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.
Springtime fresh start and learning something new
Time for a check-in! Let’s talk about some new beginnings, cultural observations, and improving Spanish skills by taking sewing classes.
Archaeological Museum of Alicante
I was pleasantly surprised at the comprehensive collection in the Alicante Archaeological Museum, often referred to simply as MARQ.
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.
2024: Fallas under construction
During Las Fallas, the city population changes and over a million visitors appear in Valencia. It’s a cultural celebration that defines the unique characteristics of the Valencian people. Highly social, extremely competitive, and spectacular in every sense of the word.
Trivia night sparked a Valencia must-see list
A fun trivia night with some new American expats sparked an idea for some must-see locations in Valencia.
New museum, new perspectives: Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero
A friend and I explored a new museum, the CAHH, and thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits and the setting!
Fallas 2024 – Let the fireworks begin!
What started as an ordinary dinner with friends ended up being a fireworks front-row seat in the town of Torrent.
Benidormfest, a Spanish Musical Adventure
For the past three years, the music lovers of Spain have turned their rhythm-loving hearts toward Benidorm in February for an event called Benidormfest. This, year, we were able to go with some friends, and had a great time!
Reflection: Changing the “new” to the “familiar”
Changing the new and unusual to the familiar. What did we do to make our surroundings more “normal”? I’ve provided some concrete tips for getting comfortable with your new surroundings in Valencia.
Unearthing Memories: My Personal History Journey Through an Egyptian Museum Exhibit
A museum in Valencia just held an exhibit of Egyptian antiquities, including six mummies. Additionally, the exhibit allowed me to reflect on my own history with other Egyptian history and mythology experiences.
Holiday Season and Lights (2023)
Experiencing the holiday season in another city and another country always feels special to me. Every culture interprets holidays differently. While I have been in Valencia for the holidays quite a few times, I am still amazed at the variety of decorations.
The nativity scene season in Valencia (2023)
This past year, a friend and I also explored a new (for me) aspect of Spanish culture. I’ve talked before about nativity scenes and their prevalence in businesses, homes, and public settings. But this year, we had a mission: to see as many as we could in a relaxed morning of walking around the city.
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.
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.
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!
Learning a new language part 3: Not every paragraph is equal (Reading)
While it may have been many years since you have had reading instruction, you are using the fundamental skills you learned when trying to conquer English the first time. In many ways, those same basic approaches for new English readers can be applied to learning to read in Spanish.
News: Exciting vegetables draw a crowd!
One of my favorite things about Valencia is the abundance of high-quality, inexpensive, and seasonal produce. Come visit a local farmer’s market with me!
Celebrating Asian New Year in Valencia
Next to the historic North Train Station in Valencia (Estació del Nord in Valenciano), there is a thriving Asian community. While not quite matching the grandeur of San Francisco’s Chinatown, Valencia’s smaller version is still a rich resource worthy of experiencing....
Building up, not out, and why malls thrive in Spain
One of the strongest comparisons between the Spanish and American culture is the different needs and expectations for space. In the United States, having your own home that is separated from others is part of the “American Dream.” (Somebody cue the white picket...