After a lovely breakfast, it was onto the bus for a guided tour round lovely Valencia and onto El Palmar and its paella. Initially, on the bus, then by a local guide through the old city and markets, many closed because of the holiday. I was fascinated to see a pavement stamp seller, with albums and stamps for sale! Sadly, the group were moving so I had to leave, I would’ve like to have lingered a little longer. I did get a photo of some of the locals dressed for the festival that is on today.
Then on to the bus ready to take a ride from Valencia to El Palmar. An area that grows the country’s rice and is apparently the origin of paella. A local guide took us to show the rice paddies/fields explaining the process. Some of the tractors preparing the land for planting that was due to start soon. Birds following the machines looking for free food. They were very fleet of foot and managed to avoid being crushed.
Taking a boat cruise around the lagoon, depth of 1metre! The size of 24 miles long, 1.5 -2 miles wide. Locks control the entrance of some salt water into the lagoon on a regular basis to keep the water as ‘sweet water’ We saw an eel, apparently they are caught and used in the food prepared in the local restaurants. Not a lot of wildlife to be seen apart from a few ducks and herons, given it was a special trip to observe.
As promised followed by the original paella meal. We wandered through the kitchens to see the preparations being made for our lunch. A lot of fish, eel, and mussels which my companion Shimona from Israel, enjoyed as I don’t eat fish.
The toasted bread roll was very nice, as well as the red peppers served with hummus and tomato dressing. The paella nice, but I didn’t think outstanding, but at least it was all locally produced. Wine and coffee provided as well, something that doesn’t always appear as routine here.
I was glad to get back to the hotel my legs becoming very swollen and painful. I would’ve like to have gone down to the old city again but decided against it, better to look after the legs.