I was captivated instantly by the city known for its oranges, paella, and fireworks. When I think of Valencia, I think of summer: the warmth of the sun and the orange glow of the city. I had never seen an orange garden before, and after the visit, they have become my favourite type of garden. There’s nothing quite like strolling through the green and orange squares with beautiful cathedrals and fountains in the background.

I met a friend from Canada while I was in the city. Mackenzie is an au pair in Pontaverda which is a city on the opposite side of Spain from Barcelona. I was extremely excited to see her, and we had a wonderful few days of drinking agua de Valencia, eating paella, and watching firework shows.

After going out one evening, Mac and I got back to the hostel at 6:00am in the morning (considered getting…