We arrived in Valencia around 11am by quick, easy train from Barcelona. We had taken the earliest train to get into town in time to meet our Couchsurfing host Paolo before he headed out for the day, but he ended up leaving early so he left his key with his neighbour for us to let ourselves in.
Paolo’s apartment was only 15 minutes from the train station, so we walked right over and entered our new space for the next three nights. We were greeted by a little orange cat who immediately took a liking to Wini (the allergic one — classic).
The apartment charmed us, particularly its kitchen, with its cute blue tile backsplash. Excited to be able to cook again, we dropped our bags and set off for the grocery store to get ingredients for our upcoming stay.
After a delicious homemade lunch courtesy of Chef Wini, we ventured out to explore the vibrant streets of Valencia. Our aimless wandering led us all the way to the ocean harbour, with nice sights along the way. Already we felt more captivated by the vibes of Valencia than we did in Barcelona.
While we were out, Paolo apparently came home for a quick stop before heading back out with his friends for the evening, leaving us to miss yet another opportunity to meet him. But we returned to our cozy house, prepared a delicious homemade dinner, and enjoyed a peaceful night, with our elusive host still a mystery.
The following morning, we had in a much-needed sleep-in, with a slow and relaxed start to the day.
Paolo was at home but still asleep, so again we didn’t meet him.
We walked around our new town scouring for a place to set up our laptop and do some planning, HOWEVER, after finding the perfect little coffee shop and ordering drinks we were told laptops are banned in cafes over the weekends 🙁
After our coffees, we set out to explore the city. Our first stop was Plaça de l’Ajuntament, a nice square to enjoy on one of the many rainbow benches.
From there, we wandered to the nearby La Lonja de la Seda, a UNESCO World Heritage site that once thrived as Valencia’s silk trading center during its glory days.
We made our way to Plaça de la Verge, a lovely square nestled in the heart of Valencia’s center. The historic buildings and large fountain create a beautiful atmosphere to sit and enjoy tapas while people-watching.
Valencia Cathedral was constructed in the 13th century on what was once a mosque, and showcases a combination of architectural styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque.
We admired El Micalet, the bell tower of Valencia Cathedral.
After our little march around the city we stopped in a Ben & Jerry’s for some cookie dough ice cream. Yum!
A few blocks later we stumbled upon a Hagen Daaz. And who can say no to cookie dough ice cream???
We posted up just as the rain in Spain started to fall!
As evening fell, we retraced our steps back to Paolo’s place, and finally — after over 36 hours of living in his space — the enigmatic host revealed himself! Paolo, an Italian furniture restorer who had called Valencia home for 15 years, shared a bottle of wine with us while we learned about each other.
He gave us some advice on things to eat and try in Spain, particularly paella and tortilla de patata.
With Paolo off to work early the next morning, we embarked on more sightseeing. We mustered the energy to climb the 207 steps of El Micalet tower, the view from the top was modest yet worthwhile for the affordable admission fee (2.50 euros/person).
Our explorations continued at the public market, Mercado Central, a bustling hub that was closed the day before, a Sunday.
Our craving for a little bev on a patio led us to a nearby restaurant. We spent the next few hours sipping away and sharing a delicious Valencian Paella thanks to Paolo’s recommendation. It was so yummy, and perfectly portioned for our appetite (we had seen some giant ones at other restaurants in the area so we were happy to have found a reasonably sized one).
Summoning our last reserves of energy, we ventured towards the beach, a one-hour trek away. Exhausted, we were greeted by a crowded stretch of sand overshadowed by a nearby construction site. Hard to say if we’re just extremely spoiled from our time in Asia, but this beach just wasn’t cutting it for our standards. But, hey, we saw it!
Returning home, we savored our final evening in Valencia, preparing dinner, folding laundry, and engaging in delightful conversations with Paolo.
The next morning, we woke up early and said goodbye to the cute apartment and our funny cat friend, leaving a goodbye note to our wonderful host, Paolo. We’ve really enjoyed couchsurfing in Valencia and Paris! It’s such an amazing way to meet people, get local recommendations, and save some money.
We made our way to the train station, happy with our wonderful stay in Valencia, and looking forward to our next stop, Seville!
