We had a wonderful time. Valencia was by far my favorite city. Very friendly people, great restaurants, and a nice blend of old and modern Spain (home of architect Santiago Calatrava). Don’t miss the beach; I regret that we only got there on our last night in the city.

Following up Valencia with Madrid was a major culture shock. It’s a grinding urban setting, and while it’s worth visiting, we encountered many disappointments here (La Guernica was closed at the Reina Sofia, unable to take the On-Site architecture tour, food poisoning). Of course, your mileage may vary.