IN THE CENTER OF OLD TOWN VALENCIA AT THE LOFT DE LUJO FROM AIRBNB - WELL IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER

Valencia Blends Old & New Like No Other European City

The very cool, very well appointed and very well located LOFT DE LUJO, located in the heart of Valencia, is the perfect place to relax after a long walk or have a great night's sleep after a day enjoying the sites and sounds of one of Spain's oldest cities. The host met us at the door and assisted with our luggage into an 800 plus square foot loft with everything you need for a relaxing and refreshing stay in the historic district of this city of in excess of 1.7 million. It's location is perfect for walking to sites close by and has the usual things we have come to expect in highly rated AIRBNB places - great bed, huge shower and interesting modern design overlaid in an older building. The Europeans do this better than we Americans. And the owner was so helpful with his map and list of places, showing us the best places to eat and how to get around via train and bus to see the sites. We gave this place and the host a 10+ rating.

Another benefit worth mentioning is the roof terrace, accessible by a short stair from the loft, which allows you to relax and enjoy a glass of wine and experience the views and sounds of the city. And the price of this amazing, intimate place in the middle of everything is a "you gotta be kidding me" $76.00 - $82 per night in April and May, which is the best time of year to visit this area of Spain.

And The City of Arts & Sciences by Spain's Most Famous Architect Must Be Seen Live and In Person

Santiago Calatrava, born in Valencia, is a multiple award winning architect who does not do small things or small buildings. His many buildings in Valencia testify to the expressive design grammar found in his work. In a country known for its great architecture, music and art, this collection of modern structures in Valencia offers a great way to spend a day experiencing some of the most fantastic architecture in Europe. The buildings included in this grand experiment in uber modern design, placed in a city that was founded in 138 B.C. shows, with unabashed exuberance, European designers' belief in the merging and blending of new and old, whether in the grand buildings found at The City of Arts & Sciences or an intimate apartment like the Loft de Lugo.

 

Here's the thing. Spain is one of those places that really cannot be comprehended quickly. Its architecture, its art, its food and its  culture and people can actually change you, if you pay attention and enjoy the ride. And Valencia allows that on multiple levels. So, if you go to the land of Cervantes, Picasso and Gaudi make sure you spend a few days in this beautiful art filled city.

 

d.l.stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

This week's travel quote is from the one and only Dave Barry - "Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages."

And this week's Video is by one of the truly great jazz pianists and singers working today - Harry Connick, Jr. performing One Fine Thing, a song he wrote for his wife and sings  to her in this video. If you ever get the chance, Harry is a must see performer - Amazing singer and a ridiculous piano player!

 

FOUNDED BY JULIUS CESAR & ENJOYED BY NOMADS THE WORLD OVER - SEVILLA IS A BUCKET LISTER FOR SURE

It's Not Just About Where You Sleep - There Is An Amazing Amount Of Cool Stuff To Do In The Capital of  Andalucia

After getting settled in our  contemporary studio the yellowBox, our AIRBNB place to sleep for three nights and getting the scoop on what to do and where to go from the owner, we started walking, riding and seeking out those places that we knew about and hopefully some places we didn't. One of Seville's more interesting architectural structures is Metropol Parasol.

Designed by German architect Jurgen Mayer, this fascinating structure is claimed to be the largest wooden structure in the world. It is commonly referred to as Las Setas de la Encarnación (Incarnation's mushrooms). As you would expect just looking at it, it was very controversial due to its appearance, location and cost overruns. At a cost of $55 million Euros and a two year construction period, it is well worth an afternoon to explore.

And You Simply Must Enjoy An Afternoon in Parque de Maria Luisa

In the heart of a city of about 800,00 lies one of the most serene, beautiful and natural places you will ever see - Parqu de Maria Luisa. In addition to the natural areas of the park, you can also enjoy the Plaza de España, an excellent example of regionalism, built in 1928 for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 (Worlds Fair).

You can walk throughout the park and then see the massive masonry structure as well, or you can enjoy it all from a horse drawn carriage. We spent an entire afternoon just enjoying the trees, plantings, water features and other places of quiet and peaceful solitude in the park as well as the magnificent Plaza and the huge half circle building. The plaza and building have been seen in various movies, including Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars.

For A Remarkable Experience - Flamenco - In The Place Of Its Founding - Andalucia

And where better to enjoy the real thing than in Andalucia's capital - Seville? There are many places where you can see the grace, athleticism and passion of the Flamenco. However, we took our AIRBNB owner's recommendation and decided to see this beautiful art form in a very small, intimate club - Los Gallos Tableo Flamenco. No over production. No smoke and mirrors. Only guitarists, dancers and, for lack of a better term, hand clappers. We enjoyed  90 minutes of incredible entertainment with extraordinarily talented and passionate dancers, singers and rhythmic clappers. Below is a quick video of just some of the amazing dancing of the art form that takes its name derived from the word fire. So when you go to Seville, be absolutely sure that you check out the dance that was invented by this beautiful art filled country for all to enjoy.
 

I Wanna Be A Baile Loco!!

d.l.stafford
thenomadarchitect

P.S. - For those vagabonds that want to hear a new twist on the blues, check out this video from three time Gammy winner Keb Mo performing Old Me Better - Good Stuff!
 

AND PICKING UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF TELLING YOU ABOUT SPAIN - GET OUT YOUR LAPTOP

YOU HAD ME AT HOLA

That's right. The people of Spain throughout are friendly, helpful and seem to truly enjoy their lives. AND - they generally either speak English or give it their best college try. OK - I will admit a certain digression in my recounting of one of the truly great adventures this Nomad, his Mrs. Nomad and his Nomad Kids in one of the greatest countries on the planet - Spain. To bring all of my favorite readers up to speed, please click on the following links to read the first three posts about our 2015 trip to The Land of The Conquistadors: 
 

Waitin' On A Plane To The Plain In Spain  / Madrid - Europe's Second Coolest Capital  /

Museum Day In Madrid - Guernica And Tapas

Next Step - La Mancha - A Bucket List Must

It was our third and last day in the urban metropolis of Madrid. So what are a boy and girl to do in Ispania, the land of  rabbits, as the Carthaginians named it in 300 B.C.? After picking up a sweet little Volvo number, we struck out for the land of La Mancha and the storied windmills of Señor Don Quixote & his loyal squire Sancho Panza. With our I-phones and Google Maps directing us - we are after all conversant with all the latest in vagabond technology - we arrived in the land made famous by the the first modern novel - Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.

As Exploradors, we took in completely an area of Spain that has become the physical embodiment of the myths so poetically written about in the great novel by Cervantes. The area, and, more specifically, the windmills must be seen on any trip to Western Spain. It is, at most,  a relaxing two hour drive from Madrid through the plains to an area and the small town of Consuegra nearby that feels almost medieval. There are several restored windmills. Four are still usable with the machinery still working so you may, if you desire, see how these ancient structures used to work. It is said that these windmills were passed down from generation to generation and the primary purpose of them was to grind grain.  There is also a tenth century castle to enjoy.

One thing that must be experienced, no matter how many books or pamphlets you read about the area, is the vibe. With the windmills standing strong on a long rise against flat plains surrounding these vigilant structures, it feels like you have truly stepped back in time. This was a great, inexpensive, relaxing day trip from Madrid.
 

So, check your New Year's Resolutions AND your Bucket List, and get busy making plans to travel to one of Europe's truly great countries with great hotels, great food and some of the most amazing architecture on the planet. Any country that produced the master of modern art Pablo Picasso and one of the world's greatest architects, Antonio Gaudi, must be on every Nomad's Bucket List. With the Euro at an all time low against the Dollar, there is no better time to go than 2017.

Disfrute del paseo !!

d.l.stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

Video Artist of The Week - The Avett Brothers - OK - I am a new fan of this pop/rock/folk band from North Carolina. This band of two brothers and other great players and singers dishes out an entirely new take on pop, blues, country, honky tonk and ragtime. Take a listen of a cut off their latest CD - Ain't No Man.