Valencia: All Over the Place (Walks & Talks)

Grief & the City... You probably already know if this walk is for you.

It's natural. Nature is a great teacher. Time heals all wounds.
Blah blah blah, etc. And yet ... here we are face to face with loss.
How are you feeling?! Ufff. Hmm. Come along.

A pilgrimage mapping laughs, tears, memories, twists, and turns.
For this special edition we will combine urban exploration with a meditative visit to Valencia's Botanical Gardens. You will need to purchase your own ticket directly there (4 euros).

People, pets, places, objects - anything that is loved can be lost.
“If there ever comes a day where we can’t be together, keep me in your heart.”
Winnie the Pooh was right. Our hearts keep memories alive.
And yet, sometimes the heart can feel too small, too fragile.

Can a photograph contain a conversation?
Can a street follow a memory of a laugh?
Can Valencia reunite us with our past love(s) and our present selves?

Many have heard about the Five Stages of Grief:
denial, anger, bargaining, depression & acceptance.
How do we get through each and navigate them all?
How do we honor our connections, let go, and go on?

This walkshop will take us through the quiet spaces in the historical center of Valencia and introduce a variety of coping techniques, remembrance practices, and stories of resilience. If these walls could talk… these walls would weep. And then, rejoice.

Attention!
The walkshop is limited to 15 participants. Please, note it is NOT a substitute for grief counseling. If you are experiencing severe loss, you may find this experience overwhelming. Please, reflect on your decision to attend. You will not be asked to share any details of your story/process, but there will be voluntary opportunities to do so.

About the Route
(Un)expected turns in the (un)familiar streets.

What to bring?
An open mind, a gentle curiosity, your water bottle. Maybe a photo or an artifact that connects you to the grief you’d like to take for a walk.

About the Guides
JANE is a self taught death enthusiast (death doula), who happens to have a masters degree in mental health nursing. After losing a loved one 3,5 years ago, she got a wake up call- nobody, including herself, was ready to support a dying person nor knew how to cope with loss. Now raising death awareness is her daily job, through teaching nursing students, healthcare workers, organizing Death Cafes and writing many… many articles.

ALEXEY is a storyteller who has taught at Academy of Art University (San Francisco) and International Fashion Academy (Paris). He’s guided all kinds of folks through all kinds of pilgrimages from 800 kilometers of Camino de Santiago to the two blocks of Calle Sevilla in Ruzafa. He is also the host of comedy events with @StandupComedyValencia as well as Book Lovers Unplugged, a monthly literary open mic at the only English bookstore in Valencia. Most importantly, Alexey is a fulltime Gemini with ADHD.

About the Cost
This walkshop is FREE to attend. At the end, there will be an passing of the hat so you can make a contribution to keep this work sustainable if you are able to do so at that time. But the point is to explore love, grief and memory-making together.

Valencia got one of the most legit street art reputations in Europe!
Scattered among historic buildings and secret alleyways, curated and guarded by very judgmental pigeons, the city is an open-air gallery.
Colorful, weird, poignant, silly, provocative, loud and half the time you're wondering "what exactly am I looking at?!"

Meet Ely Tegart! She has an answer to that very question. Ely studies, breathes, makes, and popularizes art. She is a Canadian multi-disciplinary artist, (former) teacher, and professional over-explainer of simple things. Along this funtastic journey through El Carme we'll encounter massive murals, hidden paste-ups, graffiti culture, local artists, and the stories behind the walls people usually walk past without noticing.

Ever wondered what's the difference between graffiti and street art?
Curious about the techniques, symbolism, or legality of street art?
Want tea on the ongoing dramas in the urban art community?
Or, enjoy wandering around looking at cool things with cool people?
This is for you...

This walkshop is FREE. The host may pass the hat at the end, but the point is to enjoy Valencia, its street art and each other

This walkshop is limited to 20-ish persons for logistical reasons but will be offered regularly so fear not, just plan better 😉