Best places to get your party pants on in Valencia, Spain

Nightlife in VLC is absolutely Phe-nom-en-al! There is something for everyone, whether you prefer hipster Indie bars, Internationally renowned DJ's, chill out bars, or dance till the AM.

By the Beach

By the beach (Malvarrosa) along Eugenia Vines, the prices can be a little steep, but these bars have a ton of glitz and are much more affordable than these types of bars in other major cities.

My pick: Ghanahara: prices are around 7 Euros a cocktail, 5 Euros for beer, but this Indian-themed "Elegant" lounge has a great atmosphere and chic decor. Be wary that the clubs around here don't open till midnight or later.

By Torres de Quart

This has to be hands down my favorite place to get my party pants on. Along Calle de Quart, there are numerous dance clubs that stay open till the sun comes up.

My picks:

blau Calle Alta 11, Barrio El Carmen. This chill out lounge has great music and a hip vibe. During the night, Mauro and his crew dish out the best Mojitos this side of Cuba.

Music Box: Calle Pintor Zarinena between Guillem de Castro and Calle Maria Cristinal. Open from Midnight to 7AM, the Music Box dishes up everything from House to Beastie Boys to Janet. Come by early for cheaper drinks and a discounted entrance.

Cafe Lisboa, Directly behind La Lonja. Cafe Lisboa (3PM to 2AM) serves up 3.50 pints, 1.50 glasses of wine, and 7 Euro pitches of Aigua de Valencia, the region's famed concoction of OJ, champagne, vodka, and other liquors.

Elegant

L'Umbracle, in the City of Arts and Sciences has a 15 Euro admission (which includes one drink) but the surrounding architecture, beats, and go-go dancers are worth every penny. When else are you going to be in a club surrounded by some of the best modern architecture in the world?

Now where are my chupitos?

10 reasons why Valencia (VLC) should not be missed

Valencia, Spain doesn't get as much love as Spain's other cities, but this southern Spain gem is more than worth the visit. Here are 10 reasons why your next trip to Spain won't be complete without visiting the VLC:

1) The Beach and Parks:

Playa Malvarrosa is filled each day with some of the hottest people I have ever seen. The gorgeous "Costa Blanca" that the valencian region is known for certainly resonates in VLC. On top of that, the weather and crystal water are perfect temperature (a little hotter in July and August than in May and June). And there are tons of parks and beautiful gardens in VLC. Jardin de Turia runs up and down the entire city so no matter where you are, you are close to this oasis in the city.

2) Nightlife!

When they don't even start until 2 am, prepare yourself. There are a plethora of small bars all around VLC that have 50 cent CruzCampos. For real partying Eurotrip style, the area around Torres de Quart are amazing. Check out my guide to nightlife in VLC.

3) History

From La Lonja, to the Cathedral, to the various Roman towers around the city, Valencia has an abundance of historic buildings and collections that demonstrate the rich traditions of the region.

4) Modernity

VLC's got history, but their modernity makes them. The IVAM's collection rivals any modern art I've ever seen. Also, the architecture at the Ciudad de Artes y Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences) is straight out of a Sci-Fi movie. Absolutely Astounding.

5) Music

VLC has a poppin music scene. From rock, to metal, electronica, and jazz, there are original artists that have some REAL talent. It's no wonder why MTV Europe choses VLC for its "MTV" Winter at the City of Arts and Sciences that attracts crowds of more than 30,000 people.

6) Getting Around

The transport in VLC is probably the most punctual I have experienced. For 7.85 Euro you can buy a 10-trip metro/bus combined pass. The metro, busses, and tram are incredibly convenient and in the summer, there are extra bus lines throughout the city that go directly to the beach (score!). The train station is in the center of the city and the metro takes you right to the airport terminal for 1.9 Euros. Try that in London!

7) Shopping

Around Carrer Colón between metro Colón and Xátvia there are about 5 Corte Ingles', 3 Bershkas, 3 Zaras, an H&M, 2 Blancos, and an array of other fabulous stores. Around Barrio Carmen, North and West of Plaza de la Reina there are many independent shops that hold the true style of Spain. There is also a Mall right across from the City of Arts and Sciences called "El Saler".

8) Fiesta and Siesta

La tomatina, one of the most famous festivals in the world, happens in neighboring Bunol. The Fallas in March is not something to be missed. larger than life caricatures fill the streets, financed by the various neighborhoods. This 5 day festival is non stop partying. La Noche de San Juan, the 23 of June, is crazy. Everyone heads to the beach around 10pm, and at midnight, you run out to the water, jump over 3 waves while making 3 wishes, then run back on land and jump over 3 fires while repeating the wishes. Other festivals are La Semana Santa and the Festival of Corpus Cristi. It seems every weekend in the VLC has some sort of festival going on!

9) Gastronomy

From Paella, to Cocina Creativa, to the million fruits of the region, this Mediterranean diet is full of flavor. To wash it all down, try the "Aigua de Valencia", A concotion of OJ, Champagne (Cava), sugar, and other liquors. De-lish!

10) The Youth

VLC has its traditions, but with the number of universities here, its heart is the youth of all ages.

All in all, the city's cool and hip vibe makes it a must experience in Europe.

Riding the Rail? Don't forget about Spain!!!

Europe just keeps making it easier and easier to ride the rail. For the first time this past month, I rode on Spain's rail system, the Renfe, and I have to give Spain some major props! Those people on Spain's rail system definitely know what they are doing. Here are 5 reasons why the Eurail (particularly Spain's Renfe system) beats flying, any day.

1) Very. Comfortable. Seats.
Forget "Eurotrip" seats of awkward Mi-scuzi's, these seats, more roomy than a plane, are incredibly comfortable and built large enough to avoid any awkward pants-less encounters.

2) Popcorn Anyone?
Every Renfe train I have been on has had a recent movie shown, such as Quantum of Solace, Made of Honor, Marley and Me, and What Happens in Vegas. Of course, since it is Spain, the language is dubbed over in Spanish, but if you are wanting to brush up on your Spanish skills, it can be more entertaining than discovering how many spitwads you can land on the opposite side of the train.

3) Food... YES!
All Renfe trains come equipped with a cafe with reasonable prices, in case you get the mid trip munchies.

4) Time is on your side.
With train travel, you don't have to spend 2 hours after check in waiting or 1 hour passing through the security trying to decipher the 3-1-1 rule. Yes, they scan all baggage, but they do not have the tedious rules that the aviation industry sets about. I reccommend to plan on being at the train station 30 minutes before your train departs if you have a reservation (usually the trains only arrive about 15 minutes before departure anyways). Instead of spending time at the airport waiting, you could be traveling and be there, in the same amount of time.

5) You arrive in the <3 of the city:
How many times have you arrived at an airport only to find out that you have to pay 20 Euros and an hour worth of your time just to get from the airport to your destination city? With the train system, you arrive at a train station in the middle of the city and go on your way. In Europe, many times it just makes sense to travel by rail.

No overweight baggage fees, no credit card fees, no carbon offsetting fees, no check in fees, no lost luggage, no lost time. With a Eurail pass, train travel is super cheap! (Barcelona to Madrid: 10.40 Euros, Valencia to Barcelona 6.75 Euros)

And the best part? You see the country like you have never seen it before.

So grab your Eurail pass before you cross the pond, get out there, and get traveling!

Adios!
Amanda

Did somebody say Zeimpekiko?

Greek dancing is something that every person needs to experience once, if not 20 times in their lifetime (and I am not talking about some show at Epcot.) Now granted, I have seen my share of some pretty amazing dancing (Jabbawockeez anyone?), but never have I felt so apart of the culture without speaking the language!

Zeimpekiko, or the drunkards dance, is probably the most entertaining you will ever get to watch! The rhythm is 9/4 as to allow an extra beat for the "drunkard" to have an extra beat to stumble around. One person is in the middle dancing on their toes, tapping their hands on the ground, doing kicks over people's heads, and even sliding on the floor for the duration of the song. The rest of the crowd gathers around the person (including you the beginner if you feel so inclined!), kneeling and clapping their hands to the beat. As my friend John says, "It's a chance for a Greek to prove he's a man" (though I saw a few women dancing solo too). Now granted, the music played is that of that of traditional Greek guitar and singers singing about their long lost love, so don't expect any MGMT or "Single Ladies". Finally, its not a true greek dancing place if there aren't any napkins, broken plates, or broken glasses littering the floor.

The other dance that you will see quite often is the Syrto. This is the line dance that goes around in a circle and moves to the right. The pace is quicker and its a slow-quick-quick-slow in a left-right-left sort of fashion. After watching for a while, feel free to join in at the end of the line (the right end is the leader, so join at the back) or if someone invites you in, join there and learn from them. Just don't break the line if not invited to join in at that place if you are not experienced. The good thing is that everyone is always willing to lend a hand to a newbie, and again, don't forget that napkins probably will be thrown (aparently the less wasteful form of plate and glass breaking).

Luckily, dance is an international language so you have no excuse not to join in!

Opa!