The annual Ninot Exhibition opens this Saturday, 4 February and runs until 15 March.

For those of you who don’t know a lot about Fallas yet, ninots are figurines (often life-sized) which make up part of a falla. Every year, each of the clubs which build a falla puts one ninot into the exhibition where the public vote for their favourites.

Route 66 Idiomas language school students shouldn’t miss this opportunity to get a close-up look at over 750 ninots and vote for their favourite models. The winners of the public vote in the “mayor” and “infantil” sections will be declared “indultat” and saved from being burnt on 19 March (they are then kept in the Fallas Museum).

Tickets for the last 2 weeks of the exhibition and weekends usually sell out fast. So if you want to visit to exhibition, get down to Nuevo Centro shopping centre (metro stop: Turía) as soon as you can to avoid queues and disappointment.

For those of you who are new to Fallas, the pictures above should give you an idea of the calibre of previous winners of the prestigious honour that is being chosen as Ninot Indultat. For more information, check out fallas.com.

This weekend, Route 66 Idiomas language school students may like to take advantage of VLC Cuina Oberta (Valencia Restaurant Week), which runs from 21-27 November.

In a celebration of local cuisine, 82 restaurants in and around the city offer you the chance to enjoy a gourmet lunch for 20 euros, or dinner for 30 euros.

For a list of particating restaurants, menus and maps, visit the event website. Here you can also check availability and book online (reservations are essential). But hurry! Tables book up quickly!

Congreso Mundial del Arroz y Homenaje a la Paella: 29 septiembre – 2 octubre 2011

Semana Gastronómica del Arroz: 26 septiembre – 2 octubre 2011

It doesn’t get much more Valencian than this!

From 29 September until 2 October, the City of Arts and Sciences hosts the 1st World Rice Congress.

Open to the public and free to attend, the event’s 70 stands will showcase typical wines and other products from Spain’s different regions. Next to the Science Museum, the “Gran Fiesta de la Morcilla de Arroz” and the “Túnel del Arroz” will give visitors the chance to try slices of morcilla de arroz (a type of black pudding filled with rice – tastes far nicer than it might sound) for just €2 and a wide range of rice dishes for €4.

As if that weren’t enough, “Rice Gastronomy Week” will run from 26 September to 2 October; 21 restaurants in Valencia city and 13 in the province will be offering guests delicious rice dishes with up to 25% off their normal prices. A full list of participating restaurants, the rice dishes they are offering and prices can be found here (pages 19-21 – information in Spanish).

Route 66 Idiomas language school students wishing to join in this homage to paella can find out more at the Congress’ official website.

Intercambio inglés-español en el centro de Valencia. Cada dos semanas. Gratuita.

Spanish-English language exchange in Valencia city centre. Every two weeks. Free to attend.

El intercambio de Route 66 Idiomas vuelve el jueves 6 de octubre, a partir de las 21.30 en el pub Finnegans, Plaza de la Reina 19. ¡Reserva la fecha!

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The Route 66 Idiomas intercambio will return for the first meeting of the autumn on Thursday 6 October, from 9.30pm in Finnegans Pub in Plaza de la Reina. Save the date!

On the three weekends from 23 September to 9 October, thirteen historic houses in the Valencian districts of Canyamelar, Cabanyal and Cap de Francia (by the city beach) open their doors to the public.

Route 66 Idiomas Language School students shouldn’t miss this opportunity to see inside a bit of the city’s history. Keep reading for opening dates and times, maps…

Jornadas de puertas abiertas 2011

La Plataforma Salvem el Cabanyal y la editorial Media Vaca nos invitan a visitar la XIII edición de Puertas Abiertas, que este año abre al público 13 casas típicas en los barrios del Canyamelar, Cabanyal y Cap de Francia.

Los visitantes tendrán la ocasión de conocer la exposición Bienvenidos al Cabanyal, que consiste en una colección de 99 historias, recuerdos y noticias ilustradas por 40 artistas gráficos a partir de testimonios de vecinos y vecinas que viven o han vivido en Cabanyal, así como fragmentos de obras literarias y escritos varios.

Programa:
Del 23 de septiembre al 9 de octubre de 2011
Puedes ver el programa completa y un mapa de las casas aquí.

Horario:
Sábados y domingos de 11.00-14.00 y de 17.00-21.00.

Inauguración:
Viernes 23 de septiembre a las 20 horas en L’Escorxador, calle San Pedro, 27

Wednesday 31 August: kick-off at 11.00

Come with us to Buñol for the Tomatina, the world’s largest tomato fight!

Every last Wednesday in August, thousands of people from all over Spain (and increasingly from all over the world) descend on the town of Buñol to enjoy this huge tomato fight.

The battle commences at 11 a.m. and lasts for an hour. During this time tonnes of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the town’s streets, where shops and homes are protected by huge sheets of plastic.

The history of the Tomatina goes back to 1945, when a random fight between local festival-goers happened to involve tomatoes. Over the years this confrontation became organized and is now the main event of Buñol’s annual summer festivities.

You can travel from Valencia to the Tomatina by train. Make sure you wear disposable clothing as you’ll probably never be able to wear it again after the event. Swimming goggles and earplugs are a good idea too.

Route 66 Idiomas language school is preparing for our annual Tomatina trip. If you’d like to come with us, sign up in the office!

To find out more about the event and how it all started, click here.

Route 66 Idiomas language school students staying in Valencia in July have lots of choice when it comes to filling their free time.

For more information about any of these activities, just ask your teacher or the Route 66 office staff.

Every Monday at 21.00: Paella Party!
Meet other foreign students, practise your Spanish and enjoy this delicious local specialty.

Saturday 4 July: Calpe and Jávea
Come with us on a day trip to the beaches of Alicante.

Thursday 14 and 28 July from 21.30: English – Spanish intercambio
You can practise your Spanish at the Route 66 language exchange at Finnegan’s Irish Pub in La Plaza de la Reina.

Friday 15 and 29 July: Beach volleyball tournament

Saturday 16 July: trip to Picassent for their bull running festival

Wednesday 6 – Saturday 23 July: Feria de Julio outdoor concerts
Various artists will perform in Valencia’s Jardines de Viveros, including Seal on 18 July. Find out more and get tickets here.

Saturday 23 July: trip to Peñíscola

Saturday 30 July: Aquópolis water park
A good solution to the high temperatures. Come with us to the water park!

ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE TOMATINA!!
Wednesday 31 August: kick off at 11.00

Come with us to Buñol to join the world’s largest tomato fight. To find out more about the event and how it all started, click here. We’ll post more information about how to sign up to come along nearer the time – look out for information here and around the school!

Come with us to the beaches of Alicante!

On Saturday 2 July, Route 66 Idiomas Language School students can join a group day trip to Calpe and Jávea. A great opportunity to meet other students from all over the world and practise your Spanish.

The trip costs 20€, including return private bus transport and entry to the Peñón de Ifach (Calpe) and Cabo de la Noa (Jávea). Places are limited; sign up in the office before Thursday 30 June so as not to miss out.

Details:

MEETING PLACE AND TIME:
Palau de la Música, 9:45 am

PROGRAMME:
09:45: Depart from Valencia
11:45: Arrive in Calpe. Free time to enjoy the beach. The more adventurous can visit the Peñon de Ifach Nature Reserve. Please wear appropriate footwear for the trek to the summit.
16:00: Travel to Jávea.
Stop to take photos of the Cabo de la Nao and relax while taking in the amazing views of the Med.
17:30: Return to Valencia.
19:00: Arrive in Valencia (approx.).

Don’t forget to bring food and drink!

The Valencia International Kite Festival (Festival Internacional de Cometas “Ciudad de Valencia”) returns to the Malvarrosa beach next weekend, 30 April – 1 May.

Route 66 Idiomas Language School students who go down to the city beach between 10.30 and 18.30 will be able to enjoy the various categories including the giant kites, which in the past have been in the form of everything from birds to crocodiles.

A colourful, fun display and a good excuse for a day at the beach (should you need one!).

For more information, visit the event website.

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The next intercambio will take place tomorrow, Thursday 31 March, from 9.30pm in Finnegans Pub in Plaza de la Reina. See you there!