DAY 77: SWIMMING WITH SHARKS IN VALENCIA (WELL, SORT OF)

Monday, June 30 (Valencia, Spain) – One of the most unique parts of Valencia, Spain is the area called “The City of Arts & Sciences” which is a cultural complex that encompasses an opera house, science museum, aquarium, and 3D movie theater.  What makes this area so special is that the buildings have architectural nuances that makes you feel like you stepped into the age of the Jetsons!

The aquarium is said to be the largest in all of Europe, and I can’t remember the last time I visited one, so I thought it would be a fun thing to do (and so did my new Aussie friend, Wallace, who came with me).  It was a bit later in the day when I went, so the place was eerily empty, and maybe that is why I was able to cover as much ground as I did (so it didn’t seem as massive as I had thought).  

I started with the flamingo-esque bird enclosure that looks a bit like the Epcot ball.  You are able to walk inside and right up to the birds who appear to have gone through a color run where the only colors were orange and pink.

Half of the attractions are inside and the other half are outside, like the birds.  I ventured into one of the indoor enclosures and this is where I got to ‘swim’ with sharks!  There is a tunnel built into the aquarium surrounded by fish and sharks who swim leisurely by, sometimes appearing to play with the visitors.  When you look straight ahead and see a shark swimming overhead, you really feel like you are in the water with them!

We also saw some really pretty fish and guess who I found… NEMO!

Then I was ready to sit back and watch a show, so I went to the auditorium surround a big pool of dolphins.  Already I was excited just watching the dolphins jump around on their own, but when the emcee showed up, I felt like a child again.  As people were getting seated, the emcee asked if any of the kids had questions about dolphins, and I had a good test of my Spanish understanding by listening to the Q’s and A’s.  Dolphins generally live about 30 years but can live up to 50 in captivity.  They don’t sleep because they need to breathe, and they can jump up to six meters high.  That all may be false, but that is what I remember from what I heard in Spanish!

What a fun-filled afternoon at the aquarium!  The one part that I wasn’t able to capture good photos of (because of lighting and netting) was Mr. Walrus and his friends.  These guys were HUGE and so fun to watch.  I will definitely be checking them out the next time I go to an aquarium.  Anyone want to join me at the Coney Island aquarium when I’m back!?