On Friday, August 12, our gang of Americans donned out Valencia Club Fútbol jerseys and headed to the Mestalla Stadium to watch Valencia v. Roma.
While Clare and I waited for our bus to take us to the stadium, we headed into a nearby café to grab a few Coca Cola Lights. We instantly made new friends with the waiters who were thrilled to see two American girls wearing Valenciano jerseys. They were so funny, teaching us fútbol cheers and exchanging Facebook information.
We caught our bus and met Seth and Wes at the Stadium. Our jaws dropped at the amazing seats we scored, paying only 12 euro to be right front and center.
To our left was the Valencia cheering section. They waved flags and banners, yelled cheers and chants, stomped their feet, and pumped up the crowd. I've been to many a sporting events in my life, but never have I ever felt energy in a stadium like I felt that night. And the match was only a friendly! The Spanish sure do take their fútbol seriously.
Roma seemed to be the team with the momentum, controlling the ball for the first few minutes of the game. But Valencia, pumped up by their fans, came back before the end of the first half to score and put themselves in the lead.
On Wednesday we finished exploring La Cuidad de Artés y Ciencias, viewing the robotic dinosaur exhibit, the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe, and the "Flying Monsters 3D" IMAX film.
The dinosaurs were contained in an outdoor exhibit, underneath the baby blue, Spanish sky. They roared and moved their heads... but that was about it.
It was fun to read about the different species, remembering all of the facts that I crammed into my head as a dino-obsessed child.
After viewing the robotic monsters, we headed to the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe, which is a three-story interactive museum.
The first floor contained exhibits on light, electricity, and the ocean. We loved playing in front of the green screen and having our shadows captured. Clare and I spent the majority of the time in front of an incubator, where we watched at least two baby chicks hatch. That was something I had never experienced before- the beginning of an existence- it was amazing.
The second floor was a little less exciting. It was a long row of exhibits on Spanish nobel prize winners. We didn't stay long.
On to the third floor, which was what I had been waiting for all day. There was a Marvel super hero exhibit, as well as a Valencia C.F soccer exhibit.
The first thing I did was jump into a gyroscope-like contraption which spun me upside-down and around, making it impossible for me to have any idea of which way was up, down, north or south. All long hair was to be put back to prevent the machine from ripping it out as we twirled, but my hair unfortunately fell out and I feared I was about to lose my hair (or worse, my head). But wow, was it fun. I couldn't walk straight for a minute or two.
After Seth (who did it too) and I composed ourselves, the gang explored inside the world of Marvel comics. We swung on Spiderman's webs and tied a shoe using Dr. Otto Octavius's claws.
Inside the Valencia C.F. exhibit, we viewed the different soccer jerseys the team has wore throughout the years, measured our body fat and compared that to players, and kicked soccer balls inside a goal.
We then experienced "Zero Gravity" when we entered a dark room full of mirrors- the floor, the ceiling, and the walls were covered. A film of still images of planets and astronauts was projected onto the mirrors, creating an incredible optical allusion. But... it did not feel like zero gravity, and I was a bit disappointed.
All in all, it seem the Science Museum is aimed at a younger audience than us college kids. Too many dirty, interactive games than actual exhibits.
We concluded our time at the Ciudad with a final IMAX film- Flying Monsters in 3D!
On Saturday, August 6th, Team Europe and Team USA spent the day lost in wonderland... also known as La Ciudad de los Artés y Ciencias.
We began our adventure in the Hemisfèric, the building that resembles an eye, which contains a huge IMAX theater. We put on our futuristic headset, laid back, and watched as the Hubble telescope brought us to the edge of the galaxy and back. Our minds were blown, to say the least. We watched as stars and solar systems were born in Orion's Nebula, we flew past clusters of thousands of galaxies, and we gasped in awe at the vastness of the universe.
I think Wes may have cried.
After we came back to our reality, we headed down to the Oceanografíc, Europe's largest aquarium. We began in the Mediterranean Sea, viewing turtles and starfish.
Next, we dived into the shark exhibit (tiburones), walking down a 7meter long tank, surrounded on all sides by sharks. It was spectacular.
Off we went to the Arctic exhibit, where we saw sea lions, beluga whales, and penguins. We missed the Red Sea exhibit's show, but peeked in to see the massive tank containing the creatures of El Rojo Mar.
To finish our Oceanografíc experience, we watched the nighttime dolphin show, which contained synchronized swimmers and fire explosions. Set to a soundtrack of my favorite composers (think Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Harry Potter), the swimmers and dolphins twirled and spun through the water as divers jumped from frightening heights.
I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it. What a moving show.
We only were able to see half of the Ciudad due to Team USA's late start (what's new? We like our sleep), so we will be heading back this week to view the interactive science museum, another IMAX movie, as well as the dinosaur exhibit!
After awaking around 3pm on Friday, the gang (Seth, Wes, Clare, and I) headed to IVAM for an afternoon at the Instituto Valencia de Arte Moderno.
To be honest, I wasn't thrilled to be spending a lovely day in Spain inside a museum but man, am I glad that we did. The exhibits there blew my mind and had me begging for more, igniting an excitement for art which I had never experienced before.
The museum featured an exhibit by Rui Macedo, whose paintings were bright and colorful, abstract yet precise. I fell in love with every piece, especially the ones which contained his cat.
On our walk back into town from the museum, we came across los Torros de Quart Gate, which we promptly ran up the steps to the top. The view from the towers was exquisite. Built between 1441 and 1460, it was used as a women's prison.
After the towers we wandered through the heart of the historic city, settling down for dinner at a little restaurant in the bohemian district off of Trench Street.
The dinner was extraordinary. We began with a pitcher of sangria and tapas. Clare had a zucchini stuffed with curry, Seth had calamari, Wes ate potatoes. I had, for the first time, cuttlefish- which is now my favorite food ever. Quite like calamari, cuttlefish is spongey but much more flavorful and does not need any breading or to be fried. Mmmmm.
On our walk home from dinner, we popped into the Lonja de la Seda, which was built between 1482 and 1492. It was used as an exchange and trade building throughout the majority of its history.
We were only able to see the Hall of Columns due to our late arrival, but we will go back to see the gardens and famous staircases.
Team USA and Team Europe (Yasamin, Carlos, and Perrin) later assembled and spent the evening at Clare and I's apartment, teaching each other different games and enjoying some tinto. It was a day well spent.
On Thursday afternoon, after a long night of running around with our new international friends, the gang assembled in the Plaza Reina to embark on a tour of the city. Double-decker style.
We rode around Valencia on a big, red bus, taking in the sights from the upper deck.
Our first (and only) stop was at the San Pio V Museum of Fine Art, which housed works from Valencian artists as well as some other internationally renowned pieces.
The art here was... different.
Very devout, very Catholic- lots of baby angels and crucifictions, blood and cups. Not exactly my cup of tea.
The upstairs of the museum did contain more works from the impressionists movement, some which were extraordinary. I particularly loved this "Mothers Love" painting.
After the museum, we hopped back on the big, red bus- but it was the wrong one! The tour company offers two routes- the historic city and the maritime tour. We originally planned to take the historic route to get a better understanding of the central city and its history, but instead we enjoyed a bit of sunbathing as we cruised around the port and beach area.
We got off the bus around 5pm and we went our separate ways. I went for a nice run around the town, the boys took a siesta. We later met up with Team Europe (our international counterparts here) and sang our butts of at karaoke at the St. Patty's Day pub.
It has been so interesting having friends from other countries around. Carlos is from Espana, Yasamin from Norway, and Perrin from Amsterdam. We spend most of our time conversing about the different meanings of words in English or in Spanish, about music, about politics. It is so interesting to hear what other citizens of the world think of the United States government and its wars. This is truly my first time having international friends- I love it!
Phew! Just got back from a 5 mile run through the Central City, it was lovely.
Woke up around 6:30am because my room was quite warm (no AC) and I decided to hit the pavement. Need to do something about this bread baby I'm growing.
Yesterday Seth, Clare, Yasamin, and I rode the bus to the beach, where we soaked up the Spanish sun and splashed in the Mediterranean sea.
Unfortunately our other intern, Wes, has been ill the past few days. Poor baby has some kind of foreign bug.
After the beach we headed to a little restaurant right next to our apartment where I ate one of the best hamburguesas of my life (and I eat a lot of burgers). A beef and pork patty on rustic bread, with manchego cheese, grilled peppers, Canadian-style bacon, and lettuce. Oh my lord, was it fantastic. It was the size of my head but I demolished it in about 5 minutes flat.
But before I could go to sleep, I took a little walk down our street to my favorite gelato place and got a scoop of mint chocolate chip gelato. Mmmmm. Tasty.
Spain has turned me into a little "foodie." I've never really loved to eat, it was always something I did because it is necessary to survive, obviously. But nowadays, it seems the highlight of my day is the time spent at the table. I've come to love the holy trinity of food (in Spain):
Bread, olive oil, and wine.
Bread, bread, bread, bread, and more bread. I can not get enough. I even dream of it.
For breakfast this morning I had un bocadillo de jamón y queso. After checking out a few places close to our apartment, Clare and I decided on a place where the bread looked up to our standards. We like it spongey yet flakey.
I paid a little over 5 euros for a huge sandwich and 2 cafés con leches. What a deal.
Tomorrow is my flatmate's birthday. The plan is for us to get out of the city and head to a vineyard that was recommended by a local friend. I am ecstatic about this. Wine tasting in Spain? Birthday party? Countryside? Sign me up.
