And so it was that our adventures started on Sunday morning, 10 November at 8.00 am when we docked in Valencia. Spain’s third-largest city is a magnificent place and was one of the highlights of the cruise for both of us. The day dawned bright and sunny. We knew that there were dreadful floods in Valencia but we were really lucky, unlike those who live south of the city. Valencia diverted its flood-prone Turia river to the south of the city and converted the former riverbed into a glorious green ribbon of 9kms of riverbed, winding right through the city in 1986. On it are the strikingly futuristic buildings of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, designed by local boy Santiago Calatrava. Whilst marvelling at what has been created, our hearts went out to hose who have lost their lives and homes in the floods south of the city, caused by the removal of many dams in the mountains, as demanded by the EU. 

Di and I travelled around the city in a Tuk Tuk. We saw this wonderful market, two of the twelve original gates to the city, Torres de Quart, and Torres Serrano, that formed the ancient city's wall, the north gate where men were imprisoned, still showing signs of the Canon balls fired by Napoleon and his army, and the west gate for the women, .

We loved the beautiful rounded corners of the buildings, and a lovely church nestled between buildings close to the cathedral.

Then it was back to the ship which departed effortlessly at 10.00 pm.