Getting to Valencia
Sometimes flexibility comes with great price. This time in big bold EUROS!
When I was invited to visit Ibiza, I checked flights and found the tickets were cheap (50 Euros), so I booked it. Because I didn’t know how long I was gonna stay or where to next, I thought I’ll leave that for later. This is both good and bad I guess. The tickets out were really outrageous. It was over 300 euros to Barcelona, for example, and 600 euros to Paris or Amsterdam. If I knew beforehand, I’d probably passed out on Ibiza and missed my great Ibiza party. But because we really couldn’t afford the flights, we found another way >>> Barcos a las Islas Baleares that goes to Valencia, still steep at 103 euros.
aboard Balearia
Charming Valencia
Valencia was very charming. We were here for 2 days and we feasted on tapas, local wines, and paella. Popular attractions were Plaza del Mercado, Torres de Serranos, La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, the beach, and the churches. What I love more here were the religious tiled artworks found all over the place.
Plaza del Mercado
Torres de Serranos
religious tile work of art
one of the Cathedral
plaza de la virgen
sto nino image
When we tried to check out the night life (yes, because we hadn’t had enough in Ibiza), and were surprised the places were kind of slow, if not empty. Only to find out the next day that life starts to happen after midnight! So following the Spanish, we had siesta and started the night later. We went to a popular spot RADIO CITY and were fortunate that there was a flamengo show.
San Miguel Beer is not Spanish
Why I will never forget Valencia
Valencia is one of those cliche town where travelers came and decided to stay. And why not? The weather is great, you have great food, and the beach. I saw in the hostel that there are many activities organized for students. The night life is also happening. But I would forever remember Valencia for different reason.
After saying goodbye to Michele at the hostel, as he had a later flight, I rolled my bag towards the Àngel Guimerà station where it has a direct line to the airport. I went to the ticket window and inquired about the metro to the airport. It was a major station with 3 connecting lines you see. The nice woman at the booth told me it costs 2.9 euro but I have to get ticket at the machine, so I went over and did. After buying it, I looked over to thank her and she pointed to the direction of the line.
When I got to the platform waiting for the metro, I dug into my bag for my wallet so I could keep the ticket as I’ll need it at the exit. My heart started pounding when I couldn’t find my wallet. I dropped to my knees and started taking things out of my bag, obviously panicked. Small group of curious formed around me.
“I think I lost my wallet.” I explained desperately wishing it’ll come out of the bag.
“F*ck! this is the end of my trip!” I wanted to faint. My passport was in it… with all my visas! I have to go home.
“Who would return a wallet?” I just took money from ATM and had over 500 euros in it. I was almost crushed. I was already thinking I have to go to a Philippine embassy, get a new passport, go home. Round the world project failed! just 4 months.
“Miss Cobiao?” I looked up (was still sitting on the floor). It was the lady at the ticket booth, holding out my wallet!!!
I screamed, stood up, and hugged her! I got a small cheer from the crowd that gathered. I was literally shaking all over. I couldn’t make out if she found the wallet or someone found it on the floor and gave to her. I didn’t understand Spanish. I must have dropped it after buying my ticket when I thought I shoved it in my bag. I just kept saying thank you, thank you, and the next train pulled up.
It was October 5, 2011 at Àngel Guimerà station in Valencia, Spain. It was about 11am in the morning.
To the kind lady at the booth that day, I thank you a million times! It was a miracle. I thank God a million times!
Hi there! your blog is helpful! but can you tell me pls. which is the best embassy to go to for applying schengen visa as you mentioned french embassy are not too friendly? Ive been to some part of Europe but there are places that my visa doesn’t cover, esp. Spain. any suggestion? thanks :)
I’ve no personal experience in other embassies bec both times I got mine in the French embassy. My friend said the Dutch embassy were nice.
Will you attend the carnival in Brazil? We’re considering to go, but might be too crazy for the lil bub…
I’ll be in Salvador de Bahia for the carnaval. Feb 16-22. C’mon let’s do it. I’ll help babysit. :)
Oh thank goodness you got your wallet back! Will you be heading to South America anytime soon?
yes! very soon… and you?
I’m dying to return to Espana! Great pics!!!
thanks andi girl :)
love your photos, i really, really hope i could go to spain in the future. great that you got your wallet and your passport back… such a hassle if you lose your passport :) great read!
Thanks Gladys :)
Well maybe it’s good karma! Remember found a wallet with like what? 200,000 pesos in it? That there was a passport too and u returned it. Although the japanese guy in Dusit didn’t hug u haha
yeah! it was 200,000 yen (100,000 pesos). hmm… u think i was too arrogant to not believe in the goodness of people? that i did the same, so why wouldn’t others?
I could imagine. Thank goodness for good/kind people! Glad to hear you’re okay.
Keep safe! :)
And yes, this post makes me droooool. HAHA
thanks, cai :)
I never thought that there will be a twist at the middle. Wow! Drama and Suspense! Truly the whole world conspires that youll keep on moving. I just recalled almost same incident happened in episode 1 of TAR 19 few weeks ago. one of the racers accidentally dropped her passport and good stranger twitted about it and went out of his way to bring it to the airport. they were spared from automatic elimination.
Thanks to all good and honest strangers in the world! Safe Travels !
hahaha. thanks!