Valencia faces the same types of pollution as Madrid: light and noise pollution downtown, and air pollution from cars, buses and the Valencian airport. However, there’s also water pollution to worry about, with Valencia’s huge shipping port, boating tourism and beachgoers. Walking on la playa (the beach) in Valencia, I saw cigarettes and tiny pieces of plastic scattered all throughout the sand.
The environment of Valencia has changed over the years, much in the way la Albufera has slowly become an inland lake instead of a part of the sea. The Turia River used to run through the heart of the city of Valencia, but after a huge flood, the city decided to re-route it to avoid future damage and loss of life. The old riverbed was dried up and turned into an incredible park. There are playgrounds, green spaces, biking and walking paths, and the arts and sciences complex. This complex includes a science museum, performance hall, botanical garden and more. Part of the complex is a beautiful reflecting pool. My friends and I kept comparing it to the city of the future in the movie Meet the Robinsons!
As I mentioned before, rice is a huge crop in Valencia, and it has influenced the diet of Valencians. The most culturally important food from Valencia is paella - a rice-based dish that includes vegetables and different types of meat and seafood. In Valencia, it’s traditional to eat paella with seafood, or with chicken and rabbit. The more inland you go, paella is eaten with jamon, though this is not considered a traditional Valencian paella. I got to try paella with my program.
