hola!
Okay, so it's been a while, forgive me...
So let's see - when we last left off it was Narita Airport and my plane was delayed. As I discovered when I got to Copenhagen, this was because the cabin crew of the airline that I was flying on (SAS) was on strike, so all flights out of Copenhagen were cancelled (including my one at 9.15 the next morning)
Cue the next morning, and getting put on standby for a 1.30 Spainair flight that was supposed to get me to Madrid in time for me to catch my connection to Valencia at 7.30. Good news - got a seat on the plane - bad news - arrived too late for my next flight, and ended up going a bit nuts in Madrid Airport until my plane, which was supposed to depart at 10.40pm and didn't end up leaving until 12.30(am).
Arrived in Valencia at 2.15am on Friday 27th, sadly without bags, which decided to hang out in Madrid and luckily arrived on Saturday.
Valencia is amazing - with a population of 8 million, that's 2 x New Zealand all in one city. So far I have shopped, sightseen and shopped some more. (Tienda = Shop) The (very nice) Hotel/Apartment that the parents are staying in is backed by a mall, so on friday morning Mum and I went there and I did my first lot of spanish shopping. The clothes here are so much more fun that back home, and even once you have factored in the exchange rate they are really good value (I got awesome new jeans for 13 euro). From the mall we went to the Carrefour, which is kinda like a warehouse extra except way bigger and much more fun - It's strange how exciting it is to walk round a foreign supermarket and try and work out what it what.
On Saturday we went over to Aqua, which is the new big 4 level shopping mall in the new part of town. We met some of the other Umpire Wives for lunch, and then did some more shopping, as I needed something to wear on Sunday night. (More on that later)
Sunday we got up early and went into the Port America's cup with John - Valencia is a lot differant than Auckland, there's some group that keeps threatening to blow stuff up, so in order to get on the base, unless you have accreditiation you have to have your bag x-rayed and stuff. Luckily I have Accrediation, so we were spared the long lines. We walked the 'world tour' past all the bases, (from Switzerland to China - in sign up rather that geographical order) and checked out Bahgdad, which is what the media centre and the public viewing area are called. Then we walked back to the race officials building, saw where John was working, and went up on the roof to watch the boats go our for the dasy racing (Mascalzone - one of the Italian teams leave to the sound of 'welcome to the jungle' while other teams have cowbells, cheers and other songs). That say set a new record for the number of people vising the port - over 68,000!
.
From there it was back home to get ready for our very flash evening. I was very lucky and managed to get an invite to the race officers dinner at the Fordeack Club - it's on the top level of this really neat building that was purpose built down at the port - it reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, all horizontal lines and windows right round. (I have photos so I will have to work out how to post the damn things) First we had drinks (Moet) with the Americas' and Louis Vuitton Cups (they don't drink much) then a beautiful meal (I tried Swordfish - see I am extending my palate) and we were all given a flash America's cup Moleskin Notebook.
Monday was recovery day, so I slept in and then went to the Carrefour again and bought lots of random Spanish food to try. So far I approve of their youghurt, cheese and the not so native mini oreo cookies.
Today is May Day, which is officially the first day of Summer, and a Holy day in Spain which means everything is closed, so we have had another quiet day. I'm really enjoying remembering the Spanish that I learn't in intermediate, and am finding that watching TV and reading signs is a good way to pick up more words as I know what the English should be.
Anyway, so far everything is amazing, and I'm really glad that I was brave enough to do this. Tomorrow we go on more adventures - there is a whole other part of the Port that I haven't checked out yet, and also the Bull Ring, Clock Tower and Old Town to see around Valencia.
Buenas Noches Amigos.
e.
So let's see - when we last left off it was Narita Airport and my plane was delayed. As I discovered when I got to Copenhagen, this was because the cabin crew of the airline that I was flying on (SAS) was on strike, so all flights out of Copenhagen were cancelled (including my one at 9.15 the next morning)
Cue the next morning, and getting put on standby for a 1.30 Spainair flight that was supposed to get me to Madrid in time for me to catch my connection to Valencia at 7.30. Good news - got a seat on the plane - bad news - arrived too late for my next flight, and ended up going a bit nuts in Madrid Airport until my plane, which was supposed to depart at 10.40pm and didn't end up leaving until 12.30(am).
Arrived in Valencia at 2.15am on Friday 27th, sadly without bags, which decided to hang out in Madrid and luckily arrived on Saturday.
Valencia is amazing - with a population of 8 million, that's 2 x New Zealand all in one city. So far I have shopped, sightseen and shopped some more. (Tienda = Shop) The (very nice) Hotel/Apartment that the parents are staying in is backed by a mall, so on friday morning Mum and I went there and I did my first lot of spanish shopping. The clothes here are so much more fun that back home, and even once you have factored in the exchange rate they are really good value (I got awesome new jeans for 13 euro). From the mall we went to the Carrefour, which is kinda like a warehouse extra except way bigger and much more fun - It's strange how exciting it is to walk round a foreign supermarket and try and work out what it what.
On Saturday we went over to Aqua, which is the new big 4 level shopping mall in the new part of town. We met some of the other Umpire Wives for lunch, and then did some more shopping, as I needed something to wear on Sunday night. (More on that later)
Sunday we got up early and went into the Port America's cup with John - Valencia is a lot differant than Auckland, there's some group that keeps threatening to blow stuff up, so in order to get on the base, unless you have accreditiation you have to have your bag x-rayed and stuff. Luckily I have Accrediation, so we were spared the long lines. We walked the 'world tour' past all the bases, (from Switzerland to China - in sign up rather that geographical order) and checked out Bahgdad, which is what the media centre and the public viewing area are called. Then we walked back to the race officials building, saw where John was working, and went up on the roof to watch the boats go our for the dasy racing (Mascalzone - one of the Italian teams leave to the sound of 'welcome to the jungle' while other teams have cowbells, cheers and other songs). That say set a new record for the number of people vising the port - over 68,000!
.
From there it was back home to get ready for our very flash evening. I was very lucky and managed to get an invite to the race officers dinner at the Fordeack Club - it's on the top level of this really neat building that was purpose built down at the port - it reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, all horizontal lines and windows right round. (I have photos so I will have to work out how to post the damn things) First we had drinks (Moet) with the Americas' and Louis Vuitton Cups (they don't drink much) then a beautiful meal (I tried Swordfish - see I am extending my palate) and we were all given a flash America's cup Moleskin Notebook.
Monday was recovery day, so I slept in and then went to the Carrefour again and bought lots of random Spanish food to try. So far I approve of their youghurt, cheese and the not so native mini oreo cookies.
Today is May Day, which is officially the first day of Summer, and a Holy day in Spain which means everything is closed, so we have had another quiet day. I'm really enjoying remembering the Spanish that I learn't in intermediate, and am finding that watching TV and reading signs is a good way to pick up more words as I know what the English should be.
Anyway, so far everything is amazing, and I'm really glad that I was brave enough to do this. Tomorrow we go on more adventures - there is a whole other part of the Port that I haven't checked out yet, and also the Bull Ring, Clock Tower and Old Town to see around Valencia.
Buenas Noches Amigos.
e.