Monday, July 16, 2012

Granada, Tierra Soñada Por Mi . . .


We left Sevilla on yet another early morning train for the easy three hour ride to Granada on Sunday.

After dropping off our luggage at our hotel, the room wasn't ready for another three hours yet, we decided to eat and explore.

Chocolateria?
Churreria?

GAME ON!!!

And SO good for us too!!!

Neverending Fountain Art

Solving Spain's Energy Issues

Just pedal a bike to turn the merry-go-round!

Nice use of copper

Christopher Columbus signing his
contract to sail with Queen Isabel

Granada's Gran Via

A Pomegranate
The Symbol of Granada

Not Real.

Cool Sign
but we did not eat here

Entry to the
Coraral del Carbón

This place was originally a caravanserai of Silk Road fame, i.e., it was a protected place for merchants to rest their camels, spend the night and get a meal.

Of Granada's original 14 caravanserai, this is the only one still standing and was a mere block from the old silk market, the Alcaicería.

Archway to the Caravanserai

Another Camino de Santiago Route

Soon, Be Patient

The old Alcaicería . . .

Still booming but
just not with fine silks

I love Moorish Art and Architecture

Ceiling of a random church

Old Priest going to Mass

A Hang Drum Artist

Saw this instrument once before in London and I really like its sound. We bought his CD.

Inside Granada's Cathedral

Several Youth Choirs from all over
Europe were inside singing wonderful
melodies in the Cathedral

Here they gather on the Cathedral's steps to take pictures. 

The Cathedral's Façade

The Cathedral is part Gothic,
part Renaissance and part Baroque

It is also built in the 100% In-Your-Face-Disgrace style to let the vanquished Moors know that there was a new sheriff in town after ousting the last Moorish ruler, Boabdil, out of Granada to complete the Reconquista in 1492.

Sweet scented oranges are common here

We entered the Royal Chapel where no pictures were allowed. This interesting building included the tombs of the Reyes Catolicos, Ferdinand and Isabel, who united Spain in the late 15th century.

They would spend about 25% of all of Spain's wealth on building this chapel. Their successors Phillip the Fair and Juana la Loca are interred in the chapel as well.

The Treasury Room was quite spectacular.

Since this is the country that brought us the Spanish Inquisition, I opted to follow the No Photo rules.

Another refreshing fountain

Minor Churches are everywhere

The Palace of Justice

The Palace of Tapas

Tinto de Verano

Such a thirst quenching adult beverage I have never known before.

Still searching for
the perfect croquetta

Why is this on sale in Granada?

ALLAH BE PRAISED, it was Sunday
and this place was closed!

Agile Horse

Plants on a balcony

Lion Knockers

A great Moor poet with . . .

Excellent slippers

Sidewalk Art

Milos Glorioso?

Kebab for everyone!

Post Siesta Goal

We did take a siesta after a long period in the still scorching Andulsian sun.

We were led to believe that the short bus ride up to the Mirador de San Nicolas would afford us great views of the Alhambra and the Albayzín district of Granada. 

They love their plates in the Albayzín

And their gardens as well

The Great Mosque of Granada

About 8% of Granada's population are of the Muslim faith. The Albayzín is home to many of them, so this is a natural spot for this Mosque.

There are 20 Catholic Churches in the Albayzín, each built over the sight of an old Mosque after the Reconquista in 1492.

Mosque Fountain

Laurie with the Alhambra behind her

A trip to the Alhambra is at the top of our Monday agenda.

A Real Pomegranate

Moorish decorative barricades

Worshipping his faith

The magnificent Alhambra

The Alhambra's Generalife Gardens
and the Moorish King's Summer House

Good Flamenco entertainment
singing at the Mirador de San Nicolas

An entry to a home in the Albayzín

We walked about half way down the Albayzín before catching a bus towards the Cathedral.

Hey, my cousins live in Argentina!

Tiles, tiles, everywhere tiles

A fortress in the Albayzín

A view of the Albayzín

Spanish Pride

The Cathedral at Magic Hour

Nourishment at last!

A mysterious waitress

Granada is another interesting Andalusian city, just as Sevilla was the past few days. Lots of cultures fused together to create a great city vibe!

It was a good Sunday and now it is on to the Alhambra on Monday morning.

Another early wake up call for us.

2 comments:

David said...

You're going to let a little thing like the Inquisition keep you from taking photos?

Wimp.

George said...

I was OK with it until the invention of the automobile battery.