Epic Mediterranean Odyssey

I am a day behind in my journaling - yesterday was a bit of an R&R day. Slept in until 9. Had a walk to find a half decent place for breakfast (there doesn’t appear to be many cafes and restaurants in my vicinity - yet I’m quite central to the city). Came back to the POD and actually used a washing machine for the second time in 8 weeks.
Then I went out and purchased a 48 hour Metro Card. So now I can travel around this busy city at ease. There’s a great subway and bus network. My first destination was the harbour. When I got there - it was not that great - I might have missed the main marina. It was surprisingly quiet although I could see there was a massive outdoor pavilion area with tables and chairs being set up for a meal and stage entertainment. Next I ventured into the city centre. Again a little disappointed. The main civic centre was occupied by yet again another tent embassy style protest. It’s the third I’ve seen in Spain. Tents packed into the central square or plaza - people protesting about lack of housing. These are people who are not the homeless sleeping rough beggars - these are people - mainly young - who are struggling to find accommodation. Unfortunately tourism is part of the problem. So I did feel a bit uncomfortable. And it’s something I’ve noticed in the hostels - often the guests are actually locals - Spanish people with no home or rental property. They have jobs or pensions - but can’t find rent.
My next mission was local art. So again I struggled finding galleries. After what I thought was reasonable research using my AI apps and Google Maps - I set out to a gallery that had a reputation for supporting emerging local artists. Vangard Gallery - it was in the Russafa District. So after a bus trip - followed by a reasonable walk I arrived to find it open and clearly hosting an opening exhibition (business men in suits drinking champagne) so I got quite excited. However when I got in and started walking through - I soon realised it was really quite a small gallery and was only showing works that were more installation style rather than paintings. So after less than 5 minutes I was out again! So disappointing yet again! Tomorrow I’ll focus on museums.
Caught a combination of bus and trains back to my digs and then went searching for a half decent place for dinner. Oh boy I think it was one of those days when things just didn’t go right. Had a half decent Chinese meal right opposite a big hospital near my digs.
The interesting part of my day occurred when I got back to the POD where I recognised a fellow with one leg and was pushing a wheelchair with a lady. I actually saw them the night before where I was eating - they turned up. But the interesting thing was that the guy then went away and five minutes later turned up with another older lady in a wheelchair. It’s not something you forget - and I actually offered him some assistance to transfer the older lady from the wheelchair to a seat at the restaurant. Anyway - it turns out they are staying at the POD too. Without going into details here - I ended up spending a couple of hours with them hearing their story. Too much to retell here - but pretty saddening and it seems quite the reality here in Spain. He was Tony - motorcycle accident 20 years ago - smashed up as he described it - lost sight in one eye and can’t smell. Christina was his girlfriend - she had some form of cyst or tumour in here brain - surgery was performed but unsuccessfully leaving her with stroke like symptoms - no use of left arm and very limited walking - she had a brace sort of device on left leg - but pretty much was only mobile in a wheelchair. The older lady was Helena - she was of German descent - her Spanish husband had died a few years back. Apparently they had some kind of business and were financially OK. Not sure what happened to here - but she had her right leg bandaged up and was having treatment in the hospital nearby. She was like a mother to Tony - I initially thought she was his mother as that’s how he first described her to me on the first night I met them.
Hostels seem to be places where you meet down and desperate people as well as travellers. I met quite a few people in Valencia. I was the only person who talked to anyone. So it was interesting to hear their stories. Another guest my age - Nadil I think his name was. Turned out he was from Morocco where he trained in medicine. Ended up being a gynaecologist in Paris. Married 5 times - 3 children to two of the wives (2 to first - older now) and a 4 year old to the last. All marriages ended. He was now retired - travelling back to visit Morocco. He was a man with self described mental health problems. He told me much about his life - he was clearly very bitter towards women. His mother who he adored and because of her encouragement he became a doctor did a terrible thing to him. He obviously was quite wealthy or certainly made good money. He bought a house in Morocco - his mother talked him into transferring ownership to her. Which he did - the shortly afterwards she transferred ownership to her sister. This created problems in the family and Nadil was taken to court - alleging he slapped his mother. Cut to the short - he lost that house. He told me other things about his broken marriages and now his toxic attitude towards women. I defended women and tried to convince him that not all women were as he seemed to think and experience. I was glad to say goodbye - but I wished him well.
Then there was the Italian guy. Another strange fellow with very peculiar eating habits - I never got to the bottom of what was going on with him - but in hindsight - he may have been on some special medications - when I was leaving yesterday - he had a medical type tray with a plastic bag that looked like had blood in it?? It was very dark red / brownish looking - almost the colour of a liver!! Again I was glad to say goodbye. And he stank!! You meet all sorts in hostels!!En savoir plus