Another gorgeous clear day greets us as we arrive in Valencia.

We have all day here today (as opposed to our really fast port call when we are on the Getaway), and even though we’ve been here many times before, we can always find something new and different to do. Today we are going to visit the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural Sciences in the Jardins del Real/Vivers outside the walled city, on the opposite side of the dry river.  Our only challenge will be getting there!

Because of COVID, the ship is no longer providing free shuttles into town. What would be a quick walk to the museums (the shuttle drop off is right across the street) now becomes a exercise in strategy.  The port is providing a shuttle to the main gates, so at least there is that – I mean, we dock at the normal pier, which is a 45 minute walk to the main ferry terminal, through totally commercial/industrial areas, where I’m not even sure you are allowed to walk.  Regardless, we have the shuttle. 

Hopping on the first available, we get to the ferry terminal, only to find that the Valencia Tourist kiosk is closed, which means we can’t buy the Valencia card to get free transportation and the selection of free tapas at different restaurants around town.  Bummer.  We luck into a very friendly security officer who confirms for us in broken English and Spanish that the kiosk won’t open and directs us to the bus stop where we can catch bus numero quatro into town.  Sweet.

The adventure begins!  The bus stop is simple to find – while it has moved since the last time we took the bus – it is still a quick walk across the street from the ferry terminal.  Numero quatro arrives pretty quickly, and before you know it we are whisked off into Valencia proper.  The only challenge comes when we get near Placa de la Reina, the main square – the area is completely closed to vehicular traffic due to construction.  Hmmm…..Fortunately we are paying attention and we manage to jump off with a whole ton of other local bus riders a block or two below the Placa.  Easy enough!

Of course we stop for a cappuccino on our walk through the construction decimated square, before winding around jersey barriers, various tourists, walking tours and other obstacles to reach the other side of the city to cross the Pont de Fusta for the museum.  On the way across the bridge, we stop to watch some youngsters’ futbol games on fields below us in the riverbed/park.  It is a great vantage point to watch the games, and there are a bunch of parents up here with us in the sun, cheering on their teams.  Then it is onto the Carrer de Sant Pius V, the ring road around walled Valencia.

Our goal, the Museu Belles Arts Valencia is located in a gorgeous, if not totally reconstructed 17^th Century building, perched on the corner of the park.  It is a regal building filled with all sorts of Renaissance artwork arranged in the square buildings around a beautiful pink courtyard filled with green plants.  Some of the artwork is so engaging – incredible use of colors and depth that mix ancient religious figures with bright, colorful flowers, a beautiful inlaid teak box shaped like the façade of a house, impressionist paintings, landscapes and a totally intriguing terracotta bust of a child.   Well worth a visit just not just for the artwork, but for the architecture as well.

It is well after 11 when we are finished with the museum, a little too early for lunch, but then again, there aren’t any cafes or restaurants around this area, meaning we’ll have to walk back into the city.  Fine by us!  As we re-cross the bridge heading toward the main square, we pass the Torres de Serranos, the triumphal gate of Valencia.  We’ve never been inside, or climbed up the tower, and we figure, what the heck? It’s a gorgeous day, we have time – let’s do it.

Turns out to be a great decision!  Built in the late 1300’s by Pere Balaguer, it is the Northern gateway for everyone coming into the city on the main road that connected Valencia with Aragon and Catalonia.  It is 3 stories tall with two galleries that give a wide view of the city to the South and the park/river area to the North.  It is a little busy – but not so clogged with people we can’t find little spots of solitude to take pictures and the climb the narrow stairs up to the very top of the Terraces with the best views.  As a bonus, as we are waiting to ascend, a girl in traditional dress makes her way down from the terraces in a perfect photo opp!  We are thinking these are wedding or engagement photos, but we aren’t really quite sure.  Regardless, it is very fun to watch her walk regally around the terraces, navigating around other people and down the narrow stairs in those big crinoline skirts.

Time for food!  Wandering through town, debating upon splurging for a Brazilian cheese roll (remember those from oh so way back when Carlos our waiter on RCL turned us on to this place?), we end up stumbling upon the perfect lunch spot:  Beers and Travels.  What could be more perfect!  Outside tables, separated from each other by plexiglass, great menu, great atmosphere across from the Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana – we dig into a huge plate of Iberico Jamon and Sepia Plancha – that delectable grilled squid.  Add to that pan con tomate – served automatically with our meal – and we are two very happy campers!

Fortified, we make our way back to the Torres de Serranos – stopping at the little accessory store on the right where I previously (years ago) bought cool earrings and indulge in yet another cool pair. Then it is across the bridge, down the street and this time actually into the park to reach the museum – stopping at the little pond with more ducks and dodging the children running all over the place – it is Saturday after all.  The Natural Sciences museum may not be the best choice after all….hmmm…

As it turns out, the museum really isn’t all that crowded and makes for an interesting 45 minutes or so. There are all sorts of different exhibits from Technology and Science to sketches of natural history to dinosaurs to animal skeletons, including a huge whale skeleton.  Good way to spend some time – and it was free – so why not.

Next we traipse through the park, stopping here and there for photos, and then back through the city, toward Corte Ingles where there is another Wolala – that great store we found in Girona – and, according to the bus route map, it is on the way to a bus stop where we can pick up the numero quatro to go back to the port.  Our mission is to buy another couple of those packable backpacks – 1 more for us, 1 for John – and another foldable water bottle, because they are just great.  We manage to grab the last water bottle and last 2 backpacks.  Talk about luck!  The salesgirl is adorable, asking us all sorts of questions about where we live, how we like Spain, and she’s so excited to hear that we love Valencia.  Cute. 

We hit Corte Ingles on our way to the bus, but don’t find anything there we necessarily need, except confusion when we come out of a different entrance than where we entered!  Reorienting ourselves, we do finally reach the bus stop and only have a few minutes wait for the #4 to whisk us back to the port.  All in all, another very productive and fun day.