Archive for the ‘travel’ Category

Vacationing in Valencia

Just last month I was in Valencia to attend the Falles festival which happens annually. The fallas put up on the road were a delight to watch and the brass bands and processions through the streets were colorful and appealing. The fireworks displays and the fireworks barrages were simply out of this world. They were spectacular and I couldn’t take enough photographs of them.
While I was in Valencia I hired a car from Car Hire Asturias and got a good deal on the price. The site compares the services and rates of many car hire companies and gives a comprehensive list of cars offered by the site. I also had an extra child seat in my car for my two year old son to travel comfortably.  The trip was very good and I owe it to the car rental which gave unblemished service at all times. I would like to recommend this site to anyone looking to Valencia for a trip. Unlike so many bogus companies on the internet, this company delivers what it promises and goes that extra mile for the customer’s convenience. One can hire a car of one’s preference for a cheap price and travel in style.

El Cid


Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar  or simply El Cid Campeador was a Castillan noble warrior that became a military, political leader of Car Hire Valencia . He played a major role in the battles against the Moors.  El Cid means The Lord or The Master. The title Campeador is best translated as Champion title that he acquired after he won a one on one attle with an Aragonese knight.

El Cid served under Sancho II and Alfonso VI during the Reconquista period of Spanish kingdoms against the Moorish occupation.  During his adolescence he joined in 1057 the raid in the Moorish stronghold of Zaragoza. After this battle, he joined the Ramiro’s I of Aragon army to the siege of the Moorish town Circa in the Battle of Graus.

After Sancho got  assassinated in 1072, El Cid took service under  Alfonso VI, Sancho’s brother who ironically Sancho was fighting but since he died with no heir to the throne the brother succeeded him.

In the Battle of Cabra in 1079, El Cid made an unauthorized by Alfonso move against the Emir Ad Allah of Granada,he rallied his battalion towards there without taking permission from the king. This action El Cid took, angered Alfonso and El Cid got exiled from the kingdom. El Cid now was a mercenary roaming the land. He was hired by the Moorish king Yusuf of Zaragoza.

So, if you want to visit Valencia sometime, the car hire companies are Avis, Europcar, Atesa, Hertz and Solmar.
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Valencia’s Festivals and Events

Carnival:

One of the main events in the region of Cheap Car Hire Valencia Airport is the Carnival which is held in the month of February. During this carnival, several festivities will take place in various towns and goes on for the whole month and the streets can be seen packed with people in different colorful costumes, taking part in parades and performances.

Las Fallas:

Las Fallas is Valencia’s one of the best and popular festivals that is celebrated during the month of March. It is also one of the biggest and the best street parties held every year, while the fireworks and firecrackers playing a major part in the fiesta. At this time, all the streets are adorned in decorations and the festival also includes several ceremonies like the Offering of Flowers, the nomination and proclamation of the Fallas Queens, the Planta and the Crema.

The Holy Week:

Easter’s Holy Week or the Semana Santa is celebrated either in the month of March or April involving parades and processions. Besides the Easter Sunday parade, the acts that attract the highest number of spectators on Holy Thursday and on Good Friday are “The Procession of Silence” and “The Holy Burial.”

La Tomatina:

Held in the month of August, LA Tomatina is a food fight festival celebrated every year in the region of Valencia. It is one of the most exciting and original events that goes on for a week and features dancing, fireworks, music and parades. The highlight of this event is the juicy, ripe and mushy tomatoes are paraded down the main streets and the crowds pelt the red tomatoes on each other.

Avis, Atesa, Europcar, Auto Europe and Hertz are the leading car hire companies operating the best car hire services in Valencia.

Exploring the city of Valencia

Located near the Balearic Islands, the city of Valencia is a beautiful city and famous for its tourist attractions.

The City of Arts and Sciences is a top most attraction to visit in the city of Valencia. It is an entertainment based cultural and a unique complex that features the IMAX cinema and digital projections, the Palau de la Arts, the Palau de la Musica, and the largest aquarium in Europe having above 500 marine species.

Constructed in the 14th century, the El Miguelet cathedral is the gothic style bell tower in Valencia. It is the landmark and also the highest religious structure of the city. The cathedral consists of a luxurious interior and many interesting elements of the religious art, offering a great view to the visitors.

Valencia celebrates many events and festivals adding a good time to enjoy the city tour. The city makes a big Christmas time with attractive decorations, fun filled festivities and the spirit that is purely fascinating. One of the most significant festivals is the La Fallas Fiesta, and also the Easter’s Holy Week, Carnaval, Valencia, and Las Carnestoltes, Best Car Hire Valencia are the other noteworthy events.

Valencia is one of the best places in Spain to enjoy the extraordinary nightlife, having famous discotheques that go on till early hours with a crowd filled with locals and foreigners.

Opting for a car hire will be a better choice to tour around the city of Valencia. The best car hire services in Valencia are available from Europcar, Avis, Atesa, Autos Medina, Auto Europe and Hertz car hire.

Traditionally Spanish; Valencia:

Valencia founded by the ancient Romans in 137 BC, is situated on the Mediterranean coast about four hours south of Barcelona. Today it is a sophisticated modern holiday city favored by tourists from the world over.

Attractions:

City of Arts and Science is in the shape of an eye rising out of a man-made lake; with numerous attractions like a planetarium, a laserium IMAX cinema, and Europe’s biggest aquarium.

El Carmen the beautiful old town of Valencia has several interesting attractions, including the remains of the medieval city walls, the gothic towered gates of Torres de Serrano and Torres de Quart. There is also a convent complex dating from the 13th century, and several museums.

Valencia Cathedral is said to be the resting place of the Holy Grail and has a unique history and combination of architectural styles, from being a mosque to a Christian church, from Romanesque to Gothic, Baroque and even Moorish.

The old Silk Exchange, founded in 1469 is a World Heritage Site with a crenellated tower and flamboyant Gothic trading hall, considered the city’s most beautiful building.

Beneath the Church of Saint Vicente is the crypt of the Prison of Saint Vicente the Martyr with an audio visual tour bringing to life the history of the place.

The Plaza de la Virgen is one of the most beautiful squares to soak up the atmosphere surrounded by plenty of open-air cafes.

Other museums of note worth visiting are the Bullfighting museum, the Prehistory museum, the Museum of Ethnology, Museum of History and the Museum of Pottery and Sumptuary arts.

Lined by orange groves, golf courses and vineyards, Valencia has 2.8Kms of white sandy beaches. The beaches have all the facilities for leisure time activities and are a great to visit with kids.

Valencia has a sports fare that could easily tire the most avid sports enthusiast. From Valencia FC a leading European soccer club to F1 motor racing Valencia has it all. Swimming, Golf, Sailing, Mountain walks, cycling, scuba diving, and the list is just endless.

At all the Plazzas the gastronomic fare offered by Valencia is just delightful, Spanish cuisine at its best with the best wines to accompany.

Valencia offers a great nightlife too with many clubs, discos, bars and theaters.

The Manises airport is located 8Kms west of the city of Valencia.

The easily accessible airport has facilities including five shops, five cafes and eateries, two ATM and banking services, three VIP lounges, a meeting room and a conference hall, five information points, lost luggage, facilities for persons with reduced mobility, and six car hire desks.

The car rental agencies offering their services at the airport are Auriga Crown, Avis, Europcar, Hertz, and National Atesa.

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