Grooming

As we were traveling outside the country for at least 50 days, some of life's pesky realities of life on the road reveal themselves.  Mike was in need of a haircut and my gray roots were showing up like lillies in the Spring.

We started our barber reconnaissance early in the week, learning terms we might need to know like Peluqueria = Hairdressers, peluqueria de cabelleros = Hairdressers for men, pelo - hair.  I searched the internet and found another traveler who had written out some spanish phrases specifically for a gentleman's visit to a local peluqueria.  Not too short, that is enough off the top, etc.  It was helpful.

We identified a "Spanish Super Cuts" that was not too far from our apartment.  It had a red, yellow, green traffic signal out front to indicate your potential wait time, Mike liked the efficiency of the place.  Armed with our page of phrases, we entered the establishment and asked the most important question, Engles? No was his response.

Mike keeps his hair shortly shorn.  As I was speedily searching my translated words and phrases, Mike said, Number three all over and made a halo gesture around his head.  Apparently that was all the translation that was needed.  The barber got to work, mission accomplished.

Our next stop was at the local department store which also included a pharmacy area.  Apparently coloring gray hair is an international activity as well.  There were a plethora of choices of product and color.  They even had a similar brand of non-chemical color which I would use at home.  The color numbering was slightly different, but I picked one with a picture I thought was close and took it home.

I did the color right before we left Valencia before Portugal, so if you don't recognize the redhead in the Lisbon pictures coming up, it is me.  :-)

Who's who in the zoo? (5/22/14)

The title of this post is a phrase that was used a lot by a guy I used to work with.  He used it to illustrate the need to know various roles and responsibilities on projects that we worked on.  I used to always smile when he used it, it just sounded funny to me. Apparently it still does because I am smiling while writing this.  Thanks Dave for the chuckle.  This post has nothing to do with work, but does have to do with the zoo.

The Bioparc is zoo-immersion experience.  Zoo-immersion is a design philosophy and technique that endeavors to immerse the visitor in a faithful re-creation of nature habitats.  The animals, the vegetation and the landscape setting form to invite the visitors to discover the complexity of the ecosystems surrounding them.  The barriers are hidden, giving a sense of continuity between the enclosures in which the animals live and the public space.

This park is located on the Valencia city bus route or you can use the Hop on/Hop off bus to visit. You have no sense that you are so close to the city while visiting this zoo.  It is truly an oasis.  The animals were active and seemed to enjoy their surroundings.  So did we. 

Perfect day for the beach

Our Blue line bus tour the day before had afforded us the opportunity to stroll a short stretch of the enormous beach that is at the edge of Valencia's massive seaport.  The beach stretches as far as the eye can see with the amazing Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort located right on its sands.  We walked through its lovely lobby and gardens leading to the beach. We immediately had a plan for the next day, let's head to the beach for paella and sangria.

Recommendations from our host directed us to an area of the promenade near Malvarrosa beach. There is a rather touristy section of restaurants, such as La Pepica (made famous by Ernest Hemingway)  near the Hotel Las Arenas which are well documented as "the place to go" for paella. We chose the path less traveled.

After a hearty breakfast bowl at home and a trek back to Plaza de la Reina, we exited the Blue line bus at the beach.  We walked, seemingly forever in the warm sun to find the restaurant Laura had recommended.  We ended up at a Burger King with a Wi-fi hot spot to ask Google to help us with our quest.  Onward we walked, it was getting late in the afternoon and many of the restaurants we passed were closing up. We finally reached the restaurant we were looking for and there was not a sole in it.  We lingered at the entrance and not 1 of the 3 workers inside acknowledged our presence.

Slightly disheartened, we walked to the next restaurant on the beach, Luna de Luz.  It was pleasantly crowded with locals so we added ourselves to the mix.  Just after our arrival, as we enjoyed a lovely, refreshing pitcher of sangria a sun shower passed through.  We all had to rush for cover under the awnings.

Mike had Relleno with Mariscos and Paella.  I opted for the duck empanada and lamb chops. The meal was enjoyable.  The paella experience was not the best, good, just not great.  The duck empanada was outstanding.

Duck empanada

Relleno with Mariscos

During our appetizers, one of the awnings was caught by a gust of wind and about 2 gallons of rainwater dumped on Mike and another patron.  Luckily he was wearing his handy-dandy quick-dry Columbia world traveler shirt.  He was dry before dessert.  We lingered and enjoyed the late afternoon sun that had returned.

On our way back, we hopped off one more time and toured the beautiful palace gardens in the heart of Valenica.  Just a lovely day.

Funky tree in the palace gardens, so I will never be a botanist. :-)