Going Ga-Ga a Granada
Sad to leave Sevilla behind, we were off to Granada! It is a bit of a way to get there as no high-speed trains go there. Ugh. Four hours in coach. Don't get us wrong, we splurged for the first class passes only to be handed train reservations that only has coach class. Ugh ugh. But, as long as we get there....
Sevilla Train Station -- Santa Justa
Beb kept a journal. Look it has the Spanish colors!
That's our gear and Beb's reflection.
Ha! Beb sneaked a pic of Jun dozing off with fields upon fields of olive trees in the background. I think the Ipod just ran out of batteries.
Granada! The Arabs invaded the peninsula in the 8th century and gave this city its name "Granada". It was the last Muslim city to fall to the Xtians in 1492, at the hands of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband Ferdinand of Aragon.
So we quickly checked into Hotel Plaza Nueva and in typical fashion, headed out to seize the day in the city. So we decided to head towards the Albaycin area (white villages from the old Moorish days with a labyrinth of narrow streets and hidden gardens) edging up the cliff opposite the grand Alhambra--the magnificent Moorish palace.
So we quickly checked into Hotel Plaza Nueva and in typical fashion, headed out to seize the day in the city. So we decided to head towards the Albaycin area (white villages from the old Moorish days with a labyrinth of narrow streets and hidden gardens) edging up the cliff opposite the grand Alhambra--the magnificent Moorish palace.
That is part of the Alhambra in the background. Absolutely gorgeous. We were in front of the El Salvador church which had young nomads/artists/transients/castanet sellers/musicians filling up the square.
Can't let trekking around spoil our chance to stay put and enjoy the views splendour so....Sangrias at the Restaurante Mirador!
Sangria never tasted soooooo good. The sun was out, the cool breeze caressing our drinks, and the restaurante filled with world travelers, basking in all the glories. Heaven.
The Alhambra is a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th century.
The Alhambra is a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th century.
Jun was a little tipsy after all the sangria as it seems he is trying to make new friends.
Granada is very reminiscent of Santa Cruz--lots of young world travelers everywhere. There were some playing capoeira even. The style was Angola--different from what Jun knows.
..on our way down..
Which way to the Plaza del Triunfo for Elvira's gate?
The famous Cathedral
Time for dinner at Bodega which we found in the plaza near the Cathedral called Plaza Bib-Rambla. Wonderful dinner and Jun had more sangria...
What an afternoon! We then headed to the local Arab bath (Hammam baths)...
... for a good soak and massage! Highly recommended! We then trekked up the steep hill in the dead of the night to the Alhambra to check the perimeters as it was closed. We were excited that we were actually here.
So, all fed, warmed, and rubbed down, off to bed and try to score tickets to the Alhambra in the morning...
What an afternoon! We then headed to the local Arab bath (Hammam baths)...
... for a good soak and massage! Highly recommended! We then trekked up the steep hill in the dead of the night to the Alhambra to check the perimeters as it was closed. We were excited that we were actually here.So, all fed, warmed, and rubbed down, off to bed and try to score tickets to the Alhambra in the morning...
This was the line at 7:30 am! We tried reserving tickets online but to no avail. The Alhambra is the premier tourist destination in Granada, luring over 8000 visitors a day. We gambled that they would still be selling tickets for the day and we succeeded! BTW, the line was 2/3 longer than this!
Success!
The Alhambra is truly a once-in-a-lifetime place to visit (as well as the Alcazar in Sevilla). The Mudejar style architecture was spellbindingly beautiful both in style and in substance.
Fachado del Palacio de Comares
Plaza de los Arrayanes
Got to love the Alhambra cats...
The arches to the Courtyard of Lions
Mind-bogglingly beautiful star-shaped ceiling
A famous writer resided here and wrote the book "Tales of the Alhambra". Pretty well-known American in these parts..
A little garden with blossoming orange trees and trickling fountain
The tower lookout
Beb with the Albaycin and remnants of the Sacromonte (fortress walls) in the hills.
Albaycin--we were down there yesterday contemplating a place for lunch...
A coliseum inside the Alhambra...
We can't recommend this place enough. If you are in Granada, you absolutely must visit the Alhambra and if you are in Sevilla, you must visit the Alcazar. No place like these. We loved every minute of our visit. But time is short as we are off to get our rental car to drive over the Sierra Nevada to the Mediterranean sea to visit the white village of Salobrena!
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on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 8:32 PM.
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