Port Saplaya and the Local Ties of Mamen Peris
Port Saplaya in Alboraia has long been the home base for the only female candidate who has sought the Presidency of the Generalitat Valenciana in almost three decades. Mamen Peris, the Cs leader steering the party through the current Valencia scene, lives in her hometown of Alboraia. Throughout her life she has engaged with politics in one way or another, first in municipal administration and now as an autonomous representative for Citizens. Yet the story goes beyond headlines and campaign talk.
Beyond the podium and the poll numbers, she appears as a friend of friends, a locally rooted figure who loves simple pleasures and spends time pondering trade, community, and the everyday needs of neighbors. She is described as a fiercely devoted supporter of local commerce and someone connected to the people who live and work nearby.
This string of everyday moments is recounted by Julián, a neighbor who has shared the same block for more than twenty years. He recalls the first day he arrived at the cluster of houses near the wharf once called the Venice of Valencia. Mamen appeared with her eldest daughter in her arms, still very small, and life in the neighborhood began unfolding from that moment.
“We share a pier view and see the sea every day”, says a retired medical visitor who counts Julián among his friends. Their neighborly bond has grown into a lasting friendship, with many shared conversations over the years. Julián notes that Port Saplaya feels quieter in the winter when many residents are away, while the summer population swells around the small harbor. Regardless of the season, Mamen and Julián routinely swap requests for essentials like salt and milk, a small ritual of communal living.
Confidences in the Attic
When they meet in what they call the attic, Mamen often prepares what Julián fondly calls amazing vermouth. The two joke about being more vermouth than anything else, sharing plates of potatoes and olives as a simple, shared ritual. Even during the toughest months of the pandemic, their rooftop conversations and shared meals kept the connection alive. When Julián asks what she desires, she replies with a smile, and he often responds with a platter of meat she can plate himself.
Julián admits that his own schedule has become crowded, making time for long conversations rare as his days fill with responsibilities. He notes that Mamen’s pace is quick, arriving late and leaving early as the political calendar intensifies. Their discussions cover policy, community needs, and the realities of local governance in ways that blend personal warmth with public duty.
Both have walked the path of local politics through the Unión Popular por Alboraia (UPPA), navigating the difficult terrain where every decision matters. They have supported one another and shared family moments, including summoning decisions for the younger generation about the future. The north of Spain serves as a contrasting memory and example for Mamen, where her supporters bring Cantabrian anchovies as tokens of friendship and encouragement.
Today the moment is especially intense for the candidate, and Julián lends a hand in practical ways as well as moral support. Before the pandemic, Mamen began ordering fish from Rosa and Toni’s counter at the Russafa market, a relationship formed through a mutual friend who ran an olive shop in Valencia’s central residential district. The arrangement has grown into a reliable system, with Rosa and Toni delivering orders to her home. The produce range features anchovies, cuttlefish, bluefin tuna, and emperor, all staples in their neighborhood economy. Julián often coordinates orders for both, sending quick WhatsApp messages with requests for Toni and Rosa.
Fishermen and shopkeepers alike say they didn’t realize Mamen was involved in politics until months before her face began appearing on screens. Toni, a store owner, describes her as a loyal customer who is straightforward and unpretentious, never seeking attention or praise. As night falls, Mamen is typically the last to arrive and the first to leave at dawn. Julián has followed her public life through media appearances and public spaces, yet their encounters remain mostly at the stairwell or in the shared blocks of their neighborhood. He recalls the many anecdotes from Madrid meetings and even a memory of cod fritters shared between bouts of campaigning. Mamen stands as a practical, homegrown figure, with a restless curiosity about distant places, including Vietnam.