TAKE A LOOK AT VALENCIA SPAIN
Valencia Spain is the 3rd largest city in Spain with a population of 1.2 million. The city was founded in 138 BC and is loaded with history. We were able to stay in the Old Town area in a early 1900's apartment building that has been modernized (minus and elevator) on the inside but the outside remained authentic. The streets all wind in wild and random directions with only one lane for traffic. Having so many one way winding twisting and turning roads made for some interesting long walks with our google maps.
Every where we turned we ran into a little square in the center of several buildings. A square is not a park but like a park minus the grass. Often there is a fountain or monument in the center. Squares are all over the city and are like hidden treasures you stumble upon. Cafes are common and in the evening when the weather cools down the seats fill up with locals visiting and kids running around. Valencia feels like a very social city.
My favorite part of the city was the river down the middle of the city. It is a river with no water. There once was water until a few big devastating floods convinced the city to split The Turia river and divert the water around the city. That left Valencia with a dry river bed. The city officials wanted to add a highway to the port but the citizens wanted a park.
Today in the former river is a beautiful park with bike paths, running trails, grass, trees, basketball hoops, and it ends with a giant water park and science museum with beautiful buildings and grounds. Over 20 bridges remain going over the park. There is one bridge that has been standing in the same place since the 1400's. It is just a beautiful and unique way to have an inner city park. It really makes me re-think 405 going through downtown Portland.
We had a great time in Valencia and we both made the comment that this would be a fun city to live in. Until this trip I had never even heard of Valencia Spain, and now I will never forget it and it's beautiful river park. Beth
Here is a link to the park if you are curious.
http://valencia.for91days.com/the-turia-riverbed-park/
