Flooding, food and fish

The most almighty storm buffeted Beatrix in the night: rain lashing the roof, lightning, thunder, and the whole van rocking in the gusts. (Jemima slept through the whole thing.) In the morning, the campsite was a lake - roads and pitches: we stepped out into 2 inches of water. It was still grim, and we had the car until 6pm, so an indoor plan was devised: a visit to Europe's biggest aquarium in Valencia, an hour back north. Everywhere signs of the storm: flooded roads, piles of hay bales in disarray, oranges scattered beneath bedraggled-looking trees. Kevin drove us carefully through the standing water, and we eventually found the Oceanografico (looking a lot less dramatic than in the sunshine, I'm sure). 

We've been to a quantity of aquaria now, due to Jemima's fondness for fish, and this was a good one: more like a theme park, with a number of buildings each focussing on different ocean zones, and mainly notable for the size of its tanks. They were just huge: an entire section of coral reef with really big reef fish in it; the obligatory shark tunnel, but with enormous tanks either side; and a whole circular building shared between elephantine walruses and beluga whales, that seemed to enjoy swimming upside down. For extra interest, three tanks had divers in them doing maintenance - Jemima watched fascinated, saying she wanted to join them, and was delighted when they waved at her. 

And as an extra special treat, Kevin suggested lunch in the Restaurante Submarino, where you eat surrounded by a circular tank of 10,000 fish - mostly one species (I asked what, but it was a Spanish name I annoyingly now can't remember, but from the Med apparently). It turned out this was not an amusing themed meal, but rather more fancy, and completely delicious (eg fire roasted octopus with sausage, lobster rice, yum). Unexpected, but very much appreciated. Then a final, very full, stagger around the aquarium before heading for home, and a quiet night in. And hopefully some better weather tomorrow.

The aquarium - Jemima enjoying her umbrella in the queue:

Even the aquarium was feeling the after effects of the storm:

A tropical ocean tank, lining three sides of the room:

Wave!:

A leafy sea dragon:

Lunch:

Playing with a lobster claw:

Splashing in Spanish muddy puddles on the way out:

Javea to Valencia (and back again):