Short Visit to Valencia
With two flights a week from Belfast we were to fly to Barcelona first before taking the train down to Valéncia, returning on the direct flight back into Belfast International. After meeting my fellow travellers, we quickly made our way through security (some big improvements here) and made our way to the Causeway Lounge before boarding our flight. There have been some major changes at the International Airport including the new Northern Quarter bar and eateries.
After arriving at Barcelona, we made our way to the Barceló Sants hotel conveniently situated above the main railway station (ideal for our early morning departure to Valéncia). This hotel has a space theme throughout with lots of reference to classic sci-fi movies and even a life-size astronaut in the main lobby. Being above the railway and metro it was easy to get a metro to Placa de Catalunya, where we could have some tapas and few drinks whilst indulging in some people watching.
Early the next morning we were on our way on our 3-hour RENFE train to Valéncia. The journey south was smooth and pleasant and took us through Salou, the First-Class seats were very comfortable and the breakfast was great. On arrival at Valéncia-Joaquín Sorolla railway station we were met and transferred to our hotel – the centrally located Hotel Dimar. The Dimar is ideal for a city break with easy access to all the major attractions and surrounded by bars and restaurants. After a quick freshen up we set off on a gastro and cultural walking tour, a great way to get our bearings in the city whilst also getting to sample some great local produce.
After our lunch in the super Bar Maipi (just a few blocks away from our hotel) we were off to visit the City of Arts and Science. Valéncia is quite unique in that many years ago the city diverted its river (which was prone to flooding) and replaced the river bed with a park (Jardin del Turia) which includes a variety of attractions all in the city centre. At one end is the City of Arts and Science which contains many futuristic buildings and the Oceanográfic (Europe’s largest aquarium). After an amazing dinner at restaurant Lienzo we then had an Agua de Valéncia sampling at the Lolita Cocktail Bar.
The following day we hired bicycles and made our way through the Jardin del Turia to Bioparc Valéncia which is an amazing new generation zoo. This is a wonderful park and unlike any zoo I have ever seen, you get great views of all the amazing wildlife in the three themed areas of Savannah, Madagascar and Equatorial Africa. After returning our bicycles we then made our way to the huge La Malvarrosa Beach for our Paella lunch at Restaurant Balandret. Paella originated in Valéncia and traditionally the meat is rabbit and chicken. After lunch we enjoyed a catamaran cruise and then another amazing dinner, this time at Dos Estaciones.
The following morning as we prepared to leave our hotel to catch our flight from Valencia to Belfast we discovered that our low-cost airline had cancelled our flight. Unfortunately, cancellations like this are becoming common and the best protection is to always book a package trip where a tour operator takes responsibility because far too often the airline doesn’t. With not another direct flight until Tuesday we planned to get alternative flights and flying from Reus the following day was the best alternative. So, another train journey (this time to Tarragona) with an overnight before flying Reus to Belfast the following day was the plan. This also allowed me to visit another destination the town of Tarragona just a few miles north of the resort of Salou. I really enjoyed my extra unplanned night here with a couple of drinks and some tapas.