Granada: city of La Alhambra... and kebabs!
From Córdoba, it was off to Granada! This was actually the one city I wanted to visit the most in my trip. I was really dying to see the Alhambra and all my planning revolved around this city.
Anyway. When we arrived in Granada it was almost 9. We took the city bus from the bus station which was supposed to take us to the Cathedral (which is near Plaza Nueva, which is near our hotel) but for some reason, it took a different route. We ended up having to get off at the city center and walked uphill to Plaza Nueva. It wasn't so bad though and we found our hotel without much problem.
We checked right in because the boys wanted to watch the basketball game. So after settling down a bit, Ange and I went out to buy dinner. We found a cheap kebab place nearby and bought some for all of us. Then we headed back to the hotel and watched a game with the boys.
The next day we slept in a bit since we would be waking up quite early the day after. We looked for the Alcaicería and almost it! It's really narrow streets and the entrance is from the square. Granada is especially full of Moorish influences and la Alcaicería is an Arab bazaar. The place was so pretty with lots of colors. We walked up and down the narrow streets but didn't buy anything.
The entrance
After walking around, we decided to have lunch in the square. We had the menu del día of one of the restaurants. Ange and I had some good paella and the boys tried caracoles (snails)!
Our paella
Snails... eww
We finished a little before 4pm, and since all the sights were closed for lunch break we decided to go shopping. Some shops were still closed but we found an open H&M nearby. When we were done with H&M, we split up. Javier and I went to the cathedral and Ange and Quintin (who decided that they've seen enough cathedrals) shopped some more.
The cathedral of Granada was really different. The first thing you notice is that it's very white! It was made with a different kind of marble from other cathedrals. Also, the cathedral has no choir (which is usually in the middle of the cathedral). Thus it is more open and consequently makes the cathedral look bigger.
After touring the cathedral, we went to visit the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel). It's a mausoleum and it's claim to faim is that it holds the tombs of Queen Isabella and her husband King Ferdinand. It also has the tombs of Queen Juana (la loca) her husband, King Philip, and Prince Miguel. Granada was one of Queen Isabella's favorite cities which is why her body was placed there.
We spent the afternoon chilling about in our hotel then a little before dinner we went to the Albaicín to explore. The Albaicín is one of Granada's districts and is supposed to be really beautiful with all its Moorish influences. Personally, I didn't find anything amazing about it. We did go to the Mirador de San Nicolas which is where you're supposed to get one of the most beautiful views of the Alhambra (the Albaicín is on a hill). The view was beautiful and we stayed quite awhile there. We were supposed to wait for sunset so we could see the lights of the Alhambra but it was already 9:30pm and the sky was still bright! We were also pretty hungry so we went down to have dinner.
Streets of Albaicín
The Alhambra from the Mirador de San Nicolas
We had... kebabs! at Plaza Nueva which is right by our hotel. Actually we had a kebab pizza and it was pretty good. We headed back to the hotel to call it an early night since we'd be getting up early the next day.
And now for La Alhambra! The Alhambra is Spain's most visited attraction and they have hours on their tickets to control entry. We took the morning slot which allows us entrance from 8:30am to 2pm. We left at around 8:15 (I think, I can't quite remember) and took the bus up. From where the bus stopped we walked to one of the entrances. We got there at around 9 and we our entrance to the Nasrid Palaces was at 9:30 so we just had breakfast at the small café while waiting.
The Alhambra is a palace-fortress complex which was built by the Moorish rulers in the 14th century. A few parts of it were used and reconstructed when the Catholic kings took over the city. It has a lot of Islamic architecture as well as Christian influences and it's now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Alhambra complex has three main parts: the Alcazaba, the Nasrid Palaces, and the Generalife. But the land is huge and there's also the Palace of Carlos V and the Gardens.
We went to the Nasrid Palaces first since you can only enter at a specific time (which is stated on your ticket - ours was 9:30). The Nasrid Palaces are called "the heart of the Alhambra" and this was my favorite part. The Palaces are further divided into three parts: the mexuar (where government functions are held), the serallo (where the sultans held court), and the harem (the sultan's private rooms). The whole palace was gorgeous; all the apartments, fountains, pools, and the intricately beautiful architecture.
The exit to the Nasrid Palaces was right beside the Palace of Charles V so we went there next. It's really interesting because the exterior is perfectly square but the courtyard inside is circular. This place has two museums but we didn't go inside. We instead went inside one temporary exhibit. I forgot the name but it was about this dude who did mathematically cool stuff. I'm sounding really vague but it was pretty interesting.
Inside the Palacio de Carlos V
The Alcazaba was up next. The Alcazaba was the original fortress. It's mostly walls and ruins now, but you can climb the bell tower which gives you a nice view of the city.
Angela with the city behind her
Plaza Nueva from up in the Alhambra. Good kebab places there and our hotel is right around the corner
From the Alcazaba we walked along the Jardines del Portal to get to the Generalife. Beautiful beautiful gardens.
Last part of the Alhambra was the Generalife. This one is further away from the complex and was the summer palace of the Nasrid kings. The Generalife also has its own gardens which are just beautiful. They have high grass walls plus all their flowers were in bloom.
At the gardens of the Generalife
Check out the roses
The Generalife
I was really happy with our trip to the Alhambra. I was nervous at first because I had such high expectations, but the Alhambra more than exceeded my expectations. It was just so beautiful there and I really enjoyed the time we spent there.
We finished before 2 and still had time before our bus at 4 so we went back down to Plaza Nueva. We had kebabs again at a restaurant in the square then got our bags and headed to the bus station. Then it was a 5 hour bus ride back to Madrid!
Anyway. When we arrived in Granada it was almost 9. We took the city bus from the bus station which was supposed to take us to the Cathedral (which is near Plaza Nueva, which is near our hotel) but for some reason, it took a different route. We ended up having to get off at the city center and walked uphill to Plaza Nueva. It wasn't so bad though and we found our hotel without much problem.
We checked right in because the boys wanted to watch the basketball game. So after settling down a bit, Ange and I went out to buy dinner. We found a cheap kebab place nearby and bought some for all of us. Then we headed back to the hotel and watched a game with the boys.
The next day we slept in a bit since we would be waking up quite early the day after. We looked for the Alcaicería and almost it! It's really narrow streets and the entrance is from the square. Granada is especially full of Moorish influences and la Alcaicería is an Arab bazaar. The place was so pretty with lots of colors. We walked up and down the narrow streets but didn't buy anything.
After walking around, we decided to have lunch in the square. We had the menu del día of one of the restaurants. Ange and I had some good paella and the boys tried caracoles (snails)!
We finished a little before 4pm, and since all the sights were closed for lunch break we decided to go shopping. Some shops were still closed but we found an open H&M nearby. When we were done with H&M, we split up. Javier and I went to the cathedral and Ange and Quintin (who decided that they've seen enough cathedrals) shopped some more.
The cathedral of Granada was really different. The first thing you notice is that it's very white! It was made with a different kind of marble from other cathedrals. Also, the cathedral has no choir (which is usually in the middle of the cathedral). Thus it is more open and consequently makes the cathedral look bigger.
After touring the cathedral, we went to visit the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel). It's a mausoleum and it's claim to faim is that it holds the tombs of Queen Isabella and her husband King Ferdinand. It also has the tombs of Queen Juana (la loca) her husband, King Philip, and Prince Miguel. Granada was one of Queen Isabella's favorite cities which is why her body was placed there.
We spent the afternoon chilling about in our hotel then a little before dinner we went to the Albaicín to explore. The Albaicín is one of Granada's districts and is supposed to be really beautiful with all its Moorish influences. Personally, I didn't find anything amazing about it. We did go to the Mirador de San Nicolas which is where you're supposed to get one of the most beautiful views of the Alhambra (the Albaicín is on a hill). The view was beautiful and we stayed quite awhile there. We were supposed to wait for sunset so we could see the lights of the Alhambra but it was already 9:30pm and the sky was still bright! We were also pretty hungry so we went down to have dinner.
We had... kebabs! at Plaza Nueva which is right by our hotel. Actually we had a kebab pizza and it was pretty good. We headed back to the hotel to call it an early night since we'd be getting up early the next day.
And now for La Alhambra! The Alhambra is Spain's most visited attraction and they have hours on their tickets to control entry. We took the morning slot which allows us entrance from 8:30am to 2pm. We left at around 8:15 (I think, I can't quite remember) and took the bus up. From where the bus stopped we walked to one of the entrances. We got there at around 9 and we our entrance to the Nasrid Palaces was at 9:30 so we just had breakfast at the small café while waiting.
The Alhambra is a palace-fortress complex which was built by the Moorish rulers in the 14th century. A few parts of it were used and reconstructed when the Catholic kings took over the city. It has a lot of Islamic architecture as well as Christian influences and it's now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Alhambra complex has three main parts: the Alcazaba, the Nasrid Palaces, and the Generalife. But the land is huge and there's also the Palace of Carlos V and the Gardens.
We went to the Nasrid Palaces first since you can only enter at a specific time (which is stated on your ticket - ours was 9:30). The Nasrid Palaces are called "the heart of the Alhambra" and this was my favorite part. The Palaces are further divided into three parts: the mexuar (where government functions are held), the serallo (where the sultans held court), and the harem (the sultan's private rooms). The whole palace was gorgeous; all the apartments, fountains, pools, and the intricately beautiful architecture.
The exit to the Nasrid Palaces was right beside the Palace of Charles V so we went there next. It's really interesting because the exterior is perfectly square but the courtyard inside is circular. This place has two museums but we didn't go inside. We instead went inside one temporary exhibit. I forgot the name but it was about this dude who did mathematically cool stuff. I'm sounding really vague but it was pretty interesting.
The Alcazaba was up next. The Alcazaba was the original fortress. It's mostly walls and ruins now, but you can climb the bell tower which gives you a nice view of the city.
From the Alcazaba we walked along the Jardines del Portal to get to the Generalife. Beautiful beautiful gardens.
Last part of the Alhambra was the Generalife. This one is further away from the complex and was the summer palace of the Nasrid kings. The Generalife also has its own gardens which are just beautiful. They have high grass walls plus all their flowers were in bloom.
I was really happy with our trip to the Alhambra. I was nervous at first because I had such high expectations, but the Alhambra more than exceeded my expectations. It was just so beautiful there and I really enjoyed the time we spent there.
We finished before 2 and still had time before our bus at 4 so we went back down to Plaza Nueva. We had kebabs again at a restaurant in the square then got our bags and headed to the bus station. Then it was a 5 hour bus ride back to Madrid!
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