Valencian life

We spent our last day in Valencia doing what the Valencians do. We went to a huge street market in the south of the old city and later enjoyed a paella Valenciana.

The market took up several streets and had everything from pretty Flamenco dresses to vinyl coverings for dining room tables. Hundreds of people turned out to find the bargains.

The paella, which we enjoyed sitting across the way from the city centre cathedral, was delicious and we ate it serenaded by music from two talented buskers - one playing a traditional Spanish guitar and the other accompanying him on a type of horn that looked like it had been fashioned from bamboo.

The sound it made was rather like a slightly more mellow clarinet tone. It was beautiful and I wanted to buy one off him, but the pair made a sharp exit before I had the chance. Presumably the fearsome and numerous local police were heading their way.

Valencia proudly claims to be the home of the paella. The dish originated in the 19th century in Albufera, to the south of the city, and rice is still grown in that region.

According to Wikipedia, although foreigners regard paella as Spain's national dish, Spaniards consider it to be a regional Valencian speciality.