Gentle reader, I must admit that it has been pretty darn cold here in Valencia, and even moreso in the northern regions of Spain. Yes, yes, I know that there are lots of places that are much colder in the States and other regions of Europe, but for the few months that we have cold weather, going outside is a bit of a challenge.

Part of this is the way the homes here are built. With stone floors, plenty of tile, and often high ceilings, the buildings here are really constructed with the warmer months in mind. I am very thankful that I live in a place that is not drafty, receives plenty of natural light, and has centralized air and heat. As a good steward of electricity, I am trying to only heat the rooms where I am, using a space heater to maintain a pleasant temperature for working. The rest of the place… well, the rest of the flat gets a little brisk at times.

When I see the amounts of snow from other places in Spain, I am glad that this season only lasts a short period of time. In Valencia, we have had a number of very windy days. When I say windy, I mean that trucks overturned on the highways, trees fell, and buildings have been damaged. Right after that, the snow started to fall in the northern regions of Spain.

Here in Valencia, there was a little snow. A flake or two, at least. As a result, the electronic groups to which I belong shared some extremely funny pictures, dipped in a healthy dose of satire, which I have attached for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy, gentle reader, and stay warm!

One of the first was when the wind was incredibly strong… and this was passed around.

Plaza de la Reina is one of the major centers of the city. Situated between the Plaza of the Virgin and the City Hall plaza, it is constantly busy. Unless there is a blizzard, I suppose.

Ahhhhh, falleras. Brilliantly funny…

Perhaps these would be nice in the northern regions of Spain.

I want to order one of these, although I never saw any snow when it supposedly fell. “I survived the snow in Valencia on 4 February 2015…”

For folks traveling on the interstate roads, this one emerged: “The highway to Silla (a town) at the entrance of Massanassa (another town)”

Calle Colón (Columbus Street) is one of the main roads here in Valencia, and is usually quite busy. “Calle Colón has already been opened!”

One of the more iconic structures in Valencia is the reflection pool around the City of Arts and Sciences. And, apparently, now this.

The Túria riverbed… Although it does sometimes feel like that when the wind is blowing.

Pretty humorous: “Dear boss, I am not going because I can’t go to work. I can’t leave my house because there is 20 centimeters (10 inches or so) of snow in front of my door. I am sending this foto to prove my story. Always, your faithful employee.”

The mayor of Valencia, Rita, is often the subject of ridicule. While city hall looms in the background, apparently she is busy having fun in the snow…

Today’s Challenge: Cross Avenida del Cid (one of the major roads in Valencia)