May 2009

Had a great-breakfast on the train, then we arrived at Barcelona Sants STN. Took a cab to the hotel, as the metro and 2-items of luggage just don't mix ;-). It was a good thing I did, the cab-driver said on Saturday at 3-am it's tuff getting a cab. So I pre-booked him for that day, again just a fluke when I asked how much a ride to the airport was LOL. The hotel is very-grand, and very-pink, but free-liquids and a buffet if you chance-it, and many-tourists :-(.

It's very close to Praca Catalunya, which is a very large-square, took the metro to Praca de Espanya, and walked up to Montjuic.

Then to the Olympic-stadium, to watch RCD Espanyol beat Malaga 3-0, awesome experience, chanting-singing-the wave :-))))

And the Academy-award for best-performance goes to....ROMALOL!!

One of the most amazing-days of my-life!!!!

“The only conqueror is God”,

Basically this day is devoted to exploring Madinat Al-Hamra, the Alhambra. A massive-complex constructed over several-centuries, by the Moorish-people of Spain. A more wonderful-place I have never seen, at least in the daylight this time.

I started of walking thru the complex, to Generalife-gardens. The use of natural-space/plants/buildings/and agua, is amazing!!

Then a walk back-thru El Secano, the former-Medina of the city, there is not much left from Moorish-times.

A quick visit to Palacio de Carlos V, constructed many years after the Reconquista.

Marched up&into the fortress-citadel of Alcazaba, parts of which were the first thing built on this hill.

And onto the grandest-portion of the Alhambra, Los Palacios Nazaries!!!!

Starting with Mexur.

Then, the middle-one Comares.

And finally the most famous-one, Patio de los Leones.

As an after-thought there was the Partal, a garden area along the walls.

Though the shadows of these walls have long since gone, the memory of them will live on as the final refuge of dreams and art. And then the last nightingale to breath on this earth will build its nest and sings its farewall song among the glorious ruins of the Alhambra....F Villaespesa

After that a walk-down a trecherous-trail, and then much needed agua/sangria and gazpacho ;-).

My last sites of the day, before heading to the train-station. Were Catedral de Granada, a very-unusual place, and Capilla Real, where Isabella&Ferdinand are buried, she's the Queen whom gave Columbus his money to go explore ;-).

Renfe TrenHotel destino Barcelona....Buenas-Noches!!

Had an awesome tour&tasting at an Olive-grove outside Granada. Learned a lot about the history/production, and about it's consumption/qualities, the guide was very-good!!

Also the group was very-small, met 2-lovely friends from Canada, Connie who is from Victoria, and Sheila who is from Toronto. We had great conversation/laughs/shopping, and back in Granada we had lunch-tapas together. Part of the enjoyment of tapas, is in the sharing of the experience with friends/fellow-travelers :-).

And finally a true picture of me, hope this makes WendyB happy LOL.

Had supper on Plaza Nueva, next to the hotel. Reading up on the Alhambra, before the in-depth visit tomorrow. Ohhh, and Spain is a salt-lovers dream, sometimes it's even to much for me!!

A smooth non-stressful switch of base to Granada, the last sparkling of Moorish-culture in Espana :-(.

Basically I just walked around, did some-shopping in the Alcaiceria, the closest thing to Morocco I will see ;-).

Then onto one of the top-reasons I came to Spain. A sublime-nocturnal visit to the Alhambra, where at times you can find yourself all alone with the history&beauty of this magical-place!!!!

My camera doesn't take good night-pics, so will only tease you with a few, will post better ones after the daytime visit ;-).

A great start to the day, I visited Puente Nueve, a bridge-spanning the dramatic river-gorge, which Hemingway wrote about in his book,“For Whom The Bell Tolls”. Ronda was the site of massacres during the Civil-War, prisoners were tossed into the gorge!!

Then Plaza de Toros, > bullfighting-ring where the modern-Corrido was born. There are some impressive-parks with views of the gorge.

In the afternoon I walked around the Ciudad, > old Moorish-area. Visited a couple sites, but mostly hiked down/up the gorge PANT!!!!

Had a nice supper, in a restaurante with great views, the all hell-broke loose, firecrackers and honking-horns, it seems FC Barcelona won the European Champion's League in football, it means when I get to Barcelona in 3-days, it will be party-central :-) & :-(.