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Valencia by the Sea

When you are surrounded by history in the Ciutat Vella (old city), it’s easy to forget that Valencia is a city on the sea. Valencia has a spectacular marina and 19 km of beaches that are reachable by public transportation. The urban beaches of Las Arenas, El Cabanyal and Malvarossa are only about five kilometers…
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Mariscos A La Plancha, Catalan-style

Mariscos a la plancha translates to grilled seafood. When our Catalan friends Miki and Mariangels S’Agaro announced that they were going to prepare fresh mariscos a la plancha for us in their home on the Costa Brava, I went into my yummy dance. Our day started with a trip to the market in Sant Feliu…
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A Shopping Day in Valencia

Note: this post was originally published in October 2016 and has been updated for accuracy on 2017/11/29 It shouldn’t have been a surprise that Valencia has incredible shopping. After all it is the third largest city in Spain, and Spanish women love their fashion. There are shops here for every need and every budget, from…
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Spanish Conservas. Yes, you can get great seafood in a can

Our interest was piqued at Jib’s Gastrobar, a little bar in Valencia across from the Jardin del Parterre (Garden of the Parterre). We ordered the Mejillones (mussels) under the list of Conservas on the menu, and were surprised when they arrived to the table in a can. The plump mussels inside were basking in a…
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Tasting Jamón Ibérico in Valencia

Few things are more important to Spanish cuisine and culture than jamón ibérico, the celebrated ham made from Black Iberian pigs. Spanish ham is considered to be the best in the world. Massive legs of jamón hang from ceilings in restaurants and markets all over the country. I can’t recall seeing a restaurant menu in…




