Calpe U3A visit Valencia
On a bright sunny Thursday, January 31 our new Autobuses Ifach coach arrived at the first pickup point at Casa/Repsol at 8am and then at 8.15am at the Esmeralda Hotel. We were greeted by Kerry of our travel team and our driver Carlos who quickly drove us to the AP7 heading for Valencia City Centre.
After one hour we called in to La Safor service area for a comfort stop. We were quickly served by the friendly staff. Fortified by the coffee and cake; on the road again driving through the orchard of the Valencia region; mile after mile of orange groves.
We arrived in Valencia city centre at 10.30am. The first port of call for most of us was the Tourist Information office for maps and the city discount card. We split up and headed off to the many attractions--The cathedral, hop on hop off bus, Silk museum, Arts and Sciences, Oceanorgafic, Biopark. Valencia boasts 60 cultural spaces.
One group made a bee line for the Cathedral in a quest for a close up view of the ‘Holy Grail’. We paid the discounted €5.50 and were issued with our audio guide (the best we have used).
We entered the chapel of the ‘Santo Caliz’ and there in a glass case is the Holy Grail (an agate cup finely polished) the only one recognised by the Vatican. The Cathedral is spectacular inside, with many architectural styles; Gothic being the main one.
The City tour with the ‘hop on hop’ off bus is good value at €17 as it covers both the red and blue routes. I used my charm and negotiated a discount on the price!
After meeting up at lunch time we compared notes and enthused about the delights that we had found - in our case the San Nicolas church - an 18th century building which had been restored over many years and has been called the Valencian Sistine Chapel. We were awe struck with the frescoes and stunning art work.
The general consensus was we all had a great time. Another visit for us is a must.
We boarded our coach at 5.30pm and arrived home at 7.30pm.
A big thank you to the Calpe U3A Travel team Kerry and Freda for a great day out.
The next day trip is on Wednesday, March 27 – a bodega visit with wine tasting and lunch. Departure is from Calpe at 8.35am from the Esmeralda Hotel and Calpe Bus Station at 8.45am.
The trip to Bodega Francisco Gomez Villena costs €40 per person including lunch, return to Calpe at 6.30pm. If you are interested please email travel@u3acalpe.org
Our next Calpe U3A meeting will take place at the Sol Ifach on Thursday, February 21at 10am with the new meeting start time of 11am. Our speaker will be Benjamin Tinker doctor of chiropractic at Vida Plena who will give us an insight into the benefits of spinal subluxations.
All welcome, new and old members who would like to join us in 2019. For more info see the www.u3acalpe.org or email membership@ u3acalpe.org