Granada and Alhambra

Ahhh Granada. This is a magical little city with it´s main attraction being the Alhambra. It is a special place that has all of the conveniences of a city, with a small town feel. There are winding streets that go up long hills with balconies decorated with flower pots and ivy--this is how I thought Seville would look like.

Alhambra was an all day affair. We bought tickets online to access the gardens of Alhambra during the morning since it was recommended we get tickets in advance and that was all that was available online. Nevertheless, we still got up early (7am) and got in line to try and get the full admission ticket to view the highlight of Alhambra, it´s palace--Palacio Nararies. We succeeded in getting afternoon tickets to the Palacio Nararies and decided to keep our garden tickets so we could spend the entire day at Alhambra. Alhambra has been expanded on since it orginal structure built in 1492. Orginally a fortress; turn mosque, turn Sultan mansion, turn Cathedral, turn tourist attraction. I cannot fully explain what it is like to see Alhambra, the pictures will show a better discription than I can. It´s massive with many aspects to see. First there´s the impressive gardens with long banks of water and fountains, hedges that look like castles, roses and all kind of other beautiful flowers blossoming; a stone path leading along to a palace that overlooks everything--the gardens, the water, the fortresses, etc. Then there´s the ruins of the fortress: old dungens, ramparts, and a watch tower that allows views of all of Granada and the Sierra Nevada´s snow caped moutains. The Palace Nararies and Palace of Carlos V built in the 14th and 15th Centuries have courtyards and artitechture consisting of carved wooden ceilings, glazed tiles, and molded stucco gives a real grandiose effect.

After a full day of awe-struck amazement, we went to a grocery store and bought cheeses, olive oil, wine, meats, and figs. Then stopped at a pastry shop for yummy bits of flan, cream puffs and chocolate. With these treats we had a delicious dinner on our bed. YUM!!

We stayed an extra day in Granada to just enjoy the town, sleep in, eat tapas and donar kebabs. Also on this day Lee-Anne insisted on relaxing in a Hammam built in the 11th century. Oh it was decadent, with three pools lined in marble, Arabic arches, and tiles all lit by candle light. We had a short massage and sipped Moroccan mint tea. We also visited a cathedral that was part gothic, part renisance, and very beautiful. On a walk through the town we found an artist community selling jewerly and such, I had to indulge my apperication for the art.

Sad to leave this special place, we stopped in the pastry shop for fresh pastries for the train to Seville.
Lee-Anne and Russ