Sunday 13th: at Valencia airport they bounced out of Arrivals full of energy and we went back on the metro their digs in Ruzafa, where Angel and Elsa joined us. We calculated that they hadn’t seen Catherine for 14 years! There was a very good tapas bar nearby (no photos of the event, unfortunately).
Monday: we explored around the area, found a local playground and a park with water. Had lunch at my downstairs café/bar called Bar Che, Taverna Vasca for various tapas … Strolled through the Turia gardens and ate ice cream, before going back to theirs to chill before supper. The girls and I got to work with felt tips and paper, working on the impossible triangle, among other things, and we also cracked open the domino box. To eat we went to an excellent paella restaurant, Masusa, for a Valenciana (chicken, rabbit, green beans, fat butter beans) and a black rice, stuffed with seafood.
Tuesday: bus to the beach, sunny, calm, empty. Fabulous lunch at La Taska la Reina which was recommended by Jordi, Amara’s piano teacher. Then chocolate and churros to revive ourselves after the bus back. Satch prepared salad and cold meats for supper.
Wednesday: Catherine picked me up at 7:30 when it was still getting light for a run down to the Turia and along for a few bridges and back. Plenty of others out running, as well as cycling and walking the dog. Always fun to run in company and to get into the same stride and rhythm. Mid-morning we took the bus to the Oceanarium, the largest acquarium in Europe, which lived up to expectations, with spectacular views of sharks, belugas, dolphins, plus penguins, seals, turtles, plus a huge aviary with free-flying water birds, like egrets, spoonbills, ibises, small herons … Many of the tanks are seen from above and also from below ground, making it highly impressive when, for example, a beluga or huge sea turtle swims past you a few metres away.
At 27º it was warming up, so more ice cream was needed on the way back to the bus …
Thursday: lovely to have had them here and to have shared so much fun, but it became time for them to head to the airport for the flight back to London.
RB's journal 
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