The 5th World Meeting of Families in Valencia, Spain: A Pilgrim's Perspective

The 5th World Meeting of Families held in Valencia, Spain last week. My son just got married and his wife attended the conclusion of the Assembly, as a family of newly created, one with enormous growth potential! I went with them as a mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and other interested parties. We were only three of the pilgrims in a mass rally of over a million and a half.

If you followed a meeting of any kind, a meeting, or just for a change of pace,The Spaniards always ask: "¿Te has divertido? Which can be translated" he liked or not you have fun? "And as you might expect, I had the question was asked more than once. I had to give some thought to my answer, so they do not. Dull sound Well, to be honest, no, I had fun, was a honest-to-goodness pilgrimage experience.! was tough, but then there was a positive, but the development of this website to make it ...

We left for MadridValencia on a bus at eight clock Saturday morning - needless to say, our day was much earlier than just begun. The forecast for the weekend had requested an increase of temperatures, and as the year is normal in most of Spain, this time, even across the sky clear. This meant a lot of sunshine and temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Time has not demonstrated the forecasters wrong, like the sun in all its force and the torrid heat in all of usthe road.

Fundación Nuevo Entorno had made every preparation for our pilgrimage. Two buses have been directed at Valencia, with just under 100 people, mature adults, young adults, adolescents and children. On the way to Valencia, we went to lunch in the town of Turis stop about 35 miles from our destination. The families of the parish town had offered to open their home to us. We were fed lunch and made beds available for the night for those who did not wantValencia stay on the ground in the area where the pilgrims at the end of the session, closed the call Saturday night and Sunday morning Mass, the two events are collected in his chair Holiness Pope Benedict XVI would do.

In the hospitable city in the province of Valencia Turis, we experience the reality of the family, the church is. The families that welcomed us were actually members of our extended spiritual family, and lived up to expectations. Fedus well and made us feel at home and among friends. We ate and talked for nearly two hours, as if we knew all along. It 'been a great experience in our first pilgrimage, and the others would follow.

After lunch, many of us leave the members of the recent discovery of our spiritual family, and was back on the bus. Soon we arrived at Valencia, who seemed elated as they prepared to welcome the pope. Flags of all types hung from balconies and windows. WomenChildren and men were in their bright costumes. Yellow and white, the colors of the pilgrims' shining across the busy streets. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of people were employed, actively moving, as if on a mission. And here we are! Drop-off in the middle of the action, amazed, trying to find our way.

We walked almost an hour, or so it seemed. The backpacks seemed heavier than when we started, the sun hotter, and the crowd thickened. There were sprinklersthe upgrade of the city for pilgrims, but we came in spite of everything, not as drawn with the masses to fight for the wells. Finally we found our assigned area, but what a disappointment! I had decided to sleep outside, if I, as if ready to camp on the banks of the river, wrapped in my sleeping bag I rest peacefully on the fresh grass.

The painful reality was so different. We rely on commodities and a dusty track where just a little 'shadow, our sleeping bagsarranged on a bed of stones. We had few other options. It 'been a breath of wind away from the sea so that the sandy soil and rock was more attractive than the hot pavement of the adjacent street blocked. That was our only other option. After the sun went down and the floor of the cold, we moved forward on the sidewalk and away from dust. Tight camaraderie among adults 8 or so mature, that has been developed by our group as we adapt to our situation has been resolved,the best of them, laughing at their absurdity.

There were big screens and speakers, where we could see and hear the activities planned for the eve rally Saturday. Too many people had already claimed the ground around the screens, and the only way, our group was to stand. After staying for a short period, the group finally decided to listen only to the testimonies and music, as we seriously expected the Pope's message heard.

We heard encouragingProducts in many languages of husbands and wives, mothers and fathers of many nations. The statement of these witnesses has confirmed to us the truth that the Church has not ceased to proclaim that, in accordance with the plans of God, marriage and family are irreplaceable and permit no other alternatives. The family is an indispensable foundation for society. As a grandmother said that the future Holy Father's words to my heart: "The family includes not only parents and children, but alsoGrandparents and ancestors. The family is a community of generations and the guarantee of a patrimony of traditions. "

The family rally ended Sunday morning with a closing Eucharist. After the show we saw with enthusiasm, the Holy Father left the rally site and move from our place in the popemobile. The crowd cheered and applauded. They sang the words of support and affection as they have given up their flags and hands with enthusiasm. He answered with a joyous smile as he refrained fromin his vehicle. He could feel the affection of the people affected found applause, which, in turn, his love for the people. As I watched the exchange between the Pope and the people, I could feel satisfied with the authenticity of their interactions.

The 5th World Meeting of Families in Valencia, Spain, and thus ended our pilgrimage. But the pilgrimage of our life continues with all its joys, mistakes and disappointments. We have learned to recognizethe value of imperfect fitting situations and learn from them to do what is good, positive and beneficial. For our extended spiritual family, as we have seen, we are always in our hearts, treasure of the Church community, the family of God

Valencia Tourist Information - 5 Things to See in Valencia

Just south of the vibrant cities of Madrid and Barcelona is one of the favorite destinations of the Mediterranean city of Valencia. Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, and serves as the capital of the Autonomous Community of Valencia, a region, the peninsula is located on the south-east of the Iberian margin. Many tourists flock every year in Valencia for a unique and rewarding sensory experience of the city, offers its visitors.

DistributedThey are landmarks in the city old and new, highlight the rich history of Valencia. Two examples of old and new landmarks are the Cathedral of Valencia, Valencia City of Arts and Sciences. Here are the Top 5 Cities Attractions:

1. First project for the Cathedral of Valencia has begun in the late 13th century 15th Century. Construction continued for centuries after, in other art forms such as the Romanesque, Renaissance, French Gothic, Baroque, conducted andNeoclassical influence further predominantly Mediterranean-style Gothic cathedral. The cathedral is considered to be the legendary Holy Grail, the chalice supposedly used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper House. The Cathedral of Valencia is also home to some of the best painting of the fifteenth century in the Iberian Peninsula, through the efforts of Valencia Pope Alexander VI.

2. The futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, on the other hand, is considered one of the jewels in the famous modern ValenciaIn architecture. The City of Arts and Sciences includes an IMAX theater, Planetarium, Botanical Garden-slash-art gallery and more. Most of the buildings were famous architect Santiago Calatrava, who also directed native Valencia. Architectural complex, the Prince Felipe Science Museum, an interactive museum of science in the skeleton of a whale are shaped, Queen Sofia Palace of Arts, opera and performing arts center, andMaritime Museum, the largest open-air oceanographic park in Europe, in the form of a lily pad designed and conducted by another famous architect Felix Candela.

3. Valencia has recently hosted some of the most prestigious international sporting events like the America's Cup and won the European Grand Prix. The America's Cup port, the modern complex built to host the America's Cup, is an example of infrastructure built during the modernizationValencia. In addition to serving as a base for the America's Cup team, the system also has the America's Cup Park, a theme park with shops, entertainment, exhibitions and restaurants full to visitors.

4. Of course a trip to Valencia is incomplete if you do not get better known for his contributions in the culinary taste: paella. Not many people know that paella is a regional dish of the Valencia region, particularly around the Albufera lake. L 'Valencian Paella is made of rice, rabbit meat, chicken or duck, snails, vegetables and spices. The Valencian paella continue to use modern ingredients used by their original ancestors. There are a lot of restaurants are in the region of Valencia, paella, but the best place to get the paella is the village of El Palmar. This sleepy little town located between El Saler and El Perello, just outside Valencia, and is near Lake Albufera.It makes sense that the area is growing rice paella valenciana used the place where you can get the best paella in town.

5. Finally, another thing is, do not miss the attraction of the Fallas festival in Valencia. Although troops tourists to Valencia in the 15th start in March, officially Fallas in the last Sunday of February. The main celebrations are held during the 15th and will last until 19. Fallas is a real experience must be in the area for the entire stayperiod of five days. In those five days are tourists with a daily barrage of fireworks, parades, street fairs, paella, music and more treats! Fallas monuments and colorful puppets ninots called on the streets of Valencia, all filling completely. The last night of Fallas in these large fires throughout the city were burned.

Tourist accommodation in and around Valencia '4 and 5 star "brand" as the Holiday Inn and Hilton hotels to family-friendly and Bed andBreakfast equipment or "hostels", as known in Spain.

What ever type you choose, prices can vary greatly between different providers, so it is advisable to use a comparison site like RoomRateCompare.com hotel. This ingenious, easy to use site scans at speeds up to 32 different Web sites for 115 hotels in Valencia, at the same time to ensure that the lowest rates for your stay.