Last day in Valencia and on to Madrid!!

When I decide to go on a walk, I really go!!! When I made the decision to walk from my hostel to the beach, it didn't look like it would take very long. I'm not sure why I thought it was a good idea to start my walk during th hottest part of the day, but I did. After a few wrong turns and a lot of walking, I reached the beach (1 1/2+ hours later...it might have been longer but I stopped carrying a watch). It was totally worth it. The sand was soft, which was a welcome change after the rocks of Nice and the rougher sand of Barcelona, and the water was warm with small, gentle waves. I laid on the beach for a few hours, my sunburn wasn't nearly as red today, until dark clouds started to block the sun. I waded out in the water to wash off the sand, but couldn't stay too long because my bags were still on the beach.
I decided that walking one way was good enough for me and took the metro back. I think it was a good decision because it started to sprinkle as soon as I got to the station.
Oh wait...going back to my walk. Valencia has this cool park that cuts through the middle of the city, sort of like Golden Gate Park but not as wide. This is where I saw the fair and the path I took to the beach. As you walk along the park it takes you to the cuidad de artes y ciencias (I think I spelled it correctly) which is crazy-cool to walk by. The buildings are modern in design and really stick out from the rest of the city's architecture. It's difficult to describe what it looks like, and I failed you all by not taking a picture (I planned to take it on my walk back when it was lit up at night, but now you know I got lazy and forgot about those plans) so you'll just have to use google images. It's worth it...very cool!
So I hit up the Metro and headed back to my room at the hostal. I'm actually really thankful I had the room to myself. I was able to relax in a way that's harder to do with the shared, cramped hostel rooms. (FYI: hostel- shared rooms; hostal- private rooms but probably a bathroom down the hall). I took a shower and a nap, then headed out to eat. This hostal was right in the middle of all the action, so close that I went to a restaurant only two doors down for dinner!
It was a Cuban restaurant, but offerred the "typical" Valencian cuisine. I tried to order some Cuban food, but the waiter suggested the menu of the day which included paella valenciana, which is paella with chicken/beef/pork (one orall of those...hard to tell) instead of seafood. The meal was really enjoyable, but it was extra-lonely for some reason. Maybe it was the fact that he sandwiched me between two groups of people and a couple, all of whom kept staring at me out the corner of their eyes. Or it could be the flower guy, who seems to be outing guilt trips on men to buy flowers in every city, who cut to the chase and gave the guys at the table next to me a hard time for letting me sit by myself while I tried to wave him away. Thanks dude. My favorite part is when they realize you are sitting by yourself and pick up the table settings for all the other seats, bringing a little more attention to the fact that you are rolling solo. Any way, the meal was good even if I felt like I was in the spotlight. Oh crap! I almost forgot the best part!!!
So, the service was slow but that's not really abnormal. I think we just rush more in general in the U.S. I was waiting for dessert but enjoying watching the cook. I was able to see directly into the kitchen so I could see how much she used the microwave, when my food was ready compared to when it got picked up, all that good stuff. So, I was watching and waiting when I thought I saw a bug crawling on the ceiling above her. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Then it fell down onto the working surface. I know this because the waiter grabbed the bottle it was now on and jerked it away from the food, then stomped. I started laughing. I was already done with my meal, and I'm pretty sure I just witnessed a kamikaze cockroach attack!! Under any other circumstance I would have been freaking out. Instead, I laughed and knew I would have to tell you guys about it. I can't believe I almost forgot!!!
After my meal I headed to the bar across the street that had a street sign advertising the WNBA game that would be playing at 11pm. After my dinner I wanted to see if I could find some bball fans so I headed that way. Unfortunately, I was the only fan there! I watched the first half then headed back to pack and get ready to head to Madrid in the a.m.
I woke up in time to grab a coffee and catch my train. There was open seating so I plopped down in one of the window seats. There was another movie on this train, so I got the watch the latest Brendan Fraiser Curse of the Mummy movie in Spanish. I also made sure to make my way to the food car so I could say I ate in one of those on my trip. It might have only been a pastry, but it still counts!! When I returned to my seat an older woman had swooped on my spot. I didn't really know what to do, my backpack was in the luggage rack above the seat, so I sat next to her. She asked if she was in my seat, I said it was fine I just sat there because of my backpack, and she took this as an invitation to start talking for the rest of the train ride. She was actually really interesting: she lived in many different countries when she was younger including the U.S., had very liberal views (talked about socialism vs. communism and how Americans freak out over both terms), which of course led to the Bush vs. Obama conversation, which makes me really glad I waited until Bush was out of office to travel, and then she finished by talking about her grandkids. Then she touched my face, twice, telling me how sweet I am and disappeared towards the train platform. Out of habit I touched my pockets...just in case she was a super-slick pickpocket. :) I was clear and, as it turned out, back in Madrid. I got off the train and headed to the last hostel of my trip!