I like books. And since it was time to buy a new one, I decided to check out the store which had been passing out free paperbacks during the recent Book Fair in the Viveros Gardens. (Free stuff: Marketing that works!)

FNAC is a popular French bookstore chain that has expanded to Spain. It’s actually more of a media store, as I realized immediately upon entering the outlet on Guillem De Castro (location). The facade is pretty nondescript — just a simple black and white sign. I’ve walked by a thousand times, and never noticed it before; I probably just assumed it had something to do with finance.

The store’s interior resembles a train station, with a glass roof spilling light onto 2 floors of books, music, films and electronics. It makes extremely pleasant browsing… and the prices are nice, too.

And what does FNAC stand for? Who knows?! Probably something French.

FNAC
C/ Guillem De Castro 9-11
Website: FNAC.es
Location on our Valencia Map

In Valencia, Libreria Patagonia is the only bookstore you’ll ever need for maps, travel guides or hiking supplies. I stumbled upon this wonderful shop last week, and nearly dropped a hundred euros. Trembling, I forced myself to set down the stack of maps and books I had gathered, and left empty-handed.

3 days later I came back and emptied my wallet

The shelves are full of books about Valencia and the surrounding area. There’s an entire section just for books on the Pyrenees. And the whole back wall is stacked with travel guides.

Slobber

The shop is found in the city center, at Calle Hospital, 1 (location) Their website exists, but is still under construction.

Juergen and I caught the hiking bug during our time in Ireland, so I have a feeling we’ll be frequent patrons of Libreria Patagonia.

Feed your inner geek!

Gotham Comics has a great selection of original American comics and merchandise — DC, Marvel, Dark Horse and other popular publishers. They’re also really friendly, and the store is small and has a laid-back vibe. I had no problem finding what I wanted and, when I asked him where a particular comic was, the guy working there immediately jumped up and helped me find it.

Location on Our Valencia Map
Web Page: http://webs.ono.com/gothamcomics/

No comics from the US, but if you want a huge and interesting selection to browse, this is the place to go. Futurama is actually two shops side-by-side, one housing more alternative comics and old editions, and the other with more recent and popular titles. I didn’t actually buy anything here, but it was fun to meander around.

Location on Our Valencia Map
Web Page: http://www.libreriafuturama.com

I’ve found comics to be a great way to improve your Spanish — the pictures help you to understand what’s going on when your vocab fails you.