Morning Walk and a Few Pics
With all of the festivities of the holidays, sometimes it's kind of nice to get out and walk around in the chilly morning air. These pictures were taken over several days, so there are also some of the nativity scene in front of the city center before Tres Reyes....
Nothing Says Christmas Like Bethlehem in Miniature
One of the more charming aspects of Christmastime here in Valencia is the arrival of Bethlehem displays. Many are very elaborate and include motors, running water, and multiple scene perspectives. Like the Bethlehem scene made entirely of bottles that I reviewed last...
2014 Navidad en Valencia
Happy New Year gentle reader! I hope your year has started on the right foot, with a bright year ahead filled with new adventures and memories. The holiday season here in Valencia (and Spain in general) continues through January 6, when Tres Reyes, or the Three Kings'...
Reflections on Savannah
The time was right for some significant economic shifts in England. Unchecked urbanization had led to the debtors' prison, a system of incarceration that penalized those unfortunate people who were unable to pay back debtors. James Oglethorpe, a nobleman who had...
Back in Spain
Unbelievable. After over three weeks in the United States, I have returned to Spain, and have been busier than I expected since my plane touched down in Valencia. Gentle readers, I apologize for neglecting you! The reason for my trip was work, and there was plenty to...
Thanksgiving in Georgia 2014
Well, due to my unexpected travel for work, I am lucky enough to spend time with family and friends for Thanksgiving. So, as a result, here I am in Macon, Georgia, at my parents' home. I have had the lovely opportunity to meet with friends, speak on the phone in the...
Latest News: Travel and Residency Renewal
Gentle readers, I was recently given the opportunity to return to the States for work. I am excited to be going there, and very excited to see family and friends, if time permits. Overall, this will be an almost 4-week trip, and the travel came as a total surprise and...
Crazy Rice Cookoff
On Valencian Community Day, the city turns to, well, community activities. Fairs, races, and family events go well with the mild weather that Valencia offers. On this particular day, two things emerged on my calendar: a medieval "fair" and a baked rice cookoff. I...
One Year
Gentle readers, if you have made it this far with me in my journey, I can only offer my thanks that you are interested enough to read my story. When I first decided to move to Spain, it was at a time in my life when my opportunities were limited by choice and...
Celebrating Valencia Independence Day
On October 9, 1238, King Jaime I captured the city of Valencia from the Moors, who had held the city for over 500 years. Originally a Roman colony since 138 BC, Valentia was previously inhabited by Romans (138 BC - 554 AD), the Visigoths (554 AD - 714 AD), and the...
All Stressed Out and Nowhere to Go
As an expat American living in a European city, there are lots and lots of rules and processes that I simply don't understand. For example, when I originally applied for my visa, when I got my stuff confiscated by customs when I arrived, and when I applied for my...
The Best Tortilla in Valencia
One fine morning, a friend and I decided to meet at Cafe Alhambra for a late breakfast, or almuerzo. After a lovely walk through some of the older sections of town to reach the cafe, I knew we were in for a treat. You see, Cafe Alhambra has the distinction of being...
Safety First – Good Ideas for Expats
Gentle readers, I am lucky to have found a place with a relatively low crime rate. Part of that is due to the choices I made, and part of it is due to the cultural environment of Valencia, Spain. Don't assume that I am some sort of starry-eyed hippie, because I...
NOT a Wedding Photographer!
Finding myself invited to a wedding recently, I realized I was grossly underprepared for the traditions and customs associated with weddings here in Spain. What did I need? Well, for starters, a suit was definitely needed. Since I have not known the couple for years...
Tomato Magic
While my last post was all about gazpacho, gentle readers, this one is about a product that I recommend testing. If you like tomatoes in any form, raw, cooked, canned, ketchup... then you might want to try this: tomato mmarmalade While this is a bit of a specialty...
I May Marry the Fruit-Stand Lady
Gentle readers, I'm in a long-term relationship with tomatoes. I have tried to deny it, avoid it, and cover it up. I feel the same way about peaches, kiwi fruit, and cantaloupe, but the truth is out there. I feel soooo much better now. As a result, I have a deep,...
Ten Months
Gentle readers, I periodically reflect on the changes in my life since moving to Valencia, Spain. While this has been a great adventure, I find myself thinking of home a little bit differently nowadays. I'm not sure what caused this change, although the intellectual...
The End of Summer
Here in Spain, the city of Valencia changes quite a bit during the month of August. Stores close early or shut their doors for a month, plans are made to spend the month with family in a local town where the family is from (often discussed as "mi pueblo," and the pace...
Moraira: Incredibly Inexpensive Beach Vacation
Hello, gentle readers, I know I have been a little preoccupied lately due to work and a bit of a vacation to an area south of Valencia, Moraira. Sadly, it was one of those dreaded "work" vacations, but certainly not without plenty of free time to enjoy the incredible...
Quicktrip: Barcelona
My friends Theresa and Jesse were in Barcelona, Jesse for work and Theresa for vacation. Since Barcelona is a three-hour, relatively inexpensive train ride away from Valencia, I got a chance to visit them for a couple of days. Barcelona is an order of magnitude larger...