What we do in the shadows… errr a blackout

During the unexpected April 28 blackout that affected all of Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of southern France, I found myself in a sewing class in Valencia—calmly stitching while the country went dark. What could have been a moment of panic instead revealed something beautiful: a spontaneous celebration of community. As Wi-Fi faded and elevators stopped, people stepped outside, shared stories, filled parks and bars, and leaned into Spain’s gift for connection. Despite the disruption, the true story wasn’t chaos—it was camaraderie, resilience, and the quiet strength of everyday life in Spain.

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Alicante: El Museu de Fogueres

Alicante: El Museu de Fogueres

Alicante, like many cities and pueblos in Spain, has its own flavor and unique festivals to celebrate the seasons. In Valencia, the most prominent one is Las Fallas, but in Alicante, it’s La Fiesta de San Juan, or the celebration of St. John. We visited a museum dedicated to this festival.

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A very baroque evening

A very baroque evening

The church of St. Nicholas of Bari and Saint Peter of Varona (Iglesia Parroquial-Museo de San Nicolás y San Pedro Mártir) is a unique display of amazing artwork that is a perfect setting for both baroque music and rococo architecture. The church is also placed in one of the most historic sections of the city, El Carmen. I have walked by the church many times but never stopped in. The entrance is unassuming and there is a long corridor between buildings to enter the church itself.

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Orange street

Orange street

Here in Spain, oranges grow like wildfire. Streets here are lined with orange trees, orange groves cover the mountainsides, and fresh orange juice at breakfast is like the nectar of the gods, if you are into that sort of thing. More locally, orange trees are used as street decorations. The smell of orange blossoms is a welcome sign of spring when walking in the city. As winter approaches, the oranges ripen for a pop of color on the streets. Alas, these are decorative oranges, and are not really edible. They are too bitter and sour for human taste buds.

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Beach, Benidorm, Birthdays, and Brits: A weekend away

Beach, Benidorm, Birthdays, and Brits: A weekend away

I’ve been to Benidorm before, but only for a brief drive-by. So when a friend invited us to Benidorm to help celebrate his birthday, we decided to make a long weekend of it. After all, we reasoned, it’s off season for the Spanish east coast, and the hotels were really reasonably priced. To add to the adventure, we decided to take a bus that travels directly from Valencia to Benidorm for an incredibly cheap ticket fare.

We were very pleasantly surprised when we arrived! Unlike Valencia, which is relatively flat, Benidorm has some interesting terrain due to the nearby mountains. The weather was fantastic, and while it was a little chilly, it was not too cold with the appropriate clothing. Being in the sun really helped, and added to the sensation that we were on a mini-vacation!

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