Nuestro Viaje a Valencia

Bienvenidos a Valencia!

This weekend our Language & Culture groups took a trip down towards the coast to Valencia for a couple of days! Since, we were there for a weekend we knew it was important to make the most of the time there, so our schedule was definitely jam-packed with activities to really immerse ourselves in the region. Once we arrived, we all quickly set our bags down in our rooms and immediately went on a walking tour of Valencia with our tour guide: Vito. He, very enthusiastically, lead us throughout the gorgeous streets of Valencia, telling us the history and stories behind so many buildings and architectural features that were all around us. We walked through the "Plaza de la Virgen", the "Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas", and the ironically named "Plaza Redonda". We all learned quite a bit and the context definitely put into perspective how each building has a story and uniquely adds its own presence to the overall fabric of Valencia as a whole. 

The next day was our beach day! We took the bus to the "Playa Cabanyal" to enjoy the sunshine and also to cool off in the water from the heat of Valencia. Students played volleyball, soccer, and frisbee together. They all had a blast and wished we could've stayed longer. However, there was something special in store waiting at the next location: Casa Ángel. At this restaurant we sat on the second floor with a perfect view of the surrounding rice fields that the owners of the restaurant cultivate for the most famous dish they serve: Paella. We were all eager to try this famous dish of Spain and they did not disappoint! After our meals, we followed up with a scenic boat ride, back to the bus, through the river that flows alongside the restaurant. A very calming and relaxing way to digest our food. 

On our last and final day in Valencia we visited two museums: the "Museo Fallero" & the "Museo de Ciudad de las artes y las ciencias". The "Museo Fallero" is a place that exhibits many different sculptures that have been featured in the "Fallas de Valencia" over the past century or so. "Fallas" are these enormous, intricate statues and art displays that are presented for everyone to see in March each year in Valencia. Each year, one winner is voted to win best "falla" and all the rest are burned down, to signal the rebirth and renewal of the Spring season. The "Museo de Ciudad de las artes y las ciencias" is mostly a science museum with various exhibits about astronomy, biology, chemistry, and any scientific discipline you can think of. Many of the exhibits are interactive, so the students spent a lot of their time exploring and playing around with the exhibits to see what they do. Overall, it was such an amazing, engaging experience that I'm sure the students will never forget!