KandA Books in Valencia. The New Book Exchange

(I have posted this on Houses For Sale In Spain too as innovative businesses like this need supporting. Enjoy the article and get yourself along to the shop if you are in Valencia)

Previously if you wanted an English language book in Valencia you hauled yourself into the Casa del Libro or Fnac and you assumed the position as you got ready to hand over your wallet before it came back considerably lighter. (Did anyone mention that books are expensive in Spain because they still have the equivalent of the net book agreement in the UK in years past?) The other option was to go to Amazon and wait, and wait... and wait while the Spanish postal system decided what to do with a package that came from Germany but looked like it should be delivered to Brazil (Just wait and you will get it!)

Now you have another option at least in Valencia. KandA Books, click for their website, has opened recently right near the Plaza de la Reina and not only do they have a huge selection, although it is slightly spoilt by the inclusion of two!!! Diana biographies, but also the prices are great. They are a book shop and exchange at the same time. What that means is that you take your old books in and get a discount off getting new ones. So if your old book is valued at 6 Euros then you get 40% off any of the books in the shop. This of course means that all of those excellent books that you have at home collecting dust can be used to purchase excellent new ones that were on other people's shelves gathering dust previously.

So onto sections, biography, classics, chiclit, fiction, non fiction, Spanish language, French, best sellers you know the score. A bit of something for everyone and even some kid's books.

Andy, who runs the shop with his other half Kelly, has finally touched down in Valencia a few months ago after travelling round the world for a few years. They also sell prints of their photos from that journey and there are a couple of really good ones adorning the shop. Ask about the book they have produced with the best ones.

Get yourself down there on Calle Tapineria just off the Plaza de la Reina (Go down the little road by McDonalds and take the first left when you see the excavations of the Roman ruins) Have a yap, spending some time in the shop is a relaxing sort of Oasis experience in the hustle and bustle of Valencia city centre, and get yourself some books for serious or beach reading. Just one thing, please buy the Diana biographies because it is still cold and something that big might burn really well on the log fire.

Valencia Photo Report

I thought I would give you a little gift today. I have done a little photo report of Valencia with a small introduction to what Valencia really means to people.

Download it here.

It is a PDF file so you should be able to see it easily enough.

Hopefully it will whet your appetite. Meanwhile for those of you who need a little more convincing to download stuff here is the introduction to this little piece.

What is Valencia?

"Valencia is many things to many people; the traditional dress of the Fallas, the stunning modern architecture, the old mixing it with the new, paella, horchata, fireworks and a whole lot more. The hidden jewel of the Mediterranean is just that, well hidden away from the throngs of Stag Party goers cruising up and down the Ramblas in Barcelona, the Hemingway hunters in Madrid, (How many places did Hemingway actually sleep or get royally drunk in really?) and the drunken hordes of the Costas."

Guest Blog From Chris Lee

A different post today which relates to Valencia. Chris Lee runs a website called Cycle Tour Spain and the site will give you all of the information you may need about planning a route and carrying out a cycle your in Spain. Enjoy Chris' blog and click through to his links.

I’m writing this from a roof terrace in the Valencia Community, marvelling at the dark blue sea in the distance that lies above the green muddle of the orange groves through which we wander to reach the beach. These are definitely the main plus points of living on the Costa Azahar, south of Valencia city.

I’ve blogged before on the best and worst aspects of living in Spain, but what I love most about the Valencia Community is the shear randomness of it all. If there’s one thing they like here it’s making a noise, be it the annual Fallas (mid-March) festival, regular mascletàs (short daytime firework set-offs) to celebrate saint’s days or 8am wake-up calls by blunderbuss on a Sunday morning. You never know what will happen in Valencia.

One thing that is guaranteed is the quality and value of local produce – oranges, cherries, strawberries, tiger nuts (xufas) and almond-based breads and sweets – all of which tantalise the tongue and make a trip to the local market a very pleasant and cost-effective experience.

I run a website dedicated to getting on your bike and seeing off-the-beaten-track Spain on two wheels called CycleTourSpain.com, and – once you venture inland got away from the costas here, which can be busy, ugly and run-down in places – you get a real sense of freedom. Small towns of Arabic origin, shear mountains and dramatic off-road hiking and cycling routes, such as the Racó del Duc offer incredible variety in scenery, plus a sporting challenge (coupled with quiet roads) that one simply cannot enjoy in the more congested, flatter confines of most of the UK.

Whatever you’re into, the chances are you’ll find it in Valencia.