One of the biggest reasons why people leave a city is due to loneliness and not being able to connect with others like them.

Valencia has a few expat clubs that should be checked out if you are new to Spain’s third city.

The International Womens Club of Valencia is one such well established group in the city.

“At I.W.C. we are an ever-changing, active group of women always open to new faces and fresh ideas. We invite you to join us at a General Meeting and open the door to a new set of friends and a place of common ground in out transient lives.”

Expats should also check out the  American Club of Valencia who run regular events around the city for the English speaking community.

However things are changing and Valencia is now more than holding it’s own and is a destination in it’s own right, not just a gateway to the Costa Blanca!

Perhaps the most noted  symbol of the new Valencia is the City of Arts and Sciences – a vast space-age complex of buildings. An opera house, a science museum, aquarium and showcase tennis court have all been constructed, attracting visitors from all over the world, and are frequently used as the backdrop in adverts for new sports cars.

The attractions of the older part of the city have also been given some much-needed attention. Valencia once felt neglected and down-at-heel. Now, however, a great number of these buildings have been restored and painted, their facades shining bright pinks, reds and blues.

So Valencia is back and looking good and is a great location to be an expat!

If you are heading to Valencia or Spain make sure you have taken out good travel insurance over 75 to cover for all medical conditions.

The Valencia-Madrid AVE line is 438km long and passes through Cuenca and also connects with Albacete, meaning that all the provincial capitals in Castilla-La Mancha will now have a high-speed train link.

The Valencia-Madrid high-speed rail link is just part of a larger infrastructure project to link Castilla-La Mancha, the Comunidad Valenciana and Murcia, equating to a total of 955km of track and an inversion of over 12 million euros, which the government hopes will be “an engine for economic growth”.

The work was no doubt funded by tax payers from other European countries, just like many other projects in Spain.

Las Fallas de San José is held in the week of 19 March when papier mâché figures (ninots) are placed in the streets and squares of Valencia to celebrate of the arrival of spring. On the last day all but one of the figures are burnt in public bonfires. Before the festival the public can see the figures on display at the Fallero Museum (Museo Fallero) in Plaza Monteolivete 3 and chose which one to save from burning. During the week there are parades, fireworks, dances and food events.

* Museo Fallero
At: Plaza Monteolivete 4, 46006 Valencia
Tel: 963 525 478 extension 4625
Open: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-14:00 and 16:30-20:30, Sundays and festivals 10:00-15:00
Website

La Semana Santa (Holy Week)

A week long religious festival which starts on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Day. There are costumed parades throughout the week with a musical parade through Valencia’s main streets on Easter Sunday.
El Corpus

El Corpus is held in June and dates back to 1355 when Bishop Hugo de Fenolet issued a public invitation to celebrate. Celebrations start with a Mass, followed by a horse ride (cabalcada del convit) and by the dwarves’ and giants’ dance (Els Nanos i Gegants) at midday. Other types of dances are also performed: Els Cavallets, Els Pastorets, La Magrana and the most original of all, la danza de la Moma y los Momos, which symbolises the conflict between virtue (Moma) and the seven deadly sins (Momos). This is followed by several re-enactments from the Old and New Testament and a parade to the Plaza de la Virgen.

The easiest sort of work would be teaching english and working in a bar.

Teaching English is big business throughout Spain as most profressional jobs now require it as part of their requirements in the job. Business ENglish is particularly in demand and you are expected to have a native tongue and an EU passport.

However it is not impossible to get work with an American or Canadian passport as many employers prefer the North American accent.

Bar work is plentiful in the city of Valencia and the English pubs on the Costas, however you should have a good command of Spanish as many Valencians like to frequent Irish pubs.

Valencia has a little bit of everything in terms of food and restaurants. There are some constants, though. I found that Valencia has a very Mediterranean cuisine, with lots of seafood, olives, olive oil, vegetables, and rice. Tapas (small rations of food) are, of course, famous in Spain, and Valencia is literally FULL of tapas bars and restaurants.

Valencia is famous for its paella, a rice dish made in a special pan, also called a paella. While there is paella in all of Spain, it is said that paella originated in the area of Valencia. Paella comes in all forms and ingredients, but traditional Valencian Paella contains chicken, rabbit, special beans and vegetables, and saffron. Another famous food here is aioli, a garlic mayonnaise.

Eating times in Spain are different than what you may be used to. Breakfast in the morning usually consists of only a coffee and croissant. Lunch, “La Comida” is usually eaten between 2-4 pm, and is the big meal of the day. Many stores and businesses close for the time of the comida, the famous Spanish “siesta.” Dinner, or “La Cena” is typically a lighter meal and eaten around 9-11 pm.

Well check out our walking tour of valencia below, it should take around 2-3 hours.

You could start from either end but since most hotels are around Pz Ayuntamento, you will probably start there (you could also make a quick step towards the Bullring before you start)

Once you have appreciated the glory of the Plaza, walk its length to the north where it forks out and follow left to arrive to the charming Plaza del Mercado where you will find three amazing buildings – La Lonja, Mercado Central and Church of Santos Juanes. Walk around all three to appreciate their full beauty – they all show you a different side as you go around. While the market is just a market and the church will be closed, do go into La Lonja even if only for a few moments – you can’t leave without seeing the interior.

Then dive into Southern Carmen, via atmospheric Plaza Redonda (make sure you remember where you entered it! – it has three exits and since it is round it is the absolute Valencian Bermuda triangle) and elegant Sta Catalina tower to flourishing Pz de la Reina, where you will find the spectacular Cathedral. Go in (or go up – the bell tower) if you have time. The Cathedral is also worth seeing from all four sides.

Then follow behind it to the stunning Pz de la Virgin – Valencia’s Old Town postcard to appreciate the square, the Basilica and the Palace. It is a good place to have a coffee if you are tired.

Walk through a short stretch of charismatic Calle Caballeros to behind the Palace, a charming Plaza de Manises. From here the atmospheric ancient street of Serranos will take you to the grandiose Torres de Serranos. You can go in if you have time. You could also check out Museum of Corpus just by its side to appreciate the ancient Rocas.

While you are there there is a great view and a photo shot accross the river – the spectacular Museum of Fine Arts.

Make sure you have travel insurance for over 80 if you are heading out to Spain as your EHIC card might not be enough!

The next America’s Cup looks set to take place in the Spanish Mediterranean port of Valencia in February, after more than two years of legal wrangling over the conditions and venue for yachting’s most prestigious event.

Defender Alinghi of Switzerland said on Tuesday it is ready to hold its three-leg duel with Oracle in Valencia from February 8, the site and date favoured by the US challenger.

Oracle responded by saying it was “very pleased to see that SNG/Alinghi have finally agreed with us that Valencia in February is the correct venue to hold the 33rd America’s Cup.”

Travel information.

When the heat and humidity do become a nuisance do as the Valencians do and hop into the Mediterranean Sea which during summer has an agreeable average water temperature of above and over 20 ºC. June sees Valencia with an average daily temperature of 22 ºC, July 25 ºC and August is the hottest month averaging 26 ºC with an average maximum temperature of 30 ºC.

Valencia, like many Med cities, is cooled down by the local sea breeze with starts blowing at about midday and begins to calm by 4pm.ailing being postponed when it was thought that the strength of the wind would cause damage to the racing yachts.

The beach and port area have a small enough choice to fit it all on this page. However, these few places are all strong personalitites, varied enough and vibrant enough to make for a good night out.

Most of the places use open air spaces (roofs, gardens, terraces) as their trump card and, naturally, lose them when the summer is over. The area is best enjoyed from June to August.

The nightlife here is spit between two small clusters – the more traditional beach area and the new modern, trendy port.

So head down to the Valencia beach area for some great summer partying.