Time To Take Our Foot Off The Gas

After 19 days of touring central Spain, our last full day in Valencia, it was time to slow down.  Carol was quite relieved when I suggested a beach day.

After driving 1100 miles, two train trips, five VRBOs, six hotels, and stops in 15 cities/towns/villages, it was time for a down day.

We walked over to the beach, went to one of the kiosks, rented an umbrella and two lounge chairs for 21 Euros.  The umbrella and chairs were already in place, and since we were amongst the first to arrive, we had our choice of umbrella/lounge chair.

The initial plan was to hang for a while, go to lunch in our neighborhood, and then come back for the afternoon.  After being there, I decided I didn't want to leave for lunch, so I bought a couple of bocadillos (sandwiches) for lunch, a sangria for Carol, and cerveza for me.  

We people-watch, read, and admired the sailboats.  

Old Town Valencia was celebrating a festival that day, so it was another reason to stay in our neighborhood and take a beach day.

We left earlier than our planned 6pm departure, as not far to the north there was a massive thunder and lightning storm.  It never ended up raining in Cabanyal, but it was just as well -- we did get more than four relaxed hours in at the beach.

For dinner, we had made reservations at La Pepica, famous for being a favorite of Ernest Hemingway.  Valencia is mentioned in seven of his books, and he ate at La Pepica numerous times.  Other diners there have included Spanish Kings, Orson Welles, and now Carol and Glen.  Right next to the beach, it's touristy but classic; famed for the paella.  We had reserved a table on their patio overlooking the ocean.  We ordered some tasty tapas and a paella.  It was a fine place to eat.

On the way over, we swung by the fountain dedicated to Joaquin Sorolla.  One of the first places we went was to his house/now museum in Madrid, so it was fitting the last stop was at a memorial fountain to him.

The kitchen at La Pepica.

Another view of it.

The Sorolla fountain.