Valencia, Spain October, 2006 Double click on images to enlarge.
Plaza de la Virgin. I think it was originally the Plaza of the Virgins referring to this fountain, the River God for the local river, the Turia, and the virgins surrounding him. I do not doubt that the Church changed it to the Plaza of the Virgin.
Valencia has not gotten along well with this particular river god, who consistently flooded the town. So they finally got sick of him and threw him out of town.
Another shot of the Plaza with the Catherdral to the right and Basilica to the left.
They may be virgins, but they seem to have lost their maiden heads.
The inside dome of the Cathedral. Like most Spanish cathedrals, there is a confusion of several different styles of architecture.
This Monstrance, which was massive, was built as a penance by the Valencians for the atrocities committed during the Spanish Civil War. Must have been some really good atrocities.
The Holy Grail, or at least billed as such. Think of all the trouble this could have saved Indiana Jones. Needless to say, the apostles must have known something was up when Jesus hoisted this cup.
Looking down from the bell tower.
Looking down from the bell tower
This modernista market is from about a century ago. Unfortunately, when I wandered over, it was in pretty bad shape.
Here is a close-up view of the market.
And another
It´s cominggggg
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in the Ciudad de los Artes and Ciencias
Don´t you hate it when the "modern artists" plop their crap in a perfectly good plaza?
Another view of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in the Ciudad de los Artes and Ciencias
The Museum of Sciences in the Ciudad de los Artes and Ciencias
On top of the parking garage in the Ciudad de los Artes and Ciencias
My interpretation of the answers I got when I tried to ask for directions. Apparently, the artist had had similar experiences with women.
Sorry, I just love these lampposts.
The entire riverbed of the redirected river has been turned into a park full of museums, playgrounds, gardens, and fountains.
What kind of flowers are these? The trunks look like pythons who have just swallowed something large and are covered with conical thorns.
Couldn´t quite figure out who she was, but I wouldn´t want to mess with her.
I´m not sure what the statues in the gardens are for, perhaps to scare los niños away from the flower beds. This guy looked pretty scary.
An observatory. I went over to try to figure out what it was and found it was part of the University. Probably has serious light pollution problems.
