Last week there was a great storm called Gloria which came from the south, destroyed beaches and promenades in Valencia and tore over the mountains to Zaragoza. the weather was horrible here at the beginning of the week and in the countryside just out of Zaragoza towards Teruel it snowed. Villages in Teruel were isolated by the snow. On Friday we set out from Zaragoza to Valencia, on a motorway with snow piled up on the sides and white fields as far as the eye could see in some places.
teruel was clear, and of course there was nothing in Valencia. It was a pleasure to be able to sit outside in the winter sun there!
And of course enjoy the orange trees
The paella Valenciana
We went to the Cathedral, our first visit. This is the chapel of the Holy Grail-you can see it in the middle. It was sent there from Aragón in the middle ages.
In the museum there were lots of things, the one which really struck me was this unrepentant thief, which must have been one of three crosses.
Then we paid another €2 and went up the tower, which is known as the Micalet after the biggest of its bells. 207 steep steps up a narrow winding staircase; there were red and green lights top and bottom to restrict the traffic to one direction at a time, although it wasn't completely effective. It was a hard climb, but the view at the top was great, and the clock struck twelve while we were there; the Micalet was struck twelve loud times!
You can see it from the street, and it's protected from the weather by a roof. 
In the town hall entrance, we found more "giants and bigheads" than I've ever seen. They are hollow and a person goes under the skirts to make them live-I think the head of the person would reach about waist height. 
