messy day in valencia

honestly, i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the weather today is a mild 15.5c, feels like 14.6c, a bit of breeze, humidity around 58%, and the sky is clear enough that the sun isn’t beating down too hard. i’m sitting on a bench near the turia garden, thinking how the city feels both old and somehow new at the same time. the streets are a mix of narrow alleys and wide avenues, and you can hear the clatter of scooters, the chatter of locals ordering paella at a sidewalk bar, and the occasional distant train. someone told me that the best place to try authentic paella is a tiny spot near the cabanyal, where they serve it with a side of laughter and a side of orange slices. i’m not a food critic, but the rice was buttery and the saffron smelled like summer. if you get bored, Alboraya, Mislata, and Paterna are just a short drive away, each with its own vibe, but you might end up wandering back to the coast for the beaches anyway. the beaches here are sandy, shallow, and perfect for a lazy afternoon, though they do get packed in the summer months. i read somewhere that the average rainfall in october is about 1.7 inches, so you might want to pack a light rain jacket if you’re visiting then. the city’s layout is a bit of a maze, but that’s part of the charm. the turia gardens stretch out like a green ribbon through the middle, replacing the old riverbed, and you can walk or bike for miles without hitting a car. the city of arts and sciences looks like a futuristic set piece, all sleek lines and reflective surfaces, and it’s kind of cool to see such modern architecture sit next to medieval churches. the population of the whole region is over 5 million, but the city proper feels more intimate, especially in the early morning when the markets are setting up and the scent of fresh oranges fills the air. the huerta de valencia farms keep the outskirts green and productive, and you can sometimes see workers harvesting citrus by hand. i’m not sure how long i’ll stay, maybe a week or two, maybe longer if the weather keeps being this nice. the locals seem relaxed, they talk about the sea like it’s a friend, and they’re proud of their language, both spanish and valencian, which you’ll hear on signs and in conversation. it’s a place where you can spend a whole day just wandering, stopping at a café, people‑watching, and then suddenly finding yourself at a hidden courtyard with a fountain and some stray cats. the climate is Mediterranean, semi‑arid bordering hot‑summer mediterranean, so summers can get hot, up to 32c, but right now it’s comfortable. the city gets over 300 sunny days a year, which is great for photography, but also means the sun can be relentless if you’re not used to it. the low precipitation, around 400‑500 mm annually, keeps the landscape dry but also means water is precious, especially for the irrigation of those citrus orchards. overall, i’m enjoying the chaos, the mix of history and modern design, the food, the beach vibe, and the fact that you can hop on a train and be in a neighboring town in under half an hour. if you ever feel like escaping the city buzz, just hop on a bus to alboraya for some salty air or to paterna for a quiet park. the whole region feels like a long, lazy summer that never quite ends.

a large building with lots of windows and a sky background

i’m still figuring out the best coffee spot, maybe the one near the central market, where they serve a cortado that’s just right for a tired traveler. the city has a lot of little quirks, like the way the streetlights flicker at dusk, and the way the locals argue over whether the best paella uses rabbit or just seafood. it’s all part of the mess, and i’m here for it.

messy day in valencia

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