Felicity Long
Mother Nature has been showing us her displeasure with ferocity and in diverse locations around Europe and the world lately: Storm Boris in Central Europe, which clobbered Germany, the severe drought in Colombia, which reportedly depleted segments of the Amazon River by as much as 90%, and, of course, the wildfires still raging in parts of Southern California.
One of the worst and most unexpected natural disasters in Europe was the recent catastrophic flooding in Valencia, Spain.
On Oct. 29, as much as a year's worth of rain fell in eight hours, causing flash flooding that killed more than 230 people, many of whom were trapped in their cars or in their homes, and left entire areas buried in mud.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen hasn't been shy about blaming climate change for the magnitude of the catastrophe, calling "extreme weather phenomena ... the new normal."
Now for the good news.
According to Visit Valencia, the city has shown so much resilience during its recovery efforts that it is already welcoming visitors with open arms.
For the record, most of the devastation and loss of life occurred in areas south of Valencia, while the heart of the city — including such cultural landmarks as the Santiago Calatrava-designed City of Arts and Sciences and the Gothic Cathedral of Valencia — escaped damage.
Among the affected areas, L'Albufera Natural Park is undergoing cleaning operations, said a spokesperson for Visit Valencia, adding: "Although the beaches of Pinedo, Arbre de Gos, El Saler, Garrofera and Devesa remain temporarily closed, boat rides on the lake have resumed, and local restaurants are fully open.
"All roads to and within the city are [also] fully open, commuter train lines C1, C2, C5 and C6, as well as [high-speed rail] routes to Madrid and Barcelona, are operating normally, and metro lines 3, 5 and 9, along with tram lines 4, 6, 8 and 10, are fully functional."
As of early January, partial service on metro lines 1, 2 and 7 was being supplemented by buses.
As further proof of the city's determination to move forward, its main squares and streets were sparkling with holiday lights and decorations in December, and the historic Festival de Nadal, the San Silvestre Race and the Three Kings Parade all took place.
As to the potential awkwardness of traveling to a destination still mourning the flood victims, the spokesperson suggested a different way to reframe the visit.
"Now is the perfect time to visit Valencia — not only to experience its vibrant culture, festive spirit and renowned gastronomy — but also to contribute to its recovery," she said.
"Tourism is essential to Valencia's economic revival, and your visit helps the city rebuild and emerge stronger than ever."