The Brilliant MSC Splendida or Cruise from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and back. Part 8
To be continued. Start here:
8. Valencia
We arrive in Valencia at 12 noon on March 1st. Again, questions about what to see in Valencia before departure from the port at 18-00, and on the ship we should be at 17-00 with a reserve of time, i. e. less than 5 hours.
Excursions from the ship - City tour (4 hours) - 41 euros, Oceanographic Museum - (4 hours) - 57 euros per person.
But we decided differently. There is a free shuttle from the ship to the seaport (the city is worried), then for those who travel on cruises and have limited time to explore the city, VLC Cruise Card cards are offered. They cost 10 euros per person and offer discounts on travel services, as well as museums, shops, restaurants.
There is also a shuttle service that delivers free of charge to the city center. Travel time is 15 minutes with three stops - Oceanarium, City of Arts and Sciences and the central street Navarro Reverter, within walking distance of all the attractions. A small queue for Cruise Cards, the bus stops on the square in front of the sea station and in 15 minutes we are in the Historic Center of Valencia on Navarro. From here we went to explore Valencia.
Interesting architecture, very attractive squares, lots of greenery. We follow the route we have developed, Cathedral and Plaza del Mercado, a Gothic church, heading towards the railway. station to see its mosaics.
Arc de Triomphe
Streets of Valencia
The people are increasing. This confuses us.
I just can't understand why there are more and more people, the police have appeared, people are gathering in crowds with flags of various colors, with balloons. You have to squeeze through, and soon it becomes impossible to go any further. The thought appeared in my mind that this was some kind of unrest and we had to get out of here, because it was not known how it would end. There was an alley nearby, I had to brazenly, pushing people aside, break through there, and there were ambulances, police cars. We passed these cordons and decided to return to the bus stop. The street has become empty, only young people come and go towards us. Oriented on the map, where we are, and moved to the bus stop. Where we were recently, some explosions are heard, smoke has gone. I understand that the police dispersed the demonstrators. Subsequently, it turned out
that this is student unrest, and in Barcelona they even took over the University.
These events discouraged being in the city center, and we went to the Oceanarium, where modern architecture is crazy in beauty, to take pictures, since there is no time to walk inside. On the territory of about 110 thousand square meters. meters is kept in aquariums and in reservoirs of 45 thousand animals of 500 different species, among which there are sharks, penguins, dolphins, fur seals. All this, as well as the Bio-Park of Valencia, in which all the animals live in natural conditions, unfortunately, remain for inspection the next time, if possible. Therefore, only a photo of this wonderful architecture.
Leaving for the port. Tomorrow is the last day on the cruise and Marseille is waiting for us.
