[Photos: Oil press, Museo del Vida Rural (spot the miniatures), Valencia]
Up to a nice day again. Looked at a very old and massive olive oil press in the grounds of our hotel on the way out. There was a museum of rural life (http://www.museuvidarural.com/) in l'Espluga de Francoli that Karen had noticed yesterday, and although we were a bit late, we thought we would give it a look. What a good decision. It was superb. Well-laid out, good explanations in 4 languages, very detailed mini dioramas (so good that they look real in the photos), replica rooms, models and great videos. We put it on a par with the Deutschesmuseum in Munich, though a lot smaller. We enjoyed a good hour and a half going through the 8 floors spread between two buildings.
Gicen the extra time, and the horrible thought of nearly 300km to go, we set the GPS onto toll roads and aimed ourselves south. As we got onto the toll motorway, the GPS came up with the welcome "After 223 kilometres, keep left". It was really nice to sit back and enjoy the views, only having to steer while the cruise control looked after our 120kmh speed (that is after I had managed to sort it out – I had it on a speed limiter setting to start with). It is impressive how quickly the kilometres tick off at that speed.
Arrived in Valencia around 6pm, about when we expected to be there, but with a nasty, but worth-it, 21€ road toll. The GPS had us right outside Dani & Ana's front door, so we rang the bell and got a cheery hello from a balcony. Good to see them again, the previous time having been when we hosted them as Couchsurfers exactly two years ago. Had a quick chat, then off towards the old centre with Ana & Dani before they headed another direction. Again, Valencia is a very attractive city. Looked around the shops for a bit, but the area was a bit too upmarket, and not really what Karen was after. We were both tired after late nights and the driving, so tried to find somewhere to eat. The trouble is that at 8pm, the Spanish are just heading out to have a drink and some tapas, perhaps the equivalent of afternoon tea, with dinner to come at 10pm. Very few restaurants are even open until 9 or later. However, we found Fantasia which had for 7.50€ an excellent 4-dish asian meal complete with beer and dessert. The flat smokey noodles were easily the best we have had outside Thailand, so we may head back there tomorrow night.
Came back, for Karen to work until 2am for the zillionth time, and me to watch a bit of Valencia vs. Barcelona, then Air Force One (in English).
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