El Cabanyal

This area of Valencia near the beach and the port is the traditional fishermen's quarter where the fishing huts were - barracas in Valencian and in Occitan too (there is a Camin de Barracas by the river in our village - is being demolished reminding me of Barrioboy's series of an area of Barcelona that is being demolished (I can't find the exact link now, I'm afraid). There are streets of tiny beautifully tiled and balconied houses still standing and huge empty areas where modern monstrosities are planned. Very sad. One house had an intricate mural on its wall protesting in Valencian against the ruin of the patrimony.

We took a tram to the sea - exciting, I thought, as I love trams and the idea of taking one to the beach - wondered around the old houses and then had a delicious long Valencian Sunday lunch of sea food and paella. Then joined the locals and tourists on the beach for a swim and a doze on the sand before coming home by tram and taxi. Just going out around our barrio now for drinks and tapas.