Experiencia Valencia Valencia Valencia is the third largest city in Spain with a population ranging from 1.7 to 2.3 million. Valencia’s port, El Grao, is one of the busiest on the Mediterranean coast. The main exports from the city are food and drink (mainly wine, oranges, lemons and rice), furniture, ceramic tiles, fans, textiles and iron products. It’s best know as the birthplace of paella (rice dish) and horchata (nut milk). Valencia was founded as a Roman colony in 138 BC. Its historic center is one of the largest in Spain, with ancient monuments, views and cultural attractions that makes Valencia one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Valenciano is the traditional and co-official language of the Valencian Community. % % Location On the coast of the Mediterranean with beaches and mountains. Time Zone GMT +1 hour in winter, GMT +2 in Summer. Climate Subtropical with mild winters and long warm to hot summers. Airport Manises Airport. Rail Renfe and Ave services from the Norte Train Station. Transportation Rent a car at the airport. Metro (trains, buses) and cycle-sharing service. Cost of Living Cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona. Experiencia Valencia Weather The Mediterranean climate provides consistently pleasant weather. Average high is 85 degrees in the height of summer. Wintertime is also pretty comfortable… warm in the sun, cool in the shade. % % % Gastronomy: Paella, oranges, wine, jamon. ! % % Electricity: CAUTION! Buy converters because Spain uses 220-240 volts and Europlug sockets. % ! Experiencia Valencia Transportation The best way to see tourist attractions in downtown Valencia is by walking. Buses, Metro or Bicycles are other options. Renting a car is only necessary if you want to explore places outside the city center. Currency Try to obtain Euros at your local bank BEFORE arriving in Spain. You can also use a credit card, but be prepared to show your passport every time you use it. You can also exchange US dollars into Euros at a bank in Spain, but they close at 2pm. Bring smaller bills though... nothing over $20 bills. Experiencia Valencia Safety Visitors should relax while in Valencia: Although the city sees its fair share of petty theft, for the most part it's very safe. Guard against any petty theft by keeping an eye on your possessions, especially on the beaches. You should also exercise common sense at night. ! % ! Futbol: Valencia, Levante and Villareal play in Spain’s top league during August - May. ! ! ! Experiencia Valencia Top 10 Tourist Attractions: From 4 independent websites 1 - Paella 1- City Market 1 - Old City 1 - City of Arts & Sciences 2 - Las Fallas 2 - Plaza Ayuntmiento 2 - City of Arts & Sciences 2 - Cathedral of Santa Maria 3 - The coolest nights out 3 - City of Arts & Sciences 3 - Las Falles (Fire Festival) 3 - Parque Natural de Albufera 4 - Shopping 4 - El Catedral 4 - Turia Gardens 4 - Old Town 5 - Horchata 5 - Fine Art Museum 5 - Mercado Central 5 - Torres de Quart 6 - Turia Gardens 6 - Modern Art Museum 6 - Paella 6 - Torres de Serranos 7 - Lake Albufera 7 - Bioparc Valencia 7 - Beaches 7 - Las Fallas 8 - Countryside hot springs 8 - Albufera Nature Park 8 - Formula One 8 - Mercado Central 9 - Catamaran in the Mediterranean 9 - La Lonja de la Seja 9 - Bullfight 9 - La Lonja de la Seja 10 - Tapas 10 - Valencia Beaches 10 - Tomatina (Tomato Fight) 10 - Beaches ! % ! ! Experiencia Valencia Spanish Customs Tapas or Pintxos A 'tapa' is not a type of food, it's a way of eating it. Tapas are small portions, but they can be of anything. And to 'go for tapas' (tapear in Spanish) does not mean ordering a lot of dishes in one restaurant (though, of course, you can), but to bar-hop, eating a di'erent tapa in each bar. Flamenco Probably the most famous Spanish tradition - but so often misunderstood. Firstly, flamenco is not a dance. It sometimes has dancing in it. What flamenco actually is is a musical style, with far more emphasis on the guitar, vocals and rhythm than the dancing. % % Siestas One of the puzzling aspects of Spain to outsiders is the siesta. Why do all the stores close in the afternoon. Do people really go to sleep? The idea of the siesta is evolving and with everyone's busier lifestyles, it's not so easy to catch 40 winks anymore - but people still do. And, yes stores do close between 2pm-5pm and are closed all day on Sunday. Arrgghh! Tipping I have never seen anyone leave a tip just for a drink in Spain. Nor have I seen people tip at the cheaper 'menu del dia' restaurants. When it comes to a mid-price or expensive restaurant, things are slightly di'erent, but the Spanish will only ever leave a bit of the change after they have paid their bill; they will never dig into their pockets to get money out just to leave it as a tip. Nightlife Going out and partying is in the Spanish blood. Spanish nightlife is legendary. What's more, it isn't a preserve of the young - there is a part of town for every age group and every taste. Festivals Every town or village has a local fiesta, at which point the locals don't just eat and drink because it's fun, they do so because it would be un-Spanish not to. Experiencia Valencia Sangria and Paella. Most tourists who visit Spain want to eat paella and drink sangria. However, some restaurants will exploit you accordingly. There are many other dishes and beverages to try. When to eat Many a tourist has been undone by Spain's rigid eating times. Miss the narrow windows for each and you end up eating on your own or in a substandard touristy restaurant. Desayuno wake up Breakfast. Something small and fast like co'ee and pastry. Almuerzo 11am-1pm Brunch... maybe a beer? Comida 2pm-4pm Main meal of the day. Paella on Sunday. Merienda 5pm-6pm Bocadillo (sandwich) with jamon (thinly sliced cured pork leg). Cena 9pm-11pm Tapas, soup, burger or tortilla española. % % % Toros Many tourists are curious to see bullfighting and view it as a fascinating insight into Spanish culture, but it is also a stain on the country's reputation for others. However, bullfighting is banned in Catalonia. There are also other events involving bulls that do not involve killing the bull, but rather tormenting it and letting it loose in city streets to chase people or be chased. % % Futbol (Soccer) Spain won the World Cup in 2010. And, they have Barcelona and Real Madrid. End of story. Experiencia Valencia 11 Restaurants Rules You Need To Know www.thespainscoop.com l. Butter? There is no butter served. And aren’t you lucky? You get a bottle of olive oil on your table. Drizzle it on your bread and anything else that doesn’t walk. 2. Water is not served. You have to buy water with your meals. And believe the Scoopettes, you want to buy it. Some people drink the water here. We don’t. 3. You may have to ask for salt and pepper. Some restaurants consider that an insult. 4. As of January 2, 2011, smoking was banned in restaurants. And it was about damn time. 5. The Scoop on the best deal on food is the Menu del Dia. Look for the chalkboard in front of restaurants. These bargains can be eaten between two and four. Three or four courses. Wine included. 6. If you ask for a doggie bag, the servers will think you belong back on your cruise ship. 7. Service is slow. Really slow. There will not be a chirpy server asking, “Everything okey dokey here folks?” If you need something, flap your fingers in the air and say, “Por favor.” (Please) 8. You will have to say “Por favor” to get your check. Servers don’t hurry you. You can sit for two hours over one cup of co'ee. Hopefully, you can leave your Type A personality at home. Review your check. They often overcharge. 9. Tip 10) in a really good restaurant. Co'ee and sandwiches, no tip. A euro or two for a regular meal. 10. Watch your purse. Put it in your lap. Theft is a problem in tourists areas. 11. And, por favor, have another bottle of great Spanish wine. Experiencia Valencia “In the Garlic,” Valerie Collins and Theresa O'Shea Tip 1 - When dealing with any facet of Spanish bureaucracy, remember The Law of Falta Uno: that however many documents and photocopies you take along there will always be ONE missing. Always double check that you have every piece of paper that you think you might need (and possibly even a few more that you don't). Tip 2 - Do not forget to tip the butanero * the man (and it will be a man) who throws those two-ton orange gas-bottles on his shoulder and climbs four flights of stairs when the lift is broken to deliver what may well be your main source of heating and fuel. Tip 3 - It's your birthday, it's your shout. As if it's not bad enough chalking up another year, you have to treat your colleagues and friends to boot. If it's your child's birthday, make sure he /she takes a big bag of sweets to school to share with his / her classmates. Tip 4 - Do not go to the beach in August. Three quarters of the population of Spain and their families will be there, too. You will wait nine hours to get served at a restaurant, another nine hours for the food to arrive, plus two or three more before you get fed up waiting for the bill and do a 'sinpa' (ie a runner, from sin pagar - without paying).