10 Things I Love About Living in Valencia
I’ve lived in Valencia for about three years, and just returned last week from an extended trip of three and a half months to the United States. Time and distance can provide a fresh perspective and remind of us things we may have taken for granted. For those of you considering a move abroad or just interested in visiting, here are some of the reasons I love living in Valencia.
10 Things I Love About Living in Valencia
- Public Transit. Once my plane had landed back at VLC, I was able to collect my filled-to-the brim suitcase (twice the size of the one I originally brought) and walk over to the escalators which took me straight down to the Metro station. The subway was already there, and John (who met me) and I were able to step right on and take a seat. The train takes about 25 minutes to reach our stop and then we walked the last two blocks to our apartment. With rechargeable Metro cards, it costs just a few dollars to take the subway to and from the airport. If taking the metro to shave off some walking time in the city when meeting friends or getting to an appointment, it’s less than that. Efficient, clean, and inexpensive. What’s not to love?
2. Small Grocery Stores. After wandering enormous U. S. supermarkets searching for items and finding a mind-blowing array of options, I can’t say enough about having a carefully curated assortment to choose from. As fellow expat Annie perfectly stated, “Mercadona is a well-oiled machine.” This is a favorite grocery chain for a lot of us living in Valencia. They are everywhere and they know what we like, but still offer nuevo products to try. Something else will have to go, though. They won’t crowd the aisles or stack the shelves too high to cram in more products. I like that uncluttered feel when shopping; it’s calming, the exact opposite of overwhelming.
3. Walkability. The ability to walk everywhere I need to go is 100% my favorite thing about this city. Walking just a few minutes gets me to grocery stores, pharmacies, our vet, a gazillion cafes and restaurants, and in my neighborhood, a fantastic gym (A Love Letter to My Gym). Being car-free saves an enormous amount of money and eliminates the frustration of searching for parking spaces. The handful of times we’ve rented a car, I can attest to the headache of securing a parking space.
4. Dining Outdoors. Dining afuera is the default, not the exception. With mild weather, it’s possible to eat and drink outside year round. During the winter, just throw on an extra layer and a scarf and enjoy! In the summer, I ask for hielo or ice, to be added to my coffee or vino blanco. My favorite setting is under kissing trees – when tree branches along both sides of a street grow towards each other and “kiss” providing a leafy canopy.
5. Recycling. Valencia makes it easy to be green with well-marked bins every few blocks. They stand ready for all the usual suspects — glass, paper, plastic, compost — but also specific items like batteries, K-Cups, and cooking oil. For example, you can drop depleted batteries off at the grocery, gym, and certain big box stores that sell a lot of items that require batteries.
6. Helado. Excellent and inexpensive, here are two of my favorite gelato flavors, stracciatella and chocolate, chocolate chip. They sell for about $3 each.
7. Siestas – I did take a few naps in the U. S., but I always felt the need to justify them. In Spain, businesses usually close from 2 – 5, kids are released from school for a few hours and life slows down. It’s just part of the rhythm and it’s okay to relax. No excuses necessary. Besides, there’s a lot of day left. Gotta pace yourself; dinner doesn’t usually start until around 9pm.
8. Evenings. In the U. S., typical workdays end around 5pm, followed with dinner, tv and bed. Even if there are kids’ activities, they’re usually followed by everyone getting in their cars and going to their respective homes to get ready for the next work day. In Spain, we’re just entering the next social hour, er… hours, where friends and families, including grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles will gather. Meeting afuero, outside for coffee or drinks at neighborhood bars is common. Playground equipment is often nearby so kids can play while the adults socialize. I’ve gotten in the habit of meeting my language exchange partner and other friends regularly a couple of times a week in the evening. It’s a low-fuss way to have fun during the week, not just on weekends.
9. Español. Learning a new language is a terrific goal for many reasons. Not only does it help to feel more at home in a new country, but it is an excellent way to give your brain a workout. When I overheard people speaking Spanish in the U. S., I leaned in to hear their conversations, and realized how much I missed hearing and speaking this beautiful language.
10. Exuberant Fútbol fans. Spain faced England last Sunday in the Euro 2024 soccer final. When Spain is in the playoffs, huge televisions magically appear on sidewalks outside bars and inside cafes and EVERYONE focuses on the game. Spain won this year 2 – 1! Valencia went wild! I’d have been disappointed if it hadn’t. ¡Viva, España!
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Have you Read My Book? If you’re enjoying my blog, maybe you’d like to read my memoir about the two years I lived in Rome. Times New Roman: How We Quit Our Jobs, Gave Away Our Stuff & Moved to Italy is available from libraries and bookstores everywhere. Just ask for it if you don’t see it on the shelf.
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