The last big trip of my stay in Spain would lead me to Valencia . Then I was looking forward for a long time, and this for two reasons. First, because it should be in place in Madrid actually Valencia my "home" for the 7-month internship (I had consciously decided between the two cities of Valencia, which was changed due to unfortunate circumstances 3 weeks before the start of the internship through my company) , and now I was so looking forward to "my" Valencia. Second, because we selected to the time (mid-March) as in any year, the "Fallas held "that apply to one of the largest and most excessive parties in Spain (this year are said to have been counted 1 million tourists !!!). For this reason, it was extremely difficult to get a room. I had already seen last November times to hostels, and despite the fact that most hostels have the Fallas excessive prices and make the condition that you put away for five days at a stretch, most were already booked. But by good luck I got to that already occupied hostel had been notified yet again 3 spaces available (and as much we needed for Jessi, Arnaud and me), and since then I have (despite Hostel for a pretty reasonable price of 30 € per night) immediately slammed shut. And it was worth something to both the hostel and the Fallas of Valencia and was insane.
I was excited about Valencia. It was not nearly as big as Madrid (3.2 million residents without the suburbs), but with about 850,000 inhabitants still a handsome (and in my eyes perfect) size for a city just because it's not quite as anonymous and hectic as in a metropolis, but still large enough so that it is a never boring. Then comes the next course in Madrid so painfully missing the beach - to where you can walk from the center of a pinch - and the generally sunnier weather and sea-shaped addition, which I already knew her from Australia, which for me just to feel part of it. You would not believe what this Mediterranean climate has an impact on the mood of people, if you have experienced it yourself. The people are just more relaxed and somehow more satisfied with life, you can search for this long out of the gray cities known hectic. What I also like stabbed in the eye were the many existing bicycle paths - cycling and I had really half the year in Madrid sorely missed. Here in Valencia we saw so many cyclists in the ever congested Downtown without equipped cycling capital of Spain, an impossibility if you did not want to put his life at risk ;-). And finally, the entire city was both the architecture and the colors her view somehow beautiful and it is so much green everywhere you look too (I'm thinking in particular of the drained bed of the river Turia who used exactly the city flowed, after a flood, but "folded" and the former river bed was turned into a huge park.
But enough of the enthusiasm back to the travel report. Arnaud and I have traveled on Friday morning on (it started at 8, I had almost missed the bus because the bekna *** te Metro took so long, but 3 minutes before departure, I finally came angehechelt yet * g *). At 12 we arrived in glorious sunshine in Valencia (a day later, so then even after Jessi). Then we went by Metro to our hostel, which was fortunately not too far away from the center (I think it 5 subway stations were). After some searching and interviewing locals, we found the hostel then. It was a hostel sublet in the conventional sense, but rather the multi-story house of a man, the individual rooms. Overall, there was 5 Rooms - some single, some double rooms. Arnaud's and my room was now nothing more special, there were 2 beds and containing 'nen cabinet - but everything we needed not to sleep, we wanted to be on the road most of the time. there's a little highlight but - so we have a walk-in terrace (2nd floor !!!), where we look out to the center of Valencia. Furthermore, all "residents" use the living room (including computers with Internet access) and the relatively large kitchen, which we unhoped terms of design possibilities opened up dinner. Arnaud conjured every day the most wonderful pasta sauces, after having him as a faithful servant of the ingredients had zurechtgeschnippelt ;-). Overall, we felt really comfortable there poodle. Pretty soon we also got to Jan - another German - a student for a year in Valencia, and his sister - only for the Fallas was there to visit - to know, and did a lot together. How it once went to the beach for compulsory Paella -Essen (since Valencia is indeed the birthplace of paella, and what was in a large pan paella served delicious - my work colleagues who I have always advised against, a paella in Madrid , of course, had something to eat from right :-)). Afterwards we walked along the harbor and even visited the newly recently finished site for the America's Cup , yes the first time this year in Europe (and have since the last Cup success Swiss not have a port, just in Valencia) - very impressive! Another day we visited the " City of Arts and Sciences " with its four architectural masterpieces (the "Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía" - a huge Opera and Music Hall, the L'Oceanographic - the biggest aquarium in Europe , the "Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe" - eingigantisches Natural History Museum, and the "L'Hemisèric - a huge 3-D cinema), the spatially not far apart, are viewed. Everything nice and mad as mentioned architecturally extravagant - a Must-See in Valencia (somehow I remembered to Sydney with his opera felt) The Botanic Garden "L'Umbracle" we did not unfortunately ..
So now the first "concept" in a few sentences (for more details please read here ), which is behind all the Fallas. Every year there build the various parts of the city huge (some more than 15 meters high and weighing several tons) structure (not only individual characters, but some real little "scenes") wood and paper mache, which are naturally painted. The construction of these sculptures will take all year, and end up costing each 'ne right of money (some € 100,000 and more). From the many "Fallas" (the name of the characters) by the mayor and the best selected award. On the last night of the Fallas, which traditionally take a week and on the night of 19th to 20 March ends, all are burned out of the most beautiful figures, in the midst of the houses in the alleys and streets of Valencia. The fire department is, as far as holding men are available, gun and hose is used for walking, but often it smaller or sometimes larger fire accidents, when flames spread to nearby buildings. In any case, is it a pagan spectacle. But this is only the hook for a week long party night and day, sleep at the real people of Valencia only 3 hours a day - otherwise is celebrated. Na and lots of parades throughout the city by people in their traditional costumes should not be missed. There's also every afternoon at 2, the so-called mascletàs - a roughly 5-minute flaring deafening firecrackers in a maybe 50 by 30 meters abgegernzten "cage" on the big Town Hall Square - and in the last 4 nights, fireworks (on the dried-out riverbed), which were longer and more spectacular every night. Both the fireworks as well as the mascletàs assured timely coming good places - at least 1 hour (preferably 1.5 hours) before you should be there to not obstruct the view from a house to have, or getting stuck in an alley outside the town hall square . Just happened to us with Arnaud, as we on Sunday (in which the penultimate Mascleta this year) got a three-quarters of an hour before the first course in the center with sweltering heat. What was there to move people - unbelievable! We tried, of course, by a small road to somehow vorzuschieben Town Hall Square, but eventually it went no further and we just stuck from there and witnessed the whole spectacle (for the way back to about 150 meters from the Metro station, we needed more than half an hour - it was not more!). And even there it is still recommended zuzuhalten the ears - it was so loud that one could think that went up as bombs, up in our street came the wobbly windows of surrounding buildings rattle of the town hall square. Somehow, the people of Valencia in this regard anyway any blemish (in a positive sense) - Jan did not mean there would be one day a year where not at least one fire station in Valencia is increasing (and if only a smaller private) - Pyrotechnics for the people there is the greatest, and the bigger, brighter and louder, the better :-).
And played our vacation there on the whole as follows: sleep until noon, then either leave from the beach relax, reflect or Valencia explore the sights and positioned everywhere Falla before going to the dinner (hmm, Pasta * g *) just went home and then went back to the city to celebrate, and that first out. That was no problem at all but super comfortable, because the temperatures were already early summer (during the day I am in spite of light winds that is shortly running around :-)), and inside anyway everything was crowded. But it was along the river so many tents and stages, and everywhere there was something going on, you do not know where to point first. Then increased to 1, usually the fireworks, and then we went really really begins, usually more was out there with tens of thousands of other Partywütigen, and early morning meant slow going home.
After 4 long days (and nights :-)) we went Tuesday morning happy and content back to Madrid. I was really thrilled by Valencia, and still got it after the event once regretted that when the internship is not just my desire city of Valencia, but has "only" worked with Madrid - from all the cool people I had met in Madrid, of course apart, but the city can not for my situation, unfortunately, keep up with Valencia: - /.
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