19/02/2026
🦇 Hola! I’m Sjors. Yes, that Sjors. Professional bat. Loyal companion to my human. Honorary (and very aerodynamic) member of Cantatekoor Wageningen.
And let me tell you… we had the most legendary adventure in Valencia!
We went on a cycling tour with Get Involved Valencia and wow! Sun shining, orange trees glowing, choir friends laughing, wheels spinning…
But then… I started noticing something. Everywhere. On flags. On ancient gates. On souvenirs. On the city’s coat of arms.
A bat.
Not just any bat; my people. My Valencian cousins. A symbol of the city itself! 🦇
Naturally, I demanded the full legend.
… Long long ago, when knights wore armor and kingdoms were claimed with swords, King Jaume I was preparing to retake Valencia. The night before a decisive battle, as the king rested in his tent, a bat flew in.
Some say I (well, one of my heroic ancestors) landed on a war drum the night before battle and started drumming! The noise warned the king of a surprise attack, saving the city.
Thanks to me… sorry, my ancestor… the attack was stopped, the battle was won, and Valencia was reclaimed.
And from that day on, the bat became a symbol of protection, courage, and victory. 👊🏾
So imagine me. I was returning to my ancestral homeland. I felt like a hero and I like to believe I heard whispers; “Welcome home, Sjors”.
“Ready to uncover the legends, hidden stories, and surprising fun facts of Valencia? Then hop on a bike with Get Involved Valencia and experience the city the way it was meant to be discovered.”