Debbie was interested in knowing what her son was going to find in Valencia while he was there studying. Valencia has the honor of being the birth place of one of the most popular modern architects, Santiago Calatrava, who has built a whole cultural complex in the centre of Valencia.

The America's Cup has turned the port area and accompanying beach strand into one of the most frequented zones for relaxation and gatherings for all ages. And within the port, they are building part of the new urban race track for the upcoming Formula One Race.

And within the old neighborhood, there are interesting museums such as:

• The Ceramic Museum - Marques de Dos Aguas
• The Fallas Museum - Manuel de Falla

And here's info. on the latest addition to Valencia: The Bioparc Valencia. Who doesn't like going to the zoo? Right within the city area they have made a new, fantastic zoo. Yeah, I know what you're thinking.. My son isn't going to go to the zoo. But it's not that he hasn't seen one, it's that he can learn about the social groups of the animals living together in the same habitat, as if they were free in Spanish.
The best ways of learning the language came from listening to the local people and asking questions. They have gone to long lengths to adapt these animals to their natural environments and so you not only learn vocabulary about the animals themselves but also the relationship with the surrounding vegetation, why it behaves as it does and the importance of taking care of our ecosystem. He's not going to be able to learn all that in the classroom!

Let me give you some more details. It's open all year round, because as you have probably found out, Valencia has an incredibly mild winter and fantastic sun all the time. It costs from 20 Euros down to 10.50 (groups) -have him get some friends together (preferably Spanish). It's open 10 -6 or in the summer until 9 p.m. and is easily reached by bus nos. 7, 29 and 95, heading towards the park called Parque de la Cabecera, which is where the zoo is located.
Students have special ID cards which let them have discounts for many of the tourist attractions (like the Oceanographic maritime park see video here).

There's so much to be seen, so just tell him to visit one of the many tourist information offices, one being located on the Calle de La Paz.