June 22-23: Valencia

After a delayed train ride from Barcelona, we arrived in Valencia, not realising that the 2007 America’s Cup was still going – which explained the difficulty in finding a room. In fact Valencia was quite the happening town. In addition to the sailing: Swiss Day (any excuse to play those cowbell things!), the arrival of some kind of Virgin Mary statue transported in a PopeMobile-like vehicle (displayed to rapturous Valenciano applause), and Midsummer, the longest day of the year and the day of raucous gay and lesbian celebratory marches throughout Spain.

And the crowd goes wild.

Dad, I need to borrow the tractor.

Never leave home without: 1. Afro wig. 2. Silver knee pads.

L’Oceanografic, Europe’s largest aquarium, was one of the highlights of our Spanish leg. We met the ghostly beluga whale, the crafty octopus (or pulpo in Spanish!), the cute/disgusting “stumpy little fish”, and the greedy sea lion. But the stars were the choreographed dolphins, who, with military precision, jumped, sang, spun hoops and tossed their human masters in the air, to the delight of the children, and Vicky. (And Limmy.)

Spanish dolphins are masters of the Fosbury flop.

This is actually one of the slimmer beluga whales.

Who can resist the allure of an underwater tunnel?




Barely able to conceal his fear despite 8 cm of glass between him and shark.

Tired after a day of ... sleeping.

Other Valencian highlights included classic Valencian dishes, such as paella, horchata (a kind of milky Slurpee made from pressed tiger nuts, into which you dip a dough stick called a farton) and Burger King, where Limmy managed to obtain an disappointing Transformers toy (a non-transforming Megatron – pah!) as part of a “Happy” Meal.

The childish delight of one who consumes food and drink named after body parts and bodily functions.