Thursday, 13 April 2017
Vaencia, Spain

Boy does the wifi at the Astoria Palace in Valencia work reallty well and really fast.  And it's really free, too.  Besides using my phone and ipad in my room, I am using a real computer in the lobby to post the blogs because it is much easier to post photos on a real machine.  And the hotel is perfectly located, less than two blocks from the central square, and within walking distance of almost all attractions of interest to tourists such as I.  Although it is officially rated 4 star, it is not quite up to my usual standards of quality in the room itself [ok call me a snob], although the bathroom is quite nice as are the other facilities in the hotel. Nowadays the number of stars is often related to the specific services offered by the hotel.  Does it offer room service, restaurant, 24 hr desk service, elevator, etc. The hotel may rate 4 stars even though the quality of each of its areas is not quite the best.  But it is perfectly fine for a few nights and quite lower than my usual budget.

City of Art and Science

I spend almost the entire day at the CAS today, using the city's new Metro to get there, and still did not get to see everything it offers.

 The main feature at one end of the CAS is the aquarium, the largest in Europe and possibly anywhere else.  It covers a large number of underground pools and passageways where fish and oither creatures surround the visitors. There are large sections devoted to each of the major land environments, including the Arctic, South America, the tropics, etc.  There are also display tanks holding members of specific species, like Beluga whales, penguins, crocodiles, birds, and the rest of the bizarre and familiar creatures that live in the seas surrounding us.  Exhibits are labeled in Spanish and English and there is an audio tour available if one chooses, but I did not use it.  I did take lot of pictues, however.

Oceanografic Main Entrance

 Tropical Fish Exhibit

Where the Fish Surround You

Sleeping Sea Lions

Diagram of Oceanografic
Only a Small Part of the City of Art and Science

Oceanografic Main Entrance

The entire CAS project is like a combination of Lincoln Center and Sea World, only designed with more much avantgarde and dynamic arachitecture and technology.  Even the Oceanografic, in which the acquarium is located, is like a Disney Theme Park for the well educated.  After exploring the inside and outside areas of the the Oceanarium, I have lunch at one of the sitdown restaurants.  There are also snack bars and pizza stands for those who prefer a quicker pick up.

Interior of Arctic Exhibit Hall

Beluga Whale

 After lunch I head to the Museum of Sciences whose admission price is included with the Oceanografic.  The museum takes up a three story pavillion about as long as a football field and probably just as wide.  Most of the exhibits offer hands on activities, and younger visitors would have a really good time.  But given the size of the building, there is still much empty space that needs to be filled.  I cannot get into the Opera House Concert Hall, since there are no current productions, and I do not wish to see the 3D films on offer in the Imaginarium Oculus Building.  So my admiration is confined to the outside.  There are also two Calatrava designed bridges connecting different parts of the site.

Notice These Stairsat the Science Museum Are Closed

Science Museum Exterior

 Science Museum Interior

Opera House and Oculus Film Theatre

Garden Walkway Hides Parking Facilities

Because today is a school holiday, Holy Thursday, the place is somewhat overrun with families and kids.  If you should plan your own visit, make sure that the kids are still in school.  I am glad I brought my cane, since it helped me maneuver through some of the rudest crowds.

But it's 4pm and I have retunrned to the hotel to pack and get ready for tomorrow morning's train ride back to Barcelona.  I shall then have a late dinner and an early bed time.

Perhaps I shall be able to post one more blog before I leave for home.

My thanks to all who have had the patience to keep on reading.

Wednesday Evening, 12 April 2017

On the Train from Cartagena to Valencia  

I am relaxing and resting on my return trip to Valencia after a very busy and exciting day in Cartagena.  Besides re-visiting my friends at the hospital and enjoying the renowned sights of the city on a beautiful Spring morning, I am also in the middle of the city's preparations for the biggest procession of Holy Week, which takes place this very night.  I will not get to see the actual procession because I have to catch this train at 4:38pm, but I do get to see all the last-minute preparations.

Wednesday Morning, 12 April 2017

Cartagena, Spain

I begin this morning by throwing wide the windows of my 4th floor hotel room facing the harbor.  Before me lay the waters of the Mediterranean, a vast array of sailboats and yachts of various sizes, two large cruise ships (a medium-sized Holland America and an immense P & O cruise liner), and the classically designed buildings of the Naval Museum and the Port Authority.  Unlike Valencia, Cartagena has not turned away from the sea; its city center and Roman ruins stand open to the water and the wider world.

A walk through the historic district, with its fine domestic and religious architecture, leads to the more modern section and the Alameda, a broad avenue shaded by trees and lined with expensive shops.  In about 30 minutes, as I approach very near to the Hospital Perpetua Socorro I find a street kiosk selling flower arrangements and bouquets perfect for taking on my visit.  I barely remember the multi-colored exterior of the building, but once inside things begin to look familiar.

Hospital Perpetua Socorro

Three of My Orthopedic Nurses

I do remember the 15 days I spent on the 4th floor in Room 417.  As I exit the elevator I see three familiar faces--nurses who helped tend me during my ordeal.  I only have to mention, "Tucson," and we are all reminiscing in broken Spanish and fractured English.

Unfortunately other nurses and techs won't be on duty until after I have to catch my train.  But I leave my card and a note with the flowers.  As I pass through the lobby again, there stands my surgeon, whose name I actually remember.  He looks at me strangely for a moment until I point to my hip and do a little jig in the lobby, at which time he grins broadly and shakes me vigorously.  Ironically, we will meet again about an hour later at the church where the last-minute floats and displays for the procession are getting their final touches.  It's too bad neither of us speaks the other's language so we don't have much of a conversation.  But he seems genuinely moved that I came all this way to express my gratitude.

But I turn now to the procession preparation, all made of flowers, gilt and semi precious metals.  Not unlike Mardi Gras or the Rose Bowl, these floats are made new every year.  Here is a selection of photos.

Afterward I visit the extensive and well preservered Roman ruins, which includes a splendid theatre and arena.  Unfortunately, the visit involves too many steps.

All that walking has made me hungry and I opt for a seaside pizza, unfortunately one of the worst I have ever eaten.  How can you ruin a Margharita Pizza?  Just ask these folks.  My hotel, where I left my few things after checking out this morning is just a few steps beyond some recent waterfront memorials.

Memorial to Victims of Terrorism

Memorial to Endangered Species

A taxi to the train sets me on my journey back to Valencia.