The big news in the last week is that I got my spanish residency card. This allows me to live here legally for one year at which time I will renew my residency if I choose to stay in Spain longer. So, the legal aspect of the journey is over and my relocation company, Moving to Valencia has been more than I could have ever hoped for in helping me make this challenging transition.
For anyone who is following the blog bc they are thinking of relocating, getting your residency card in Spain would be very difficult to do by yourself if you do not have strong spanish language skills, have a car and understand the process. I don’t recommend it. Reaching out to FB sites like “Expats in Valencia” and “Valencia Information Exchange”, for example, are good ways to find professionals who you can hire to help you. The visa process is much easier by following your consulate’s directions on line.
Other highlights of my week include: my first trip to the beach, A la Mavarossa. This beach is a 15 minute tram ride from my apartment. I had lunch so I could soak up the sun and look at the Mediterranean Sea in awe and joy. There are more beaches south of Valencia, and I will be sure to do some exploring.
Yes, it is really winter here…which is hard to believe! Here are some versions of winter in Valencia: leafless trees, a woman in a fur coat, me sweating and de-robing after an hour walk, topless guys in the park –they must be from Buffalo.
Below are city sites on my hour walk to Franky’s Restaurant where I met a women’s group and had New York style cheesecake (delicious!). If you look at the map and see the green curvy line, that is the Turia River Bed; I walked about half of that to get to Franky’s. I think the whole thing is 9 miles in length. I live quite close, about a 6 min walk to get to the river bed.
Above Left: Valencia’s Basilica for the Pope.
Below: The main Post Office in the “city center.”
I started my first Tai Chi class on Saturday mornings in the Jardine de Real park near my apartment. Tai Chi outside is pretty darn cool. I joined two Internations groups. Time to make friends.
I’ve arranged a meet up for tomorrow to explore the barrio of el Carmen. Torres de Serranos is one of the many architectural delights in Carmen.
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I’m going to see a Brazilian jazz guitarist this Saturday in Valencia who lives in New York City. His new album is called Nu Brasil. I like it very much.
https://open.spotify.com/album/1TfHUAeJDn4I8VcJh3f4Yg
I’m also listening to this:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5SbylfazVixJi7hahuuzvH
On my kindle: I just finished Killing Commendatore by Huraki Murakami. This one is heady and existentialist. Murakami is very unique and a great author if you have the mind for it. My favorite is 1Q84 . If you want to try Murakami, I would start with Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage.
What do kindle and Apple Music have to do with living in Valencia? Great question! This is not a vacation – this is my life and part of my life includes the hobbies I love: books and music, mindfulness, my yoga mat, knitting and walking…
And in case anyone is wondering, I miss a couple of things: a larger kitchen sink and AMAZON USA!
Until next time—May you be happy. Puede que seas feliz.
Love, Caterina
caterinaInspain 