Leftbankerpics

Granada

2011-08-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

It all starts with a bag. My trusty North Face pack.

Next is a long train ride.

You know you're in Andalucía when...

From my front door.

View of La Alhambra from Albaicin.

My Morocco football jersey was a hit in Moorish Granada

One of the entrances to the city through the wall.

Plaza Nueva

It's difficult to get a picture of the Cathedral unless you have a wide angle lens


One of the gates to the city near Plaza Larga


I said hello to Washington Irving a couple times a day as I humped up to La Alhambra


The impressive but ugly cathedral

Birthday Celebration Near Picassent, España

2011-07-10T03:02:00.000-07:00

La hora de comer.

Dirk & Clarita

Vegetarian's worst nightmare.

Best front porch ever.

Amazing house among the orange trees.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Géraldine & Clara.

Guns don't solve anything...

...but don't tell these two.

Castellón de la Plana

2011-07-08T03:15:00.000-07:00


Bikes are allowed on the cercanías

April 2011

2011-04-10T00:11:00.000-07:00

These were taken right outside of Valencia. The little villages that used to be separate are now practically neighborhoods of the bigger metropolis.

Monasterio de San Miguel de los Reyes

2011-03-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

Bike Ride

2011-01-09T01:43:00.000-08:00

This pictures above are of Alfara.

More Grafitti

2011-01-04T06:36:00.000-08:00

Valencia 0-1 Manchester United

2010-09-29T23:57:00.000-07:00

I was riding my bike in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento on Wednesday when I happened upon this enemy camp of Man U hooligans. I was proudly wearing my new Valencia CF jersey and I was yelled at by the mob. I was going into the building right next to their café so I locked my bike and waded into the throng for a chat. It was a great game but Man U finally scored late in the game.

Parks, Gardens, and Fountains of Valencia

2010-09-06T04:27:00.000-07:00

A reflecting pond in Turia Park.

This is Plaza Alfonso Magnánimo with a big statue of Jaume I.

A Few Cafés in Valencia (to be continued)

2010-08-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

Xàtiva

2010-08-09T01:51:00.000-07:00

Paella in Monserrat and the Tower at Montroy

2010-05-05T03:55:00.000-07:00

When some friends invited me to a festival in Monserrat outside of Valencia my first question was, “How far is it from home?” 25-30 kilometers depending on the route was the answer. It sounded like a good bike ride. The problem isn’t the distance—any cyclist can manage a 50 kilometer day standing on their heads. The problem is always finding your way out of Valencia to these outlying areas. This area to the southwest is a bit foreign to me so I decided to take the metro out of town and then wing it from there. A handlebar GPS would be a great present if anyone is having trouble deciding on a gift for me. I couldn’t convince anyone else to ride with me so I headed out along at about noon on Saturday—yet another holiday in Spain (Day of the Worker).

I hopped on the metro at the Bailén station and got off at Torrent. I had a vague idea of how to get to Monserrat from Torrent, or at least I knew which direction. As I cruised through the town I came upon the Plaça Mayor (town square) with an impressive defensive tower that was once part of a much larger fortress built by the Moors. At 22 meters it is the highest structure of its type in the Valencia Community. Not a bad start for my ride. I ambled around a bit before asking directions which put me on the road to Monserrat. The traffic was rather busy because of the holiday but I felt comfort in the fact that there were literally thousands of other cyclists on the road as it seemed that every local bike club (called peñas in Spanish) was out for a ride.

I had lost my bottle a few days previous and I didn’t feel like hauling my camelback so I was without water on this ride. I had also left the house with just my Levante football jersey. I wasn’t three minutes away from the apartment when it began to cloud up and the temperature dropped a bit. I called for someone driving to bring a long sleeve cycling jersey for me just in case it got any cooler on the ride home. There is a slight elevation gain along the way of perhaps 300 meters or so. I don’t mind the hills. In fact I miss riding up mountains so this ride was pure pleasure. About eight kilometers outside of Monserrat some friends spotted me and pulled over to give a little moral support. I tanked up on some water they had and then sprinted the rest of the way into the village.

My Levante UD jersey attracted a lot of attention along my route as they would be playing a key match the next day against 2^nd League rival Hércules (Levante won!) as they try to fight their way back into the 1^st league in Spanish football, or La Liga as it is called. I heard a few dozen car horns in support.

There was a street in the village set up with tables and chairs for the afternoon affair along with a canopy to block out the afternoon sun. About a block from this square at an empty lot people were cooking paellas on wood fires—the most traditional way to cook this dish. I would be sharing a paella with about ten other people and the cooking was in the hands of a very able local cook. I wanted to stick around to see the paella being made but I had something I wanted to check out on my bicycle.

On the way into Monserrat I saw that a few kilometers further along the road at Montroy there was an imposing defensive tower sitting on a lonely hilltop. I couldn’t come out this far and not take a look at this Moorish ruin. Montroy is only a couple of kilometers down the road from Monserrat but getting up to the tower would prove to be a lot of work. First of all I made the mistake of asking directions from a little kid and then I was stupid enough to follow them. I humped up a narrow and very steep trail only to come to a dead end a few hundred meters up the mountain. I suppose this could be the right way if you were a mountain goat (or a twelve year old kid). I would have given that kid a beating but when I got back down I couldn’t find her.

I backtracked and then headed around the other side of the mountain and picked my way up a few gravel roads until I found the way to the tower. It was built sometime in the 13^th century during the Nasri Dynasty which was the last Muslim dynasty in Spain (بنو نصر‎ ‎). The fortress is all but inaccessible from every side but one and that side can hardly be called accessible. I had to ditch my bike about a hundred meters from the summit and walk up, or scramble up to the top. The 12 meter tower has a commanding view over an area of hundreds of square kilometers.

I got back just as the paella was finishing. It was taken off the fire, covered for a few minutes, and then carried back to the table in the town square. I noticed our cook had browned the meat much more thoroughly than I usually do. She also added a few shredded tomatoes just after the meat was cooked. The end result was the best paella I have had in over three years in Valencia. I wish that I had stuck around and filmed the whole process. I should have known the paella would be excellent because she had also brought along a tortilla de patatas which was superb. Just as we were being served dessert and coffee it started to rain. We had a few false starts with the rain earlier but this proved to be the real deal. The canopy overheard was fine for blocking out the sun but was no match for the cloud burst. Everyone ran for shelter. A party pooper in Spanish is called agua fiestas, a wet party.

Someone offered to haul me and my bike back home but I preferred to ride. As soon as the rain stopped I saddled up and headed out. I should have waited a bit for the roads to dry out but I didn’t want to risk more rain. The first few kilometers back to Valencia were pretty sloppy but because it was still dinner time (1400-1800 for holidays) the roads were all but abandoned. The sun returned and dried everything out pretty thoroughly making the ride back a joy. I picked up the bike trail just outside of Torrent and followed it all the way back into Valencia. I was able to keep on the bike trail all the way back to within a block from my front door.

Monserrat

2010-05-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

Tower in Torrent

Olives at Rocafort Market

2010-04-04T01:34:00.000-07:00

Chelva, España

2009-01-02T01:21:00.001-08:00

These are from New Year's Eve, 2008.

2008-07-26T03:34:00.000-07:00

I like how they allow you to bring in anything you want.

This plaque is dedicated to a brave bull that was spared.

If the bull isn't up to the task, they bring in steers to calm it down and lead it out of the ring.

Anti-Corrida protesters before an event.

Plaza de Toros, Valencia

El Cabañal

2008-06-16T00:43:00.001-07:00

2008-05-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

Bars

A glass of wine and a good book: what else do you need? I just finished Robinson Crusoe.

The walk-up window--kind of like a drive-thru. You can see another bar just across the street.

Menú del día

One of the thousands of bars in Valencia

2008-04-14T23:49:00.000-07:00

Cafe at El Saler

Some friends of mine have a country home and this super-cute dog lives next door. Dixie (I´m not sure how you spell that in Spanish) is one of the coolest pooches I´ve ever met. I would steal him/her in a second.

I am trying to get a picture that contrasts Spain´s historic past with the modernity of modern life. A subway stop and the bullring.

The new dune restoration project at Pinedo-El Saler beach is going rather well as you can see from this photo.

Antiguo Reino is probably the most pleasant boulevard in Valencia and only a block from my apartment.

Wild flowers are in full bloom everywhere.

Fallas 2008

2008-03-14T01:41:00.000-07:00

In my old barrio in Calle Polo y Peyrolon

All aboard the racial stereotypes train!

My favorite this year on Calle Almirante near home.

Not a very flattering likeness of Valencia's mayor.

Falla Sueca-Azorin

Calle Sueca

Calle Cadiz

2008-02-29T02:57:00.000-08:00

El Palmar cafe

La Albufera

The very green mile. You can practically smell the pines from looking at the picture.

2008-01-12T02:41:00.000-08:00

Rampart view

Architectural evidence of the Moorish influence at the fortress.

Roman amphitheater.

On the ramparts of the fortress at Sagunto.

Along the way.

A view of the fortress at Sagunto.

The stairway to the patio.

This patio is on the second story and has a fantastic view.

Another view of this old ruin.

The best parts of Spanish villages are best observed by bike.

2007-11-20T04:34:00.000-08:00

Valencia begins where these wild flowers end.

San Bertran's courtyard

Just a few short blocks from my apartment Valencia ends and the countryside begins. I just came across this old church of San Bertran.

2007-11-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

Cocido de Juan

The Pinedo beach in November.

2007-09-24T03:34:00.000-07:00

I came upon this on my early Sunday morning bike ride in the country about ten miles north of Valencia.

Modernist building in Valencia. Looks like a Gaudi.

Flower stall in Valencia's Plaza del Ayuntamiento

2007-09-09T04:18:00.000-07:00

Bad pictures of a great Gaudi house a block from where I´m staying

Asturias Street right down from where I´m staying

Horror movie cat

Horror movie creature on the waterfront

Mosque¡like Plaza de Toros

Sagrada Familia

2007-09-07T04:31:00.000-07:00

Dark and cool bodega in the bowels of old town

Santa Maria del Mar

Ciutat Vella

2007-09-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

Park on Calle diagonal

Plaza Real

Plaza Real

Near La Rambla

FC Barceloona´s Camp Nou

acroos the way

Looking downtown from my window

2007-09-05T04:41:00.000-07:00

Angel Giumera

These 4 photos below are of the Plaça de la Virreina in Gracia

2007-09-04T03:19:00.000-07:00

Barcelona

Cathedral of Sant Joan in the Plaza de la Virreina

Plaza near where I´, staying.

Art Museum

Grafitti, Barcelona style

I like the indicvidual park benches.

2007-08-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

The Museum of Ceramics, perhaps the finest example of Rococo architecture in Valencia.

The Museum of Ceramics.

Corner Bodega

San Juan de la Cruz

The Ducks restaurant in the Carmen section of Valencia.

Miracle Street

Park near the Mercado Central.

Nice Knocker.

The Bridge of Flowers over Turia Park.

2007-06-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

Medieval tower right next to the Polytechnic Institute in Valencia.

I made about a two mile detour down a gravel road to get a look at this little chapel.

Horchata Museum, Middle of Nowhere, Spain.

Unknown tower at the beach at El Puig.

Santa Maria

Santa Maria

Santa Maria Monastery, El Puig.

2007-06-12T00:54:00.000-07:00

On the way to lliria

This monastery is on another hilltop above lliria. I was out of legs by this part of the day. I'll check it out another time.

Mas dels Pilars

Ermita de Santa Bàrbara, segle XVII

Mas is "farmhouse" in Valenciano, they use the same word in southern France.

Lliria seen from Santa Barbara

Cathedral at Lliria.

2007-06-03T06:01:00.000-07:00

On the Road to Sagunto

This old estate was right off the bike path north of Puzol.

Shut the kids up, it's a funeral.

Castillo of Sagunt

Castillo of Sagunt

I want to live here. It has a great view of the sea. The place is called "Garden of the Fox Hunter."

A medieval tower, Torre de Puzol, on a lonely hilltop.

The door to the monastery was closed so I took this through the mail slot.

Olive trees leading to a monastery

2007-04-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

Sunny cafe.

Jardin de Ayora

Flower statue in the Plaza de la Virgen.

Just a fraction of the huge crowd that shows up daily during Fallas for the mascleta in the Plaza de Ayuntamiento.

2007-02-17T11:52:00.000-08:00

The end of the ride on this day.

Deep sand and bikes don't mix. La Albufera nature park.

Dunes south of Valencia

The beach on a late afternoon in winter.

Old dead guy with cute hair.

Plaza de la Virgen

Plaza de la Virgen

Plaza de la Virgen

Carrer de les Danse in Carmen, or the old district of Valencia

2007-02-11T10:31:00.000-08:00

Joan Luis Vives, Valencia, 6 de marzo de 1492 — Brujas, 6 de mayo de 1540), humanista, filósofo y pedagogo español, y precursor del Trabajo Social en Europa.

Iglesia del los Santos Juanes

Jaume (Jaime)who liberated Valencia from the Muslims.

Iglesia de San Joaquim

2007-02-11T00:42:00.000-08:00

Estación del Norte, Valencia. Just to the left of the station you can see the plaza de toros.

Requena, Spain.

Requena, Spain.

Requena, Spain.

Bell tower of old cathedral. Requena, Spain.

Castle in old city. Requena, Spain.

The best olives I've found so far in Spain. Requena, Spain

Olive vendor. Requena, Spain.

Ticket lobby, Estaciôn del Norte

2007-01-27T12:11:00.000-08:00

Avenida Aragon

Plaza del Pilar.

This cathedral and quiet little plaza are hidden behind the library off Hospital street.

My metro station.

If you squint you can see the snow on the hills beyond Valencia.

2007-01-21T12:46:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful little plaza.

Cafe bajo un olivo.

My mother's maiden name is Bernat so I found this interesting. I am of Catalan heritage.

Old city safari.

2007-01-09T14:46:00.000-08:00

2007-01-07T06:25:00.000-08:00

Graffiti in Valencia

Far, far away--from art.

More vandalism.

Mildly interesting.

"Culture is the heritage of everyone" is what this says in Valenciano--especially true if you have a can of spray paint.

New graffiti painted over old graffiti painstakingly removed.

Anti-Basque scrawl aside, childish vandalism.

Protect yourself by painting your own work first.

Trompe l'oeil as graffiti.

A graffiti-free work of graffiti.

Unfortunately, there isn't much of this fun variety of graffiti.

A lovely courtyard only mildly profaned by the paint can.

A rare example of a message in graffiti.

2007-01-04T20:03:00.000-08:00

Calamari Risotto

Plaza de la Virgen

Paella stall behind the Central Market

2006-12-30T03:18:00.000-08:00

2006-12-30T03:12:00.000-08:00

2006-11-22T11:59:00.000-08:00

Paella hecha en casa.

Big wine

Ciutat de les ciencias y de les artes.

Jardin del Turia

Ciutat Vella (old town)

Banco de Valencia

2006-05-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

Old Milwaulkee $5.50

Cubs vs Braves

Murphy's Bleachers: Taking communion before the game.

2006-04-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

God's country, Idaho.

2006-04-18T10:48:00.000-07:00

Child's anti-beer poster I saw in the window of a bank.

2006-04-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

Religion and guns go together like coffee and donuts.

2006-02-11T22:17:00.000-08:00

Seattle sans Space Needle.

My new super small laptop.

View from my front door. You can see the Olympic peaks if you squint.

Nothing like a bottle of cheap gin on a sunny day.

Old drunk gal on a bench.

2005-11-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

The Freemont troll under the bridge.

2005-09-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

2nd Avenue bike lane to downtown Seattle.

If you think bikes are sexy--and I do--this one is all 12 Playmates rolled into two wheels.

Cars not welcome.

Where bikes and dogs rule.

Free parking in Freemont.

2005-08-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

I could possibly find a more scenic spot on the earth, but why try when this is so close?

This is going to hurt on the way up.

Future mountain stage of the Tour de France: North Cascades Highway,

2005-07-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

Coming home isn't too bad on days like this.

Mount Index, Washington elev. 5979'

The coolest swimming hole I have found in the state so far. Somewhere off Highway 2.

I couldn't get a picture of the two wild turkeys that I saw on the trail, but this thing stood still long enough for a snapshot.

A view from the very top of the trail. After 11 miles of climbing and 3,300 feet of elevation gain, you'd better have a great view.

I had to portage my bike across most of the streams on this trail.

Devil's Gulch mountain bike trail, Cashmerre, Washington.

2005-07-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

Part of the 100 mile John Wayne Pioneer Trail.

2005-07-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

Eastern Cascades.

2005-06-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

Another Seattle skyline.

Same place. opposite direction. Kerry Park, Seattle, WA.

2005-06-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

After a hard ride you need to cleanse the lungs with a big cigar. Beside Kachess Lake, Washington.

About half way up the road.

2005-06-06T22:40:00.000-07:00

A lot of mountain bike trails in Western Washington look about like this.

2005-06-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

360 degrees of Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square

2005-06-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

The view from the cheap seats.

Like the monorail, the Seattle trolley is a tourist attraction that actually works as public transportation if you live where I live. I can take it from home to China town (Seatlle more accurately calls it the International District).

Another look at the Needle.

My bike in front of my favorite pub.

2005-06-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

New bike, old car.

2005-03-12T22:43:00.000-08:00

Notice the baseball card bookmark compliments of my nephew.

2005-02-16T01:03:00.000-08:00

World's coolest donut shop.

or doughnuts

more

2005-01-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

My first piece on piano.

2005-01-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

Seattle Public Library 10th floor reading room--very cool.

2005-01-03T13:55:00.000-08:00

If I had to give up my city apartment I guess this place in British Columbia wouldn't kill me.

2005-01-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

You're up there so what am I supposed to being doing with my end of the rope? Somewhere at Exit 38 Washington

2005-01-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

A lot of trouble for free cable TV!

2005-01-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

Another cool Seattle coffee joint.

2005-01-03T13:43:00.000-08:00

Obligatory Seattle skyline photo.

2005-01-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and me?

2005-01-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

Mount Rainier & bike.

2005-01-03T13:29:00.000-08:00

Crosswalk Planter: It's not sexy but it slows cars down.

2004-12-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

Hippies on the side, bikes in the front.

2004-12-19T12:46:00.000-08:00

God's country, Canada

2004-12-18T16:31:00.000-08:00

A tortilla should look like this.

2004-08-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

Mountain/bike: Right here is where I lost my dignity and walked the bike.

End of the day

2004-08-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

Same bike, different mountain. Mount Rainier--18 miles up.

I rode up Mount Rainier last week with a couple friends. Like I said, it is 18 miles of switchbacks with 3,400 feet of elevation gain. Going down is better than any carnival ride.

25 miles of road to myself.

Whitehorse Mountain, Darrington, WA. 6,303'

A pool too good to pass up.

I don't know about the skinny part but I dipped and there isn't anything more to take off.

2004-07-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

Old Blewett Pass Road

A few minutes on top.

Words here.

2004-07-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

Lassie, get help!

2004-07-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

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