Had SUCH a lovely weekend in Valencia with a group of AV girls, to celebrate Janine's 'nearly 50th' birthday, not least because it was still a whacking 27 degrees in the Spanish sun compared to the 'just gone from a lovely long Indian summer to pissing with torrential October rain overnight' in the UK at the same time.
Jane had found a brilliant apartment in the centre - apartments are SO the way forward, much nicer than 3 hotel rooms and apart from the nice big space to eat our array of serrano ham, cheeses and the biggest ever avocado in the world, we even had a cracking fags/boozing terrace up on the roof – perfect.
Pottered about the old town, climbed up the 200 steps of the cathedral to take in the views (I saw little, still being bent double from the climb, and am still laughing at Sarah saying 'not far now' in her breezy way to every poor sod on their way up, including some poor old dear who'd already stopped for a rest on step 12, bless her). So many little cafes to sit out in and even a ceremony of 'moving the Virgin of Valencia' in a Popemobile to keep us entertained – talk about bizarre.
Hired 5 bikes and tootled down Valencia's brilliant old riverbed which is now a bike, pedestrian, jogger and yummy mummy highway, replete with established trees, fountains, museums, bars and even several astroturfs – no wonder Spain's bankcrupt now. And then ended up on the vast sandy beach, paddling in the sea and wondering why Valencia is the chosen land for topless lady pensioners with boob jobs or old men with bulging scrotal sacs in budgie smugglers … Almost put us off our two paellas (but not quite..).
Had some cracking meals out courtesy of some excellent planning – AV trained us well – and a total hoot all weekend.
If only I could get the weekend's unofficial theme tune out of my head, all would be well, 'Up on the rooooooof…'
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