Stephanie and Eline from Valencia Inside, who have already raised more than €25,000 for the DANA victims with their GoFundMe campaign, have increased their goal because aid in the affected areas is still needed. We would therefore like to thank the readers who contributed to their campaign in response to our last blog. And although we all hope that people will continue to donate, we would also like to take away some of the uncertainty from travelers who are (about to) cancel(ing) their holiday to Valencia. There is no need for that. The city itself has not been affected and tourists are more than welcome. Now more than ever.
Because just like in the city of Valencia, we, in Vall de Gallinera, also see that people have had strong doubts about coming over for the past week(s). Are the roads drivable again? Are the supermarkets sufficiently stocked? And what if it rains all weekend and you can’t go for a walk? All these fears ultimately turned out to be unfounded. With a few empty shelves just after the disaster (items that were donated a lot) and a rain shower here and there, it was actually a wonderful weekend. Sunny, but not to hot. Great hiking weather. And, in the evening, a crackling fire in our living room that invited everyone to read a good book and/or drink a nice glass of wine.
The guests, who decided to come after all, ultimately had a wonderful time. Just like us. “What nice guests we have!”, my sister exclaimed – several times – very happily. I can’t help but agree with that. But because I have been running the Bed & Breakfast alone for a large part of the year, this is not news to me. Luisa, the owner of Restaurant L’Aplec, also agrees. “Your friends ate here yesterday!” My sister and I start laughing. “Those were our guests – but they could indeed have been friends!”, we tell her as we drive past after doing some shopping. Although she too has gone from a fully booked restaurant to only one reservation, she remains cheerful. Everything will be fine again. Because while one person books an extra night with us, the other takes the trouble to send us an email the next day with nothing but positive feedback.
So when my sister and I sit down on the terrace of Bar Placeta without a coat, in the sun and with a glass of wine, we can say nothing other than that it was a successful weekend. Not fully booked, but nice. These are guests that we will definitely see again in the future, if they get the chance. For one couple Valencia was still on their bucket list. And why not? It’s a beautiful city. One that, right now, can really use all the tourists that are willing to come. So, when do you plan to visit?