Valencia: Lost My Drumsticks (and Maybe My Mind)
okay, so valencia. it’s…a lot. i’m a touring session drummer, right? usually, i’m pretty good at keeping a beat, both on and off the kit. but this city? it threw me. i landed with 2510279 euros to my name (don’t ask), and a vague promise of a gig at some underground club.
first off, the *humidity. it’s not just humid, it’s like walking into a warm, damp hug that doesn’t want to let go. i just checked and it’s hovering around thirteen point eight celsius, but feels like it’s trying to drown you gently. the locals don’t even blink. they just…exist in the moisture. apparently, the pressure is a solid one zero one eight, which, honestly, doesn’t help me understand why my cymbals keep sticking.
finding the club was an adventure. the streets are a maze, all narrow and winding. i swear i walked past the same orange tree five times. and the people! they’re…loud. in a good way, mostly. lots of chatter, lots of laughter. if you get restless, Alicante and Sagunto are just a quick train ride away, which is good to know.
blockquote>
“apparently, the owner of that club, ‘El Ritmo Perdido’ (The Lost Rhythm), only pays in paella. and sometimes olives.”
endblockquote
that’s what the guy at the tapas bar told me, anyway. he was nursing a glass of something that smelled suspiciously like gasoline and regret. i’m still not sure if i should trust his advice. i checked out TripAdvisor and the reviews for ‘El Ritmo Perdido’ are…sparse. mostly just one-star ratings and comments about “questionable hygiene.”
so, the gig. it was…interesting. the sound system was held together with duct tape and hope. the crowd was enthusiastic, if a little…intense. and i lost a drumstick. right in the middle of a solo. it vanished. i suspect a rogue pigeon made off with it. i’ve heard rumors that the pigeons here are highly organized and have a black market for musical instruments.
blockquote>
“don’t eat the seafood near the port. unless you want to spend the next three days…reacquainting yourself with your breakfast.”
endblockquote
that’s what a woman with a truly magnificent collection of vintage scarves warned me. she runs a little shop near the Central Market (worth a visit, by the way - Yelp has some good reviews). she also said something about a secret society of flamenco dancers, but i think she was pulling my leg.
anyway, i’m currently holed up in a tiny hostel* (check out Hostelworld for options), trying to figure out how to replace my lost drumstick and avoid the questionable seafood. i’ve also been attempting to learn some basic spanish, but mostly i just end up ordering the wrong thing. someone told me that the best way to learn is to just dive in, but i’m pretty sure i just accidentally ordered a plate of snails.
blockquote>
“the old town is haunted. seriously. by a baker who burned all his bread in the 18th century. he’s always looking for more flour.”
endblockquote
that one came from the bartender at a place called “La Taberna.” he seemed very serious about the haunted baker. i’m starting to think valencia is less a city and more a collection of eccentric stories held together by humidity and paella. i’m also pretty sure i need a nap. and maybe a new career. Lonely Planet has a good overview if you're thinking of visiting, but honestly? just expect the unexpected.
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/parttime-job-hustle-in-campo-grande-what-students-are-really-doing
- https://votoris.com/post/demographics-of-krasnodar-who-lives-here-in-2026-and-why-you-might-not-like-it
- https://votoris.com/post/why-cape-towns-officially-a-madhouse-and-why-you-might-actually-like-it-2
- https://votoris.com/post/crime-stats-in-pendik-is-it-actually-getting-safer-or-am-i-just-drunk-on-rak
- https://votoris.com/post/lahore-vs-islamabad-which-one-offers-a-better-life-for-a-student-on-the-edge