[Worldtrippers home] [2025 Crystal-Viking]
Today’s port, Valencia, is Spain’s third-largest city (after Madrid and Barcelona). Valencia is the birthplace of paella, a rice dish. Many foodies are familiar with seafood paella, but the original Valencian paella can include, rabbit, chicken, duck, or even snails.
We were each given an excursion to escort. Unfortunately, Gail’s assignment, “Requena Winery Tour & Tasting,” was a seven-hour tour. She loves food and wine, but she didn’t think she could last that long. She cancelled and stayed aboard ship.
Russell’s assignment was the five-hour “Oceanographic Park & Valencia.” This combined a walking tour of the city with a visit to the aquarium.
The walking tour was first. Valencia is famous for its architecture, which dates from the Roman Empire to Valencia’s time as capital of the province.
Russell was especially excited to see Valencia Cathedral, also known known as St. Mary’s Cathedral. This is because the cathedral holds a chalice that is supposedly the famed “Holy Grail” (the cup that Jesus used during the Last Supper). Sadly, the chalice is out on loan today and tomorrow. Oh well.
The second half of the excursion was a visit to the Oceanographic Park. This is part of the City of Arts and Sciences, an amazing array of modern design and architecture. The Oceanographic Park is the largest aquarium in Europe, covering 1.2 million square feet. It is home to more than 45,000 marine animals of 500 different species from oceans, the Mediterranean, Antarctic and Arctic.
The highlights are two underwater tunnels, where visitors feel like the ocean is surrounding them on all sides. Sadly, we only had a couple of hours here, so our guide led us on a fast-paced run-through of the major attractions. Russell could have stayed for hours in a tunnel or just staring at the jellyfish.
