Looking for Christmas
Christmas traditions here in Valencia are radically different than what you see in the states. It is not the all-consuming passion that you might find at your local Walmart, your grocery store, or even your mailbox (yes, catalogs are STILL printed!). Here, it is...
Walking and Thinking
After the street market mentioned in my last posting, I took off on my own to see the city. It was a beautiful day, and I had time on my own to think and consider some of the internal changes that are occurring in my mind, and then in my behaviors. Probably the most...
Excellent Holiday Idea for a Fundraiser
https://www.valenciaatlast.com/excellent-holiday-idea-for-a-fundraiser/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/12/14/thousands-santa-claus-elves-marathon-madrid/4022743/
The Ultimate Saturday Street Market
Street markets here in Spain, called mercadillos, are a daily thing. The one in my town, Benimaclet, is held on Fridays, which is an interesting prospect for the store owners already on the streets where the market is held. Saturday, though, some friends and I went to...
Quiet Saturday
Since I live alone, I have the luxury of doing chores whenever I want to schedule them. For me, that means that I do my laundry on Friday or Saturday nights, and thenI get to go out first thing on Saturday or Sunday morning to take my clothes to the nearby...
“You must come”
My friend Cristina is an amazing finder-of-events. She is a wealth of information about the different things going on in and around Valencia, and I admire her willingness to try pretty much any event once or twice. So, when she texted me "You must come" to meon my...
Angry about Something, but What?
Since arriving in Spain, I have seen four organized groups of demonstrators. They often appear downtown, slow or stop traffic, and are often accompanied by musical instruments. Seriously, everything from a drum to a marching band. So, when I wasin a bit of a hurry to...
One month
My list of red-letter days is short, not because I lack memorable events, but because I am surrounded by so many amazing and positive experiences. My departure to leave for another country, for example, was a red-letter day, because it was something that I had spent...
New Friends at Dinner
One of the delightful things about an international group meeting is the opportunity to make new connections. At the last Internations get-together, I met Suzanne, or Sooze, who is from the UK and also has a wonderful travel blog. She and I got together a few days...
Windy Saturday
After some time at home writing and cooking, I decided that I needed a walk, but I waited until the afternoon to leave my apartment. I already knew that it was windy, but I didn't really comprehend how the combination of wind, temperature, and sunlight would impact...
Happy Thanksgiving, 2013
While it may be early for many of my friends in the US, being in Spain has given me plenty to consider in a moment of thankfulness. My family, my daughters, and M have given me more support than I expected or can comprehend, and I miss them terribly. I have friends...
Benimaclet Street Market… ish
The area where I live, Benimaclet, is a town that has been absorbed by the larger city of Valencia. Originally just outside of the capital city gates, this area had, and has, a life all its own. The university presence here means loads of college-aged kids, but also...
Three Weeks Later…
When I first received my visa paperwork in Miami, there was a half-sheet of paper attached to my visa. It stated that I had to register with the police within 30 days of entering the country. Three weeks ago, when I first went to the police station, I was given a...
Free Beer and a Moon Scoop
My friend Cristina has been showing me the neighborhood. She’s the person who told me about my apartment, and she lives and works in the immediate area. She is a wealth of information about the neighborhood. Cristina gave me a short walking tour of the area to show me...
And Welcome Back
So, after almost three weeks of cruddy or nonexistent internet services and no cellphone service, I finally have home internet again. Whew! Back to my digital life!
Three Boys and a Sign
Imagine the scene: three young men, walking along the street, mid to late teens. They look tough, and most likely, they are. On the street, they are a mini-pack of angry young men in demeanor and appearance… until one of them knocks over a street sign advertising the...
I am an Arrendatario
What, you ask, is that? Well, gentle reader, check out my new place in Valencia, where I am an arrendatario, or renter! After my experience with the visa, I was prepared for the worst, but what actually happened was surprising serene. I was pleased when the...
The Kindness of (Almost) Strangers
One thing about the Spanish culture is that it enjoys a level of camaraderie at the core social level. Don't know where to find a store? Just ask. Aren't sure which is the best product in the supermarket? Just ask. Need to find an apartment?Trust me, everyone knows...
Excellent News
My prospectus for my dissertation has been approved. On to the proposal!!!
Seriously… Eighteen days?
The quest of the day was to obtain an ID card that placed me in Valencia, so it was early morning when my friend and I arrived at the station, or comisaría de policía. Guess what? The next available appointment to make identification cards is set for November 25 at...