Trendy travel-insiders will assure you when doing Europe, that it’s much more fashionable to do a weekend in Tuscany, Italy and boast about the local village vineyards...  However the large Spanish cities can be a pleasant surprise!

We have all done the weekend get-aways to Madrid and Barcelona.

However many people fail to realize that Valencia (Spain's third largest city on the beach) is currently the smartest (and cheapest) destination for a few days of art, culture, food and drink, sun and sea... and of course sex.

As a result of Valencia's progressive (and lesbian!) mayor's zeal there has been large scale investment in the city's infrastructure.

A metro has been built serving the visitors attracted by major events like the Americas Cup race and the annual Grand Prix. You can literally step of the plane, grab the metro, and within a half hour you are enjoying a drink in the old city center. Strangely you might find yourself being secretly filmed in the metro!

Spanish gay-nerds love to secretly film well filled jeans, so beware!

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=rqRoZUZNfg8&feature=related & http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=pNzrOMSLFVQ&feature=related.

Authentic Tapas or Fashionable Fusion Food

Why Valencia? Well, first of all it’s less full of tourists than Barcelona. The city is compact and everything is within walking distance. The recent renovations combined with the traditional atmosphere ensure a relaxing easy going feel.

Roman ruins, Victorian style buildings and great terraces on every corner bathed in sun. Whatever you fancy is all catered for. The look and feel of the older Barrio del Carmen district can be compared to the Jordaan in Amsterdam ten years ago. The original poorer residents have been displaced by young artists, media players and the to be expected yuppies creating the fashionable epicenter of Valencia.

What is really great is that this is just in the beginning period: sisters can open a fun restaurant in their living room, three art students a gallery in their dads garage whilst the last endangered hippies sell homemade earrings on the street.

Luckily there are no signs of a Starbucks yet but there already two in the city, so it is only a matter of time. Especially as Carmen's hip reputation has even made it on the the pages of the New York Times:

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/travel/17surfacing.html

Local architect and Valencian Santiago Calatrava designed three massive reptilian projects for the municipality, a museum, oceanarium and art gallery. It’s impossible not to be impressed by the ‘in your face’ grandeur and alien beauty of these buildings. Located in the Turia district, a dried out river bed, over a kilometer long, circling the ancient heart of the city, serving as a park/recreation grounds.

http://www.arcspace.com/architects/calatrava/camino_moreras/

Sweaty & Sexy Joggers

For some unknown reason Valencia is experiencing a jogging craze. Spend a relaxing 30 minutes at the Turia and wonder at the 318 per hour, attractive, and gorgeous men running past you. Really this daily parade of sweaty beauty alone makes your visit to Valencia more than worthwhile. Valencia (meaning strength in Latin) has something for everyone. Your Mother will love the Silk fair ‘La Lonja’, then eat paella on the Mavarosa beach boulevard, followed by a visit to the recently re-opened National museum of Pottery. Take your best girlfriend to the IVAM modern art Museum, stroll along the terraces on the Plaza Negrita, then taste the local agua de Valencia champagne cocktail at the Marrasquino on Calle Caballeros.

If you take the boyfriend, try the Deseo 54,  http://www.deseo54.com/,  the largest gay club, and to eat the do not misses are the romantic and Latin Burdeos in Love, Tacita de Plata and BoingBoing. Looking for that unique kitsch designer clock, for your equally designer kitsch kitchen? Visit the Sunday morning boot sale on the Rastro.

Great Modern architecture is to be found in the new docks area, especially David Chipperfileds award winning Americas Cup building.

If you decide to travel alone, visit the naturist beach. Take the bus to Pinedo. Behind the beach hidden in the sand dunes is a huge abandoned factory reborn as a very popular cruising area. Finish the day with a visit to Valencia's version of the Amsterdam Cockring club; Nuncadigono. http://www.nuncadigono.es/.

If you are attracted to good looking dark skinned Latin men Valencia is definitely the place to be, its men score very well, at least mister Supermodelo España Valencia did in the last elections on Spanish television.

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=5mu2AohEVfc .

Gay Marriage

Catholic Spain is not as conservative as people think. Gay marriage was quickly adopted and accepted. Two men having a cuddle wont cause a riot either.

Maybe this bohemian culture combined with 40 days of sun a year, ‘old’ Spanish clubs and pubs pricing are the reason why so many creative guys from Madrid and Barcelona have re-located to this international hot-spot.

Of course Valencia has more to offer than just hot guys and good food; classical and modern architecture, and underground art are everywhere.

Shopping in Valencia is one big party. One of a kind T-shirts in Carmen's fashionable boutiques, Zara’s whole collection for about half the price and not to forget the ‘Italian’ (of the Spanish company) Massimo Dutti Chocolate at Sampaka, or even designer French DIM underwear at one of the four large El corte Ingles department stores. http://www.dim.fr/#/Collection/1313/1314/1315/1374/.

Clean Accommodation

Accommodation options in Valencia are many and varied. The style gurus of Wallpaper magazine recommend the trendy Hospes Palau de la Mar. Very classy and expensive, but a good 45 minute walk to the city center.

A budget solution is just not to book ahead and try the, hopefully not to dilapidated, Youth Hostels, like Hostal Waksman.

If you feel like being a guest at a fabulous gay owned and operated B & B, You can´t go wrong at Valencia Mansion Bed & Breakfast. Smack in the middle of town beautifully renovated Town House, with two guest rooms, owned and operated by two fun guys originally from Amsterdam.

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