Valencia is full of surprises. Turn a corner and you’ll always see something new. Enjoy another set of random Valencia photos:

– Great all you can eat Sushi in Valencia

Earlier this week, Juergen and I celebrated my 14th birthday with a trip to Malvarossa beach. It was a beautiful sunny day, I was away from my computer and I had just turned 14!! Full of a youthful zest for life, I squealed and ran into the water, completely ignoring the red flags and stepping directly into a nasty, sticky splotch of oil.

Oil?!

On Monday some ship outside of Valencia’s harbor spilled a bunch of oil, which made its way to the beach and stained the feet of anyone who stepped on it. The mess spread all the way down to the beaches of El Saler. There was no real danger to bathers, who continued to swim despite the red flags, but man was it messy. My feet were completely blackened, and if you dared to touch the gunk (as I did before I knew what it was) you came away with oil-slicked fingers. The stuff didn’t come off easily.

I haven’t heard yet if there are going to be any repercussions for the company responsible for this mess — it didn’t sound like it from Levante’s article on the subject (and the reader comments are appropriately indignant).

Thanks a lot, toxic polluters. A kid only gets to turn 14 once in his life.

- Hostal El Cid Valencia

During our first summer here, in 2008, the Estrella Damm lounge overlooking the America’s Cup harbor was one of our favorite hangouts. Hip staff, good drinks, comfortable seats and an unbeatable sunset view made it a great place to take friends.

Well, that’s apparently a thing of the past, as we learned while trying to show off Cool Valencia to our latest visitor. The lounge looks like a ghost town — everything’s been cleared out, the counters are covered in dust, and I’m pretty sure I saw a tumbleweed blowing through.

What happened? Here we were at the harbor on a beautiful Thursday evening in the middle of summer, and apparently the only people within a kilometer’s radius. It wasn’t just Estrella Damm, but all the other bars around the Veles e Vents building were completely desolate. Not just a lack of visitors, but of everything — nothing open, no people, not even security. It was depressing.

When it’s not falling over itself to impress the high-stakes crowd that accompanies the America’s Cup, Valencia seems content to let its harbor fall into complete disuse. One needn’t look too closely to discover rust covering everything metal and huge weeds poking up through wooden planks. The Veles e Vents building itself looks dirty and old. It’s a terrible waste of what could be a beautiful location.

But the death of Estrella Damm lounge really has us puzzled — after all, there was no America’s Cup last year, but that place was always packed. What happened? Could any of our readers clue us in?

TIP: If you want a substitute bar with a great ocean view, you probably can’t do better than 30°27N, which can be found here. A little pricey, but really lovely in the evening. (location)

Update – Reader freshwater left a comment noting that the Estrella Damm Lounge didn’t abandon Malvarrosa, just the America’s Cup Port. It’s now situated where the former Cafe del Mar used to be, approximately here. Thanks!

- B&Bs Valencia

Jozy Alitdore (AP)

Sorry for this bit of non-Valencia related celebration… but WOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

The USA beat Spain 2-0 in the confederations cup semi-final last night, and we’re headed toward our first FIFA Final ever! I still can’t believe it.

Fine, it’s just the Confederations Cup, but what an incredible result. It was the first time in 35 games that mighty Spain was defeated. And I guess you can consider it marginally related to Valencia — David Villa and Juan Mata both were playing and got to taste the power of los EEUU first hand. Haha! That’s for giving us such a stupid abbreviation!

Sorry boys! (As.com)

- Great prices on car hire in Valencia

Tonight, on June 23rd, the beach buses and metro will be running all night, facilitating revelers in attending the fiestas for San Juan at Malvarrosa beach.

Source: El Mundo

We’re not going to make it down this year to the party, which is known as much for its all-night drunken bonfire jumping as for the shocking amount of trash left on the beach the next morning. But if you do go and manage to take some pictures, please share their location in the comments!