Day 8. The next stop on our itinerary was Granada. We only saw a few old windmills in La Mancha on the bus ride from Granada (I managed one slightly blurry photo from the bus as we sped past). The serene countryside is dotted with countless groves of olive trees, punctuated with ridges and hills.
That afternoon, we saw Granada's beautiful Renaissance Cathedral. This Cathedral is one of the largest in Europe. Dating back to 1593, the architecture and decoration reflect that era. The part I most appreciated is the northern side, designed by Diego de Siloé. It uses a circular plan and semi-circular arches (upon which rest a double series of balconies). There are many beautiful sculptures. We also went to the Royal Chapel, where Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand and their two children are entombed.
In the evening, we bused up to one of the ridges in the Albayzín neighborhood to see the sunset and gaze at the Alhambra (along with hundreds of others) as the lights came on. We felt privileged to dine on the second story porch of Restaurante Estrellas de San Nicolas. We were provided with perfect views of the Alhambra at night and the lights of Granada below. William savored delicious scallops and I enjoyed a perfectly prepared monkfish. The breathtaking views made us even more eager to see the Alhambra the next day.
Day 9. The Alhambra is astounding. We boarded a pre-dawn bus and rode up to the top of the hill to redeem our ticket reservations. We were there over six hours—so many awesome moments. The art on the walls is all engraved Arabic text (prayers or poems) to honor the Muslim prohibition against graven images. The architecture, flowers, carefully sculpted cypress (we think) trees, and water features made this whole complex incredibly striking. The tiles and ceilings deserve special mention. Our feet are sore but so worth it!! Because it was so beautiful, I took an enormous number of photos and tried to curate them down to a manageable amount for this scrapbook.
We spent much of the afternoon at the Alhambra's Palacio de Generalife. This translates as the "Architect's Garden." It served as a summer palace for the Nasrid royalty of the Emirate of Granada. This area showcases many water features, lovely landscaping, and gorgeous views of the city and parts of the Alhambra.
After we exited the Alhambra, we walked downhill. This landscaped area was stunning. We found a small restaurant a few blocks away after we exited and had more delicious local cuisine, while chatting with two women who had just arrived in Spain. Then, we headed to Granada's El Corte Inglés where we both purchased leather coats made in Spain (we prefer local, durable reminders of a trip, rather than decorative items).
Why we need to go back: A second helping of the Alhambra seems appropriate. We also want to further explore the Albayzín Quarter and check out a Sacromonte cave tour. I would have liked to see the Museo Casa de los Tiros, the Museo Arqueologico de Granada, the Hospital Real, and the Fuente del Triunfo Gardens. I also wish we had time to just stroll along the Gran Via de Colon. Definitely worth a return trip!
Next up: Ronda
Why we need to go back: A second helping of the Alhambra seems appropriate. We also want to further explore the Albayzín Quarter and check out a Sacromonte cave tour. I would have liked to see the Museo Casa de los Tiros, the Museo Arqueologico de Granada, the Hospital Real, and the Fuente del Triunfo Gardens. I also wish we had time to just stroll along the Gran Via de Colon. Definitely worth a return trip!
Next up: Ronda