Valencia
 

On a very dismal Welsh morning just finished reading the Sunday Times and came across the Travel supplement.

The reporter was 'glowing' as to Valencia and quite obviously a place to visit. We once more return to Spain next year having taken a villa rental and thought to have a week end there. Certainly looks interesting.

My only visit was courtesy of sat nav last year and en route from Barcelona to Javea I took us through the city!

Re: Valencia
 

If the Sunday Times was raving about Valencia then it would have been because Valencia ayuntamiento paid a lot of money to the Sunday TImes

That is how travel supplements work

Re: Valencia
 

Never realised! Ok I come from Porth in the Rhondda I think the local authority could afford about £100. What we get for that?

Re: Valencia
 

Having said that though, Valencia is a wonderful city to visit - as is the province.

Re: Valencia
 

hi from sunny barry island

Re: Valencia
 

I am totally biased. I hate cities with a passion but love Valencia so I would encourage people to visit it and look at all of the historical buildings they are wonderful.

Rosemary

Re: Valencia
 

Have visited Valencia a few times. Gorgeous place well worth a visit, just like the paper reported.

Would hate to go through life with such a cynical negative attitude as some. Loosen up

Re: Valencia
 

Naturally. We all know that the entire planet is gripped with greed, and nobody would ever say anything nice about anything without getting paid for it.

Obviously, your opinion is that Valencia sucks. How much did Oviedo ayuntamiento pay you to say that?

Re: Valencia
 

Rent a bike and wend your way through the park that was the old river bed down to the Arts and Sciences complex. Although the Calatrava buildings have been blamed for bankrupting the city and criticized for shoddy materials they really are spectacular.

Re: Valencia
 

Yes, Valencia is beautiful, and the Arts and Sciences complex is amazing.

I do wish they would fix up the Opera house (Palau de Reina Sofia), though. Since they had to strip off the covering of the facade because the tiles were peeling off, now it just looks sad, and diminishes the beauty of the complex as a whole. How hard is it to put a coat of white paint on it while they are trying to come up a more permanent solution?

Re: Valencia
 

Dear Cricketman without boring you I have a relationship with the law and have done so for 44 years and in France two years ago defended a UK guy who placed an opinion on a certain organisation in his local village.

The allegation in the QBD in the Strand was libel for it is not where the alleged libel was alleged to take place but where it was likely to be read. See the Cairns cricket case so very near to you at least in cricketing terms. I often have wondered what your relationship with the wonderful game is or was?

That is the law.

However a nice Master in QBD gave us an order for £142000 of costs before the other side could mount its action.

I allege that your comments are libellous and what you assert you must prove.

So if the Sunday Times come against you then please seek advice but not from me.

Re: Valencia
 

I think he's safe.

I subscribe to The Times and Sunday Times and I read the article. It was funded by Tourism Valencia, there is a note on the article pointing that out.

Re: Valencia
 

I enjoy days out walking about the city, I also have a bus/metro card that makes trips in the centre even more affordable. As a city it is relaxing and most things are in striking distance. Various food chains have sprung up catering for the tourist community, which makes having a meal or snack less of an adventure but equally more convenient.

The Valencia article in The Sunday Times painted a lovely picture of the city and some of its delights. Notably the prices quoted were not rich man’s money.

It was made clear at the end of the article that the Author, Gary Cansell was a guest of Tourism Valencia, SH Ingles and easyJet.

When I saw post #11 by Porth, I could have sworn it was Captain George Mainwaring addressing young Private Pike:thumbsup:

Re: Valencia
 

Those lying, thieving bastards - hiding it all in plain sight.

Re: Valencia
 

Are you OK?

Re: Valencia
 

I have just returned from a lovely walk around the city, I never tire of going there.

I never eat in any of the chains as I prefer to give my money to the independents. Do you have a favourite place to eat?

Rosemary

Re: Valencia
 

Oh Rosemary, I wish you had not asked that question! I am not the sophisticate you mistake me for. I am a bit of a simple soul. I wonder around Gandia (super city) and go native, throw my money at the local inn keepers.
You must try Puturru de foie on the paseo, just next to “todos a dos” it does a tasty and well-presented menu del dia for 10e. Otherwise you can go really upmarket at the restaurant Almar on Calle Moran Roda, just off the paseo, for 15e, menu del dia. I challenge you to find better for the price.

To get back to your question, on my last trip when I visited Valencia city I ended up at Finnegan’s pub on Placa de la Reina. I had Cottage pie, it was the real thing, I know this as I suffered heart burn for one hour afterwards:eek:
The Guinness was authentic, well the price was "reassuringly expensive" as they say:beer:

Re: Valencia
 

How much was it for a pint of the black stuff in Valencia???

Re: Valencia
 

4.60e! I cheated and just looked up their wesite:thumbup:

Finnegan's Of Dublin - Finnegan's Of Dublin

Re: Valencia
 

In order to understand that quip, you first have to understand that certain contributors here believe that the entire planet only has dubious motives for anything. No matter what it is, there's somebody secretly, immorally profiting from it at the expense of innocents.

Re: Valencia
 

I unreservedly and openly apologize I saw the Easy Jet bit but not the other. Again I am sorry and my mind was being driven by another posting on here but again no excuses none whatsoever.

Re: Valencia
 

Indeed I go further and apologize to Cricketman for his suggestion was absolutely correct in that the ST had been paid by Valencia to draft the article.

Again sorry.

Re: Valencia
 

I do understand that. but I believe in calling them out when they are saying it without foundation, but admitting when they're not. Like Porth did.

You are referring to cricketman when you say certain contributors, aren't you?

Re: Valencia
 

Point taken - acknowledgement to cricketman.

It still doesn't change whether Valencia is a nice place to visit or not. I've been only once, but found it very enjoyable.

But to make a point of the article being written for the Valencia tourism board (or more accurately, directly implying that any such article could only be the result of some sort of underhanded payoff) is obviously intended to place doubt on Valencia and the content of the article. Or, if history is any guide, intended to again suggest some sort of dubious intent, as is the historical narrative from this particular contributor. Although ironically all of this was fully disclosed in the article, which shows there was no dubious hidden agenda.

Like most Spanish coastal towns, Valencia (and its inhabitants) benefit from tourism. The tourism board's job is to promote the city's attractions. That doesn't make Valencia or the publication dubious, nor does it make the content of the article false.

Re: Valencia
 

Thanks for the information, I go to Gandia quite regularly so will definitely give them both a try.

Rosemary

Re: Valencia
 

Thank you so much for the recommendation I had lunch there today and it was wonderful. Everything was perfect, nothing was run of the mill and the staff were great. Will definitely go there again and again.

Rosemary

Re: Valencia
 

Hi Rosemary,

Sorry not to have replied sooner. Glad you liked Puturru de foie on the paseo. I recently went to Club Nautico at playa de Gandia. 10e for menu del dia but it was not as enjoyable, although the servings were generous and the surroundings pleasant.

In the town of Gandia I like Salva, a pasteleria which has a couple of branches, one opposite the train station and another on Carrer Sant Francesc de Borja, 22. They offer good prices with decent ingredients and lovely service.

As I discover more good stuff I will let you know.

Rgds
jonboy

Re: Valencia
 

just reading your posts im off there as soon as i come over again

Re: Valencia
 

just found them on google maps they accross the road from each other you easy miss Puturru de foie on the paseo just a door

Re: Valencia
 

Lovely city, lovely area, friendly folk, reasonable prices and much to offer for everyone.

Re: Valencia
 

Love the City I been plenty of times, the last time sadly I got robbed at knifepoint, my phone and a cut to my hand and where I had to protect my neck, whjen I looked it up there is at least 10 a week, god knows how many more go unreported.

It's unlikely you guys would be walking round the time I was, I was so annoyed as I had this gut feeling going a different route back I was being followed when I did I ran but too late.

I also saw a part of the City in the centre which was quite unbelievable but maybe interesting for those that like to wander off the beaten track.

Re: Valencia
 

Hi andyrich666

Sorry to hear of your assault. I have the feeling that an entire thread could easily be devoted to street crime in the cities of Spain. For myself I have experienced several attempts to part me from my belongings, so far without success and I have so far only had to resort to shouting and confronting the would be thief. All these have been in daylight and thankfully not at night when it would be easier for the thief to use force.
One incident such as you have described can completely colour our perception of an area and how vulnerable we feel when out alone, it is a rotten thing for anyone to have to experience. You come across as one of the more able and street wise types. May you continue to enjoy your time in Spain.

Now what did you say about a part of the city that “was quite unbelievable”?
Best regards
jonboy

Re: Valencia
 

Its a nice city. I lived there for 6 months. Lots of transvestites ant night.....:)

Re: Valencia
 

I stumbled into a area called 'velluters' it really is just taking the wrong passage from the main city where the Bull Ring and train station is, the only way I could describe it as something like downtown Mexico City, It is a chinese area of the city but one of the oldest parts and it is just complete with 10$ street Prostitutes, heroin addicts literally skanking up on the streets, all other drugs as well, pimps and whatever else, now most people would have just got the **** out of there, but I did not I was interested to see these peoples lives, there was bars opening and closing throughout the time I was there, I spoke to quite a few of the Bar men/women, not only that I witnessed shoplifters coming into the bars where Police just do not care at all, and they were off loading goods from el Corte de ingles etc, if you want to go and buy some knock off perfume of a heroin addict, then this is the place to go. The whole scene just amazed me, the Police came and went and did not do a thing.

However I did feel safe, at no point did I think I was in any danger and that is why I went from bar to bar to see how these people lived.

Some of the people looked like complete zombies, but later then looked normal before returning to Zombie status, always arguing begging the dealers etc.

It was some eye opener I can assure you.

Re: Valencia
 

That is one of the most popular areas when it is Fallas, full of atmosphere and has great street stalls, many of them selling things made in Valencia province. Their lighting and falla monument always seem to win prizes and no visit to Valencia during fallas is complete unless you go there.

Rosemary

Re: Valencia
 

'velluters' I thought that was the area to the left hand side (as you leave) the railway station, as there is a small China Town there but looking on the map it is to the north west.
I am pleased I have not been there at night. I will have a sniff around in the daytime on my next visit. It is the voyeur in me you understand:o

Re: Valencia
 

Thanks for that Rosemary.
Like jonboy I look forward to having a sniff around, daytime of course ;) and shall also check it out during Fallas.

Re: Valencia
 

During Fallas you need to be in that area in the evening for the lights and the true atmosphere.

Rosemary

Re: Valencia
 

It was in the daytime I was there !!!

Re: Valencia
 

It was when you said

"It's unlikely you guys would be walking round the time I was, I was so annoyed as I had this gut feeling going a different route back I was being followed when I did I ran but too late."

So I thought, you meant the dead of night. Instead of that we have daylight robbery to contend with! I will bring my wife with me, that'll put the wind up 'em!:lol: