Poking Around the City of Arts and Sciences

I had today to myself, so I did a little laundry, then walked down to the City of Arts and Sciences area, a block or so away, to see what was there.  The morning was a little grey, and there weren't many people around just after 10:00.  I walked around a bit, taking pictures, then found my way down to the inside, where I watched people get zipped into plastic balls so they could float around in the water for 10 minutes.  There were actually several water toys in the area, including kayaks and something that looked like a powered paddleboard.

Zipping in, and getting the ball poofed up with air.

The City of Arts and Sciences contains the Hemispheric, where there is an IMAX theatre, the Prince Felipe Science Museum, and the Oceanografic.  This is obviously not my picture, but a photo of a postcard.  You can probably see why it's hard to photograph.

Eventually, I made my way (the LONG way, of course) to the Oceanografic, Valencia's famed aquarium.  When I first walked in, it didn't look like much.  In fact, as I was just getting down to the first exhibit, I heard an "ugly American" type behind me say, "Well, this is sure no Sea World."  And no, it's not Sea World.  What looks like a fairly limited selection of exhibits on the surface is nothing compared to what awaits underground - an enormous collection of all types and sizes of jellyfish, a tunnel of water that you can walk through and watch fish swim above you, a network of connected exhibits arranged by geographic area, and all types of sea life, viewable from above and below.  It was really great - so great, in fact, that I ended up spending about five hours there.  When it got toward lunch time (my lunch time, not Spanish lunch time), I got an enormous hamburger with the works, fries, and Coke Light.  After that, it seemed the place filled up with families, and little kids were everywhere.  No one melts down like a Spanish toddler who has been thwarted, either - screaming, throwing themselves on the ground, kicking, crying. It became increasingly hard to get around without stepping on somebody. When I had had enough, I ended my day with the dolphin show.  It was really great, and included some tricks I have never seen before, especially the ones with the trainers in the water with the dolphins.

Some of the beautiful jellies.

The tunnel.

My late afternoon plans got cancelled, and on the way back to the hotel I spotted a Carrefour sign. Thinking I would go in and grab something for dinner, I was astonished to find not just a Carrefour, but an entire three-story mall!  With a Subway and a McDonald's.  I have vowed not to eat any American fast food (though if they had had a Taco Bell, like I saw last night, I might have wavered) so I went on to Carrefour and found myself a "New Yorker" salad kit, complete with a fork.

The mall next door.

I tried to catch up on Survivor, but it pooped out about 3/4 through the May 10 one, so it will have to wait till I get home. All in all, it was a nice day, just poking around by myself, not talking to anyone, and eating what I wanted, when I wanted.

Tomorrow, Carlos will pick me up at 11:00, and he's taking me for Show &Tell at his English teacher's.  I think we plan to see the Central Market, and I'm not sure what else.