Valencia is the perfect city for minimalists, says Daniela Studente – simple, easy, and accessible. For the last two years, she has been travelling and living throughout Europe, discovering cities and their character. The aim was to find a city in Europe where to spend time and live a happy, simple life, by consuming as little as possible, but receiving long lasting experiences. Believe it or not, life in Valencia has it all, she says…
I’m a minimalist, which means I invest my time in knowledge, experiences, and communication. My aim isn’t to teach how to live your life and achieve satisfaction. I’m here to share ways to find out about different opportunities in Valencia.
Experiences: the power of the city
Valencia has it all – events, concerts, lessons, gastronomy, nightlife, tourism, architecture, science, technology, and pretty much all you desire. That’s why I fell in love with this city, because of the life you can live and the nature you can witness. Valencia is busy and full of talented, hard-working people, who do their best to provide spectacular experiences. My inner urge is to share this with you, so we can discover the city together!
Minimalism in Valencia
I enjoy cycling and a bicycle is my first choice for transportation. Valencia has over 156 kilometres of cycle paths. You can cycle from one part of the city to another safely. The city belongs to the Network of Cycling Cities and is home to the Turia River Park, a garden that cuts through the urban heart of the city. A pleasant climate motivates you to keep active, as well as enjoying all the outdoor activities and events throughout the city. It’s so easy to live a less wasteful lifestyle in Valencia.
© DANIELA STUDENTE / VALENCIA LIFE
As a minimalist, I reduce the things I buy and the packaging that I consume. There are many options for reduced packaging and recycling, allowing me to recycle without stress. There are separate bins on almost every block for glass, compost, cardboard and other recyclables. And, there are also local markets, fruit and vegetable stands that sell from local farmers scattered throughout neighbourhoods all over Valencia.
Pop-up markets for clothes and vintage wares are spectacular in the city, where you can easily express your passion for fashion, by shopping secondhand and keeping a good distance from capitalist, multinational fashion stores. For me, it’s important to shop locally and keep the money in the economy of the country I am in. Valencia makes it easy for me to do that. Sun, paella, wine, beach, Turia garden, horchata and oranges are elements that replenish the desire for life in Valencia.
Life in Valencia has it all; this is a city where I can live comfortably as a minimalist. Here the base is settled – focusing on needs, not wants, embracing experiences, staying consistent, consuming as little as possible, spending free time diversely.
Minimalist perspective in the city
I started my journey from my home town Riga in Latvia and moved from Northern Europe, through Central Europe and finally to the South. Before I came to Spain, I took my time and discovered Poland (Krakov), Czechia (Prague), Hungary (Budapest), Romania (Brasov), Italy (Bergamo), Bulgaria (Bansko), and Portugal (Lisabon) by living in these cities. Every city has its own lifestyle that is affected by political, economic, climate, and social perspectives. I can share my experience and the inner issues of these countries. However, if you are a realist, you know that life isn’t just a delicious piece of cake. The main point is, I didn’t feel attracted enough to those cities to stay for a longer time, learn the language fluently or become a citizen.
Every city has its own pros and cons. It’s your decision how you deal with them. I have been living in Valencia for three months, and it’s enough time to understand the characteristics and ways of the inner system. I`m happy to share that this city is perfect for minimalists to keep it simple. My aim is to show you what this city can put on the dinner table, by introducing you to possibilities about where to spend your free time.
Becoming a minimalist
Easy. Less is more! I spend as little time and money, as possible, to provide myself with the knowledge and experiences that I crave. I own only a few things that can provide for my existence in different temperatures and climates. Knowing I was moving through Europe for two years, I prepared for the journey. I finished work projects that kept me in one place and moved my tasks to the digital world, by working as a freelancer in journalism and media production. The biggest difficulty and most personally challenging part was getting rid of my responsibilities.
After closing my start-up, working for National Television of Latvia and doing personal projects, I sold my belongings. Kitchen equipment, décor, books, clothes and gadgets. I gave away a lot of stuff to friends and charity, by sharing gratitude for the stuff they gave me all the experiences that I needed. It took a while to pack all the belongings in only a 27L backpack, but after a few months, I was ready to start my journey as a full-time minimalist and go abroad on long-term travel.
Why should you trust me?
It’s your decision! All the experiences I will share are from both a subjective and objective view. When you are reading about a new sport, lesson or concert to visit in Valencia, it’s because I like it and would recommend for you to try it and see for yourself how you enjoy the experience.
Yes, it’s my experience that I will share from my subjective perspective. I hope it allows you to enjoy Valencia by wasting as little money, time and stress as possible. At the same time, exploring new hobbies, skills, knowledge or something as simple as good times, I will share an objective overview as well. To understand the experiences that Valencia offers on a deeper and more sensible level, I will share the values and stories of experience providers, by sharing their vision of you enjoying their service.
I hope you will enjoy this journey with me.
- Daniela Studente is a digital nomad in Valencia. She’s originally from Riga, Latvia, and works with Valencia Life as a writer and on business development. Feel free to drop her a line at daniela@valencialife.es
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