The first time we visited Valencia was in October 2013. We stayed at the Meliá Hotel, overlooking what was then a busy plaza with traffic passing through it. We had no idea that our visit coincided with one of Valencia’s most important holidays, or that there was going to be a parade passing right beneathContinue reading “We’ve Finally Come Full Circle in Valencia”
Tag Archives: valencia
Apparently, I’m Excited About an Electricity Bill
Another Lesson in Learning How to Live Well Here In my last post, I said that we’re no longer figuring out how to live here, we’re figuring out how to live well here. Apparently, that includes getting strangely excited about an electricity bill. When we first moved into our apartment in Valencia, our electricity billsContinue reading “Apparently, I’m Excited About an Electricity Bill”
Sobrasada: The Sausage We Somehow Missed
Before we moved to Valencia, we’d visited Spain quite a few times. We’d been to Madrid, Andalusia, Asturias, Barcelona, Valencia, and various other places around the country. We’d eaten plenty of tapas, pinchos, jamón, chorizo, and more plates of things involving pork than I could possibly remember. But somehow, we’d never encountered sobrasada, or atContinue reading “Sobrasada: The Sausage We Somehow Missed”
One Year Later
We’re No Longer Figuring Out How to Live Here. We’re Figuring Out How to Live Well Here. A year ago, everything in Valencia was new. Every trip to the grocery store was an adventure. Every government office was a mystery. Every doctor’s appointment required a little extra courage. We were learning our way around aContinue reading “One Year Later”
When Geography Disappears
Fire in Valencia… But Which Valencia? Over the past week, we’ve received a lot of messages from friends and family asking if we’re okay. “We just saw there’s a fire in Valencia. Are you safe?” First of all, let me say how much we appreciate every one of those messages. It’s comforting to know thatContinue reading “When Geography Disappears”
Valencia’s Corpus Christi: Dragons, Giants, and a Very Old Party
One of the pleasures of living in Valencia is discovering that the city seems to have an endless supply of festivals. Just when you think you’ve recovered from Fallas, another celebration appears on the calendar, complete with medieval imagery and religious pageantry. This year, we decided to pay special attention to Corpus Christi. Corpus ChristiContinue reading “Valencia’s Corpus Christi: Dragons, Giants, and a Very Old Party”
Madrid vs. Valencia
The City That Impresses vs. The City That Works For Us We hadn’t been back to Madrid in a while, but we remedied that this last week. We had a perfect excuse: my younger brother Dave and his wife Lorraine were passing through on the way to a cruise departing from Barcelona, and Madrid madeContinue reading “Madrid vs. Valencia”
Another Bureaucratic Update: The Waiting Worked!
For those of you who’ve been following along, lighting candles, sacrificing toner cartridges, or simply shaking your heads knowingly, I’m happy to report a small but meaningful victory in our ongoing Social Security saga. Kristie’s account is now showing as ACTIVE. No fanfare or trumpet blast, just a quiet status change on a website. Which,Continue reading “Another Bureaucratic Update: The Waiting Worked!”
Suspended in Bureaucracy: Our Social Security Saga from Abroad
When you move abroad, you expect some red tape. Visas, taxes, and bank accounts are the standard dragon quests of expat life. But once you’re settled in, you’d think the basics would stay … well, basic. Kristie and I made that exact assumption when we moved, confident that our previous experience had prepared us. AfterContinue reading “Suspended in Bureaucracy: Our Social Security Saga from Abroad”
A Crash Course in Spanish Healthcare (Literally)
It’s been a while since my last update, and that’s not because I’ve run out of things to say. Quite the opposite. It’s just been… a lot. Some of it has been joyful. The arrival of our new cat Rea was wonderful, and we travelled to the US for some family time at Thanksgiving. SomeContinue reading “A Crash Course in Spanish Healthcare (Literally)”