Valencia Walking Tour

We ventured out on a city walking tour fully expecting rain, but were pleasantly surprised.  The weather FINALLY appears to have turned some, it was partly sunny much of the day and we sadly abandoned our belief that we had somehow found our way back to Seattle.  Valencia is beautiful, with both ancient roman and modern (18th century) sites, some of which are captured below.  What isn't captured here are photos of the "Silk Exchange" - called that because Valencia is a city known for its silk (who knew?), but no silk was actually traded in the building - it was a place where business was conducted, from contracts and banking (due to the silk trade), to jails and celebrations. Basically, it was a building where money changed hands, people were punished or celebrated, and oh, there was a prayer room that accommodated the Catholics, Jews and Muslims who for a certain period of time, lived in harmony in this beautiful city.  Just a few of the photos follow:

 City Central Square and Cathedral, with Neptune in the middle of the fountain,
surrounded by the beautiful ladies.

 City Hall on the right, with one of the many fountains.  Also,
note the bell tower - Valencia is filled with them - more than 300 in fact.

 A typical Valencian breakfast, a sweet roll (called Fartons Polo) that is dipped in "horchata," a 

drink made from fermented nuts, non-alcoholic.  Very sweet, and although it's

not something we would go out of the way to find, we're glad we gave it a try.

 Board describing how to dip the sweet sticks into the drink

Porcelain Museum, though not entirely visible, the doorway
is flanked by alabaster statues intended to symbolize the two rivers that
run through Valencia.