The last time we were downtown, we considered buying tickets to visit the Albufera Nature Preserve, south of Valencia. The tickets were 17 Euros ($25) for a two-hour trip with no stops along the way, and it also included a half-hour boat trip. However, we decided against it as we wanted more time to explore the area. While we were at Josep’s flat for lunch the other day and shared our plan with him, he suggested taking the city bus for 1.50 Euros and purchasing the boat trip separately when we arrived. That’s exactly what we did today. Along long winding roads, we traveled to a spot along the lake where traditional boats were docked to take visitors out. The boat operators didn’t speak English or French, but we managed to find out that the trip cost 4 Euros. After observing that the boats didn’t seem very safe – lacking life vests and with language barriers – we decided not to go on the trip. Instead, we went for a walk, stopping to admire different trees and trying to translate the various signs on the posts. We also listened to the loud noises coming from the trees, which resembled cicadas, although they usually make noise in the evening, leaving us unsure of what they were. We all agreed that we would have been disappointed if we had paid 17 Euros for this trip.

We caught the same bus and moved onward into the town of El Palmar and figured we would just stay on and go back to the city.  Great thinking, we thought.  Once again, the bus stopped in town, the driver turned off the engine and was about to get off the bus.  What the heck?  I quickly asked him when the bus was going again and he said 20 minutes.  If you’ve been reading the blog, you’ll know how often this happens.  I had time to get off the bus and take some door pictures, going up and down the streets in this quaint little town.  Back on the bus, we headed back to the city and stopped again in old town for lunch.  Joey bought a cute bag she had her eye on for several days and Jocelyn bought the shoes she wanted…finally.  We had been to MANY shoe stores.

This shoe store was special though.  While the owner was helping Joce with her shoes, she was holding a very tiny little kitten in her arms and it was meowing constantly.  I asked her if I could hold him and she agreed but cautioned me that he cried a lot and scratches with his tiny baby claws.  I simply poo pooed her and took the little bundle in my arms and tucked him under my chin.  He never cried or scratched but simply lay still and took in his surroundings.  She said she found him out in the storm a few nights ago and took him in. I have been missing my baby hugs back home and felt better that I was soothing him and he was doing the same for me.  The store owner, who spoke little English but fluent French, asked me, through translator Jocelyn, what I did to make him happy?  I didn’t know but it sure felt good.  When she took him back, he starting his pitiful mewing again and it was hard for me to leave him.  I’m such a sucker for animals.

While waiting for the bus, I had looked up to the top of the building across the street and saw a man suspended by ropes painting the building.  It made me dizzy to watch him and again we commented on how safety standards here are not like back home.  His long handled roller dangled from a rope when not in use and he used his feet to push himself around to move from area to area.  Sheesh!

All in all, it was a good day but I’m extremely exhausted and spent the rest of the afternoon napping.  Joey had a short nap and Joce, like me, spent the day on the couch.  I’m taking the day off tomorrow to wash clothes and start packing for our trip to Italy on Friday…and perhaps nap some more.

Goodnight.