sunday during the feria. When we asked our expert Valencian friends, no one had any idea the history of this event... eventually they decided "well, we needed a reason for a fiesta!"

Lots of big floats are constructed, most of them using flowers. Then the falleras get all dressed up again, most of them in their traditional dresses but some in themed outfits to match the float. They come equipped this time with tennis rackets.

After a showing of the floats and lots of smiling and waving, a few fireworks are set off, because we're in Valencia. Then the battle began.

Falleras throwing flowers at the crowd (those who paid were admitted VIP and equipped with boxes of flowers)
And the crowd throwing flowers at the falleras
The falleras luckally had protection: a tennis racket which most used as a shield rather than a weapon.

Ruben risked his life to get us flowers, like a REAL man ;)

The battle lasted about 10-15 minutes. When it was over, we were free to have our own battle.

Rosemarie and I took on a group of small children, we targeted them because one kid had a batman shirt and we figured he was a badass.

Those kids threw dirt!!! And eventually we were outnumbered but we put up a good fight! Show no mercy... TOMA!

you can just see the dirt coming at us!

Dia del Vino (unofficial)

For months now, my beloved Maria Jose has mentioned she wanted to take me to this "secret location" to show me something cool.

For months now, her husband Miguel has been telling me we have to go to his favorite Bodega (wine store) to get his FAVORITE wine that is only available in this location.

So everyones dreams came true today, and we spent the day wine tasting and learning! Fun and educational!

We took an early early early morning road trip (aka 9am) and met up with Carlos and Andrea (soy la culpable) and made our way to the Teulada, where Miguel's favorite Bodega is located, with his favorite wine. We were given free tastings then Miguel stocked up for the winter buying about 12 bottles o his favorite, plus a few extra bottles. I joined in the fun by buying one bottle for some very special people Ill soon be reunited with! (sorry mom and dad, you already got yours!)

Then we went to Xálo (Jalón) Where we went to fulfill Maria Jose's dream. She wanted to show me a very unusual market. This town is composed of over 40% foreigners coming from England, Germany and the Netherlands. These people come out and sell some old antiques. You can find British porcelain, nazi germany paraphernalia and other interesting antiques!

After, more free wine!

After, we headed to nearby Maserof for the Museo del Vino. It was u in the beautiful mountains. Check it out

 The museum is an old house/bodega. Now there is one man that sleeps there, and you can rent a bedroom for a measly 120 euros a night (breakfast included)

view from the guest room

In the official SIESTA ROOM

old wine press

where they crush the grapes by foot!

Im pretty sure I'm coming back mid-late september for the harvest... where they let you squish the grapes with YOUR OWN FEET!!!!! Me apunto! Count me in and call me Lucy!

Dia de la Horchata... my other new favorite holiday

Spain keeps getting better and better! Fallas, Noche de San Juan, and now this: HORCHATA DAY!

Wait? Whats horchata?  Here is my blog about horchata back from september!

My favorite Liaison Ruben sent me information about this day: Free horchata at noon! (and other assorted activities for children- but free horchata was the only one that appealed to me.... and even better: it took place at the best horchataria in Valencia!

So I got online at 11:45 and waited anxiously for them to start serving the goods. I felt like a kid waiting in line at the mall to tell Santa what I wanted for Christmas! Finally at 12:15, the line started moving. HORRAY! 

Within 45 seconds I was at the front of the assembly line being handed a pack of 2 Fartons, and a tall glass of Horchata! (mezcla- half liquid granitizado aka slurpee)

the line went all the way down the street!

stopping cars to give them a refreshing treat!

Feliz Cumpleaños America!!!

For past 8 years, my 4th of July has consisted of me working an 8 hour shift which may have included picking up tons and tons of garbage and dealing with angry patrons who complain theres no room on the beach, parking costs too much, theres no indoor showers, too many mosquitos, or that the bathrooms are filthy (10 minutes after we cleaned them)

This year was a bit different (gracias a dios!)  I continued this years trend of leisure, fun and friends.

As Americans 4th of July means only a few things. It may mean a really crappy shift at work, but it also means BBQs, family, friends and fireworks. So us americanas did the best we could to recreate a typical American Independence day, but the BBQ became in issue (and forget fireworks, we've had enough after Fallas!)
1) Where do we get a BBQ?
2) Are there BBQs to use in the parks already?
3) Where can we BBQ
4) If we were to buy a bbq, how do we transport that, with the food.

Well, after much debate and much research, we learned that there is no where in Valencia with BBQs ready for you to use. Also, we learned that BBQing is illegal in the parks! We also learned that the "south americans" always cook in the parks, so i say, well now the north americans want to also! It was settled: next we found where to buy BBQs, but decided not to buy one because we only will be here a few more weeks: but instead we got a DISPOSABLE BBQ! One time use! Who knew??? Ready in 20 minutes to cook your food then you toss it. Basically, it was a tin pan with coal and a cheap rack. but it did the trick for 6 euros.

So we transported our metal tin called a bbq along with the food we slaved over for 2 days, and we met up with some great people! Of course the Moreno Prospers joined us, Amber and company, and horray- francesco and friend! I was super happy to see Francesco =) We had a large happy group of about 15 people again from all over: 6 Americans,  5 Spaniards, 1 Italian, 1 Argentinean, 1 Brit, 1 Austrian and 1 Bolivian.

We found a hiding spot in the park, somewhat secluded to have our illegal BBQ (just in case we cooked the food before hand and used the grill to just heat it up). We even had some decorations to set the mood! and we sat around for 5 hours on our picnic blankets exchanging languages, phrases, vocabulary, stories and laughs.

We also enjoyed great cuisine:
Hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, black bean burgers (hell yes), potato salad, cole slaw, broccoli salad, brownies, jell-o shots ( red white and blue- and so fun to teach europeans the art of taking a jello shot), tinto de verano, and then marshmellows melted over a lighter....

After a short siesta, we met back up and headed down to the American Bar ready to re celebrate!

In the end, i vote this to be the best 4th of July ever!
(the europeans may have been let down however, that there were no aliens to battle like in the movies)

La Subasta- Basta ya!

This past week, I attended a very interesting event to say the least. Friends Tom, Cathrine and I met up for a night at what we call the artichoke bar aka Nou Carxofa. They have excellent wine, excellent tapas, excellent salads and excellent entertainment.... an auction!

Although there was nothing I would really consider buying (most of it seems to have been pulled from the dumpster) it was a fun experience to see how much people would pay for old records, a desk lamp, a beach table, a candle holder, and a sailors hat and other assorted products that were claimed to come from the 50's 60's and 70's.

clearly enjoying ourselves

star the bidding at 1 euro!

the goods

really could have used a desk lamp from the 70's... maybe next time!