Preperation

The daily sunscreen application


I came to Valencia to go to La Tomatina on the 26th, but because I don’t plan things my hotel is located outside of town. I read that I should take the train to Bunol, a 45 minute ride away where La Tomatina is. Unfortunately the bus service that takes me to the train station doesn’t start running until I am supposed to be in Bunol already. I saw a sign for a bus service, but there was no number. I searched the company name online and found a phone number. I called and talked to several people who did not speak English. I asked “A bus, El Salar, Bunol, La Tomatino” and was told again and again “No English” After four calls I spoke to a woman who did speak English and she instructed me to go into Valencia on the farthest side from where I was staying to the Expo Hotel between 5 and 8pm that night. It shocked me that she said between 5 and 8 pm because they use military time for everything here.

I woke up early to catch the first bus to Valencia from my hotel so I could walk around the city and check everything out. In Valencia there is what used to be a riverbank that they have turned into a really long park through the entire city, which is genius. At the South side they have an interesting looking bridge, a science center, an Imax and an opera house. All along the river they have walk ways, dog parks and many futbol fields. I found a giant fake pirate that is made of rope climbs and slides. I had a lot of fun running around with all the children. Next to the giant pirate was his giant hat and inside the hat was another pirate with a hat that also has a pirate inside of it. That is the kind of art I can get into.

In LP I had read about a walking tour of the city and I wrote down street names but once I started I got lost and couldn’t find where I needed to go. Maybe I should try harder to make sure I spell street names correctly and that I write legibly. I ended up really far away, but very close to the hotel I needed to be at.

I needed to waste a half an hour until it would be 5pm and so I went to a bar, a shock I know. Many of the restaurants here have several menus. They have their own menu and then menus that suppliers give them with Photoshopped pictures of the food items. I was looking at the picture beer menu, which had at least 16 beers on it. When the waitress came over I asked her about a beer and she informed me that they actually only had 3 beers from that menu.

When I went to the Expo Hotel to buy my bus ticket I was told that this location only sold tickets leaving from the Expo Hotel, which would not work for me. If I were able to get to town, I would just take the train. The guy called his coworker who was selling tickets from El Saler, where I am staying, and was able to get me a ticket for 7am for the next day.

I walked back to the bus stop and waited for the bus. I was the only one at the bus stop and when the bus came I walked out and raised my hand. The driver looked at me and then looked away and drove off. The busses only come every half an hour, so I went to eat in town. When I finally got on the bus I saw a sign for La Tomatina saying pickup near my hotel was at 8:40, not 7:00am. Now I am in a dilemma, do I want to chance missing my bus and La Tomatina or do I want to risk sitting on the street for nearly two hours. I tried for 20 minutes to explain to my front desk clerk at my hotel what my dilemma was and asked him to help. Once he understood he spent over an hour calling different people and places making sure there was a bus at 8:40 and that I could take it. After he had heard from several people, he was convinced and let me know 8:40 was okay, but I should be there at 8:30.

I am excited for tomorrow and all the unexpected it will bring.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW TO SEE ALL OF TODAY'S PICTURES

08_25_2009 Valencia Small