Outside Magazine recently
published “The 16
Best Places to Live in America: 2015” which gives praise to hipster
communities across the country where biking, skiing, kayaking, and other
outdoor sports consume the free-time and extra income of locals. I would wager
that all of these towns vote heavily Democrat and the overall mindset is
liberal rather than conservative. Valencia, not being part of America, doesn’t
qualify for the list but I thought I would scribble a little blurb in my city’s
favor.
Valencia
is a mix of big city sophistication (pop. 800,000), 2,000 years of history, and
a cozy beach town where you can escape to the country on a bike in a couple of
kilometers. My flat has neither central heat nor air yet I’m comfortable with the
windows wide open from March until late November. Great public transportation
in the form of underground metro, buses, and a bike-share program as well as
rail connections to the rest of Spain that are second to none. Very affordable
and the best part is that Valencia is in Spain!
