Hello February and goodbye January! I ended my January with ten days of fun and wonderful adventures in Spain. I just got home and will take time to reflect on my trip and sort my photos.
Revisiting Spain
It was my third visit to Spain. My flights were all good. I had beautiful weather for the entire trip (15C to 23C or 59F to 73F). I revisited some of my favourite cities (Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville and Barcelona) and explored three new-to-me cities (Granada, Alicante and Valencia) which have also become my favourites.
While in Spain, I used public transport to get around. I walked and did a lot of sightseeing every day. I enjoyed delicious foods and drinks. I met and had fun exchanging travel stories with other travelers. I practiced basic Spanish throughout my trip. All in all, I had a fantastic time. Watch this space for my postcards from Spain in the next week or two.
Outside the Box
Today I am sharing five painted utility boxes and a mural located on Front Street. Front Street is one of the main east-west streets in downtown Toronto. The front of each box has a door handle while the back is flat. Have a look and let me know if you have a favourite.
Behind the Aquatic Garden utility box, I discovered a beautiful mural depicting “a way of life” of Aboriginal people by Native Canadian artist Joseph Sagaj. Zoom in to see the details of the mural. For more information on the artist and his artworks, click here.
I have seen other artworks by the above artists and look forward to seeing more of their creative designs in the future.
Link-Up
This post is my contribution to Dan’s Thursday Doors photo challenge and Min’s #WWWhimsy link-up.
I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #151 below.
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One of my blogging friends went to Spain recently and also shared photos of the beautiful art she saw on the streets, specifically of doors. So gorgeous! Thanks for sharing these boxes with us. People are so creative!
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Lisa, Spain offers many, many photo opportunities. I’m pleased you like the boxes that I shared. Have a great weekend!
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Natalie, I can’t wait to hear about your trip to Spain. I am particularly interested in Granada and Alicante as I have not visited there and have read good things about both. Did you travel between cities by rail?
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Hi Suzanne, Yes, I traveled between cities by rail; easy to buy tickets, comfortable and fast train rides. I enjoyed visiting Granada and Alicante. Alicante is a seaside town with historic and cultural attractions, very popular with European sun seekers.
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Natalie,
Spain has to be wonderful during this time of the year when tourism is at a low ebb. I have not visited Spain in many years, but I enjoyed Madrid, Rota, and Cadiz. Saw my first and only (and last) bullfight there. Can’t wait to hear more. Have a great weekend! Joe
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Joe, Spain was wonderful in low tourism season. The nice spring-like weather did bring out many local families when I was there. Have a great weekend!
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You always find the neatest artworks to share; I love that mural! I can’t wait to hear about your trip. It sounds like you had a wonderful time.
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Joanne, I’m pleased you like that mural which captures several scenes. I hope to share more about my trip to Spain starting next week.
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Looking forward to your Spain travelogues! We toured Barcelona in 2018 and I’d love to see more of that fabulous country. The Front St. utility boxes and mural are so unique. Toronto is such an interesting city! We live in the GTA and don’t viit there often enough.
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Debbie, I love that Toronto has a vibrant art scene. I’ve been to Spain three times and still want to return for more exploring there.
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How wonderful, Spain is definitely one of my favourite countries. May dad has a house there, in Marbella.
I LOVE Valencia! Did you visit the City of Art and Science during your visit?
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Maria, I love Valencia and did visit the City of Arts & Sciences. The architect Santiago Calatrava who designed those buildings also designed a beautiful Atrium in downtown Toronto.
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Wonderful! He also designed Sundial Bridge in Redding (CA,) where I lived a while. His work is impressive.
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Yes, he has done many impressive projects world-wide.
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I look forward to your Spanish postcards. Winter is definitely the best time to visit. I have been to Seville and Granada.
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I lucked out with the weather and was able to do all the outdoor activities comfortably while I was in Spain. Did you enjoy Seville and Granada?
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I love all your utility boxes and the mural on the wall. My husband said, “Gives them some decor.” I missed you last week, I’m glad you had a good time in Spain. I can’t wait to see your postcards! Welcome back! 🙂
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Marsha, I’m pleased you like all my utility boxes and the mural. That’s so sweet of you to miss me last week 🙂 I hope to publish my postcards from Spain in the next 2-3 weeks. Have a great weekend!
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Thanks, Natalie! 🙂
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Love all those utility boxes – you always manage to find so many interesting ones! Looking forward to your postcards from Spain. So glad you had a lovely trip.
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Thank you Barbara for your comment. I’m pleased you like the utility boxes. They seem to pop up all over the downtown core here. Have a great weekend!
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What a wonderful way to start the year, Natalie, visiting Spain. We visited around 2018 and did a tour starting in Portugal and travelling through Spain to Madrid. We then took a train to Barcelona and just loved every place we visited. You certainly do explore don’t you? Great to have you back after your break and thanks for hosting #weekendcoffeeshare
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Hi Sue, I’m glad to hear you and Mike enjoyed Portugal and Spain. Both countries are so lovely and both have very good rail systems. I enjoy exploring a few new places in each country when I have the opportunity to return for a second or third visit. Have a great weekend!
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These painted utility boxes are great! Glad you had a nice time in Spain and enjoyed Alicante. We live near this wonderful city. Look forward to your pictures.
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Darlene, After visiting Alicante, I understand how it’s so popular with European vacationers (good weather, seaside, plenty of things to do, good food, etc.). I have your email address from your blog and was going to reach out for a meet-up but I thought you might have gone to Thailand.
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I believe I was in Thailand while you were here. Next time we will definitely meet up! Alicante is one of Spain’s best-kept secrets. Valencia is another amazing place.
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Yes, I’d love to meet up with you. I enjoyed Alicante and Valencia very much.
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looking forward to your postcards from Spain.
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I’ll start writing them this weekend 🙂
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My favourite of those utility box artworks is the first one by Roshini. I like the colours and the simplicity.
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I like that box, too. The circles look like cheerful bubbles and the colours are soothing.
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Cheerful bubbles, that’s a perfect description.
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I am really loving all this art work. The boxes look amazing, love the bubbles one
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Natasha, I’m pleased you like the art work. I like the box with the bubbles, too.
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Hi Natalie, hope to see all your Spain pictures. Beautiful outside the box pictures.
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Thank you Ganga for your comment. Have a great weekend!
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Natalie, I know that you do such a great job of enjoying life as it is now and what it can be for you. Travelling for 10 days in Spain sounds amazing and what you shared already does too. I like the first of the ‘box’ pictures because I like the patterns which are familiar to me as I often draw that way too. Thank you for the link up. Denyse
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Denyse, Thank you for your lovely comment. I’m grateful for every new day and do try to live intentionally. I also like the first box for its soothing colours and the bubble patterns. Have a great weekend!
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I’m quite envious of your trip to Spain Natalie. I have many beautiful memories there. I love the unity box art and think it’s a wonderful idea. I’ve never seen them done here but it would be great
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Jennifer, I remember you wrote about walking the Camino in Spain. I’d love to make another trip to explore northern Spain and walk part of the Camino there. I’m pleased you like the utility box art that I shared. They are a common sight in downtown Toronto.
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I am very keen to visit Spain one day when we’re over in England to see our daughter and family. I’m looking forward to your posts and love these painted boxes you’ve shared Natalie.
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Debbie, I hope you include a visit to Spain when you’re over in England. There are a lot to see and experience in Spain. I’ve gone to Spain three times and still want to return, hopefully to explore the northern part of the country.
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A trip to spain sounds amazing. WOw. those are all amazing.
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It was an amazing trip. I’d love to go back and explore the northern part of Spain.
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This looks so wonderful! Having been mostly at hone for the past 3+ years it’s great to see other parts of the world!
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Yes, I’m grateful to be able to travel abroad again. I’ve had wonderful experiences every time I’ve been to Spain.
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I am partial to the first one which I call the Bubbles. One really has to look to see the doors in them! Looking forward to your postcards. Bernie
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Yes, the paintings cover up the doors very well. I’ve seen the inside of these boxes; they’re full of wires and computer chips.
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Utility boxes turned into art. Love it!
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These painted utility boxes are a common sight in downtown Toronto.
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We have a few of them here in Saskatoon, but I am usually driving and not walking around.
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I love these utility boxes, and that mural, Natalie. The first two boxes are my favs – I like the mix of geometric figures and artistic background and elements. I’m so glad you had a great time and nice weather.
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Dan, I’m pleased you like these utility boxes and the mural. I took some door pictures when I was in Spain. So many beautiful doors there. I hope to share them when I have time to write up a post.
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I look forward to those, Natalie.
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I like the fish, though I like the bubbles too. Since seeing your boxes & murals, when traveling, I look for the things even if I don’t have opportunity to get pictures. There is a mural near my workplace I’ve been wanting to take a picture of. There is always cars parked in front of it. One of the offices I work in occasionally, is in the process of getting a mural.
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I also like the bubbles and the fish. I’ve seen a few beautiful murals that were blocked by cars, too. Even if you don’t have the opportunity to get pictures, it’s still great to notice the artwork.
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I’m looking forward to hearing about your Spanish trip, it sounds like you really got around and saw a lot! The utility boxes are all lovely (I think my favourite is the next to last) but it’s that stunning mural that steals the show for me 😮
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This trip was my third time to Spain so I selected a couple of places to explore in each city and skipped some that I’ve seen before. Now the challenge for me is to select pictures and write up my blog posts 🙂 I also like that Aquatic Garden utility box with the fish and I agree that mural is stunning.
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I like Kirsten McCrae’s style. It seems fresh to me and happy. I like happy.
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Yes, Kirsten uses fresh colours and her collage style has a happy vibe.
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So glad that mural is still there!
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Yes, it’s still there and in excellent condition.
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Hood to have you back in this hemisphere. Looking forward to see your Spain pics. As always, Toronto embraces art at so many corners.
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Thank you, Antoinette. I hope all’s well with you. You’re missed at the Weekend Coffee Share link-up. Have a great weekend!
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That mural is incredible! I’m glad you had a good time in Spain. It sounds like quite the intriguing and fascinating city trip. Plural. Cities trip. 🙂
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Yes, the artist did an incredible job painting that mural. Spain was wonderful and I lucked out with the weather for the entire trip. Since it was my third visit there, I selected a small number of places to see in each city and skipped some that I’ve visited before. The high speed trains helped. Have you been to Spain?
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Only with my parents as a kid. We had a couple of beach summer vacations. I’m hoping to explore the Iberian Peninsula extensively once we have a camper in Europe. 🙂 Barcelona has long been on my “list,” but I worry about how touristy it has become.
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Barcelona is a port city with many unique attractions so there are cruise ship visitors as well as land visitors year round. If you want to visit Barcelona and see the sights, go in low season and as early in the day as possible when there are slightly less tourists. Some of the attractions have timed tickets and require advance booking to manage the number of visitors.
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I can’t wait to see your photos of Spain!
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I hope you will like them.
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How exciting about Spain. I’m sure it’s warm there than it is here in Los Angeles. It’s currently rainy and 10 C.
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I lucked out with the weather when I was in Spain. 15C-16C in Madrid and Barcelona, and 23C in southern Spain.
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Looking forward to hearing about your trip to Spain. Love all of those utility boxes. They are so colorful and cool.
Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
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Thank you, Patrick. I’m pleased you like these utility boxes. Have a great week!
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Hi, Natalie – I agree that January sped by in a blink of an eye! I am glad you had a wonderful month and a great trip to Spain. How many international trips do you usually take in a year? I love the way you travel.
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Hi Donna, Last year I took 15 international trips, most of them were to the USA and two to Europe. This year I think it will be similar in number but I hope to go to Europe more.
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You are my travel hero! Truly!!
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I am grateful to be able to travel. I think I have a nomadic gene in my DNA 🙂
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The street art is amazing. The quality never ceases to amaze me. We have a lot here in Portugal
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Yes, I’ve seen some beautiful street art in Portugal.
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Street art is amazing. The quality never ceases to amaze me. Have you been to Portugal on your travels?
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Yes, I have been to Portugal more than once. My most recent visit was last March-April. Thank you for stopping by.
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Awesome photos!
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Daphne, Thank you for your visit and comment.
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That’s great your trip went so well, Natalie. So often plans go awry, so it’s extra pleasant when things go as planned. As for the boxes, I think the first one by Roshni Wijayasinha is my favorite, though they are all lovely. #WWWhimsy
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Christie, Yes, it’s so nice when a trip goes well. I also like the first box for its colours and cheerful bubbles. Thank you for stopping by.
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I’ve only just caught up because … I’ve been in Spain. You HAVE found some fun things to show us. My offering today though is from France, on our way home. https://margaret21.com/2024/02/08/the-back-streets-of-tournus/
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Ah, so we’ve both been in Spain. How was your trip and which part of Spain did you visit? Thank you for your PPAC offering. I love the whimsical street art sampling that you shared.
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We were just north of Barcelona. My daughter and partner live there, and she has just given birth to their second daughter. The best reason of all to visit! Yes, the other visits we managed to slot in were fun too.
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Congratulations to you and your family! I see more visits to Spain in your future 🙂
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Thank you. You do. Any excuse to return is fine by us!
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Hi Natalie, how fabulous that you’ve had a holiday to Spain. I can’t wait to see your photo’s and hear more about it. Love the utility boxes. Ours get painted here too. Some are so colourful and quirky! Of the ones you’ve showed us I like them all but I think the first one is my favourite – lovely cheerful bubbles! Thanks so much for linking up with #WWWhimsy – enjoy your week and take care! xo
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Hi Min, I like the soothing colours and cheerful bubbles of the first box. I hope to share some pictures from Spain starting this coming weekend. Hope you have a great week ahead.
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Natalie, it’s amusing that painting these boxes is worldwide, even in New Zealand. It is a fun, colourful distraction and something different to view from architecture. I have the same sentiments regarding Spain in that after a few visits, more is required. It is a vast country like Canada in that, in a lifetime, it would be hard to see everything.
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Suzanne, Yes, murals and painted boxes are fun and colourful distractions; some of them are really amazing. Countries like Spain, Italy, France are popular for good reasons; they all have so many wonderful places for visitors to explore and enjoy. Thank you for stopping by.
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Away from the more touristy places are far more interesting. Toledo is the exception 😉
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I love Toledo 🙂
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It is absolutely stunning. We stayed at a hotel just out of it and had a view of it. A quiet break from all the people and sights.
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Your stay sounds wonderful. Toledo is stunning, including its train station.
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Your street boxes are so pretty and what great detail put on that mural.
Sorry I am late for last week and a bit early for the coming week. But here I am https://wanderingteresa.com/the-triennial-2023-more/
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Teresa, Thank you for your comment and PPAC contribution. What a treat to see so many art exhibits at the Triennial 2023.
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❤️
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I always enjoy seeing painted utility boxes, Natalie. I found some just the other day in Carvoiero, along the coast from us. I’ll be interested to see what you made of Valencia. We’ll be there for a week in summer with my son and family. It will be too hot but they’re tied to school holidays.
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Jo, I love Valencia for its mix of old and new architecture, its delicious orange juice and it was less crowded than Barcelona. Summer temperatures may affect your impression of Valencia but a fun holiday with your son and family will make it one of your favourite destinations 🙂
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🤗🩷
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