Valencia

Our 3.5 hour train ride to Valencia left early in the morning and got us into town just before lunch time. Since Paella Valenciana was originated in Valencia, it had to be our first meal in Valencia. The dish was one of the major reasons we chose to make a stop in Valencia... we're such foodies! At Raco del Turia (Carrer de Ciscar, 10), we had sangria, eel with potatoes, seafood paella, and Paella Valenciana. The Paella Valenciana is garnished with snails, rabbit, chicken, and green beans, not exactly what we had envisioned. Both paellas were surprisingly salty but were perfectly cooked al dente and full of flavor.

Valencia is an amazingly beautiful city. The "old" part of town consists of plazas and monuments, including La Llonja de la Seda (the first commercial trading center fully equipped with a court, prison, and trading floor).

After taking in the old town, we headed to the "new" part of town, which was where the opera house, aquarium, and city of arts and sciences were located. The architecture was impressive and a beautiful site to take in.

Orxata in Spain is different than the Mexican Horchata we are used to in southern California. It's not as sweet and slightly yeasty but refreshing and tasty.

It was Restaurant Week in Valencia (the same concept as Dine About Town at home). We chose a restaurant from the brochure but when we got to the restaurant, it was far from what we had expected. We tried another restaurant also participating in the Restaurant Week, but no tables were available. Next door was a tapas place, Las Cuevas, with a very "local" feel and tasty food.

Just down the road was a plaza where we sat on the steps, drank beer (sold by the guys walking around saying "cerveza fria"), and relaxed.