Vacation vs Slow Travel (Sep 23, 2025)

We haven't done much in the past few days.  I mentioned it in my last blog, but you need a different mindset when slow traveling versus vacationing.  You have to be more careful budget-wise: no eating out every meal, watching out for what sights charge for entry fees, etc.  You also have to "set up house" if you're in a place for a week or more.  We have practice in Valencia from last time, but groceries are a budget item that has to be taken into account.  In other words we're living here, not just sightseeing.

Dental work (dental tourism) is another thing that keeps us occupied.  Fe is having her second (and final) stage of her dental work done--the first part was done in January 2025--and I'm getting a cleaning and exam done.  Yes, I can get insurance through my work plan, but the extent of Fe's work would still be more expensive with the deductible.  No, I'm not including the airfare or accommodation cost in the comparison since we were going to travel here anyway (It'll be even cheaper when we go to SE Asia).

That being said, walking around and admiring the surroundings is free:

St. Augustine Church

Saint Augustine

Merry-go-round near the train station.  Don't think I've seen a double-decker one before.

We did eat out for dinner to have paella.  Valencia was its birthplace after all.

Valencia Cathedral at night

Turia Fountain, Plaza of the Virgin

Fe and I in front of Torres de Serranos

Torres de Serranos

Valencia City Hall

Fountain in the Plaza del Ayunimiento

Hotel Valencia--where we stayed on our family trip to Spain in 2017

Valencia door

Casa Cruz del Passeig, Paseo de Ruzafa

View from the lookout on the top floor of El Corte Ingles.  There's even a cafeteria up here!

Not my typical post, but at least you're seeing what we're doing.