We arrived in Granada this morning after our overnight train ride, mostly reasonably well-rested but keen to arrive at our hotel. Taxis took us through the narrow & winding back streets - the only way to reach our hotel in the historic center of the city.
With other guests still checking out about half the group were lucky enough to get their rooms after breakfast, then we departed for a short walking tour of this charming city. Everyone was immediately captivated by Granada, all the better with it being dry & reasonably warm.
There was some free time for lunch & exploring, & the rest of the group got their rooms, then we rode a tiny bus through more narrow streets to the Alhambra, high above the city.
The Alhambra is a highlight for most visitors to Spain, & so it was for the group - despite the weather turning nasty on us again. As our guide Patricia told us, this is not normal weather for Andalucia!
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| Our local guide Patricia introduces us to the Alhambra |
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| King Charles V's renaissance palace, built amongst the Moors medina |
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| Touring the beautiful Nasrid Palaces |
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| The famous Court of the Lions |
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| Leaving the Alhambra |
We returned by a downhill footpath to the city center, with a little more time to explore before dinner.
Dinner this evening, in-keeping with our day learning of Spain's Moorish past, was a Moroccan dinner. We were greeted by host Moustafa like long lost friends, then enjoyed a feast of hummus, tabouleh, salad, pita & chicken couscous, all accompanied with the house lemonade. Afterwards we moved into the restaurants lounge bar to enjoy mint tea to finish. A great dinner & host.
Our day ended with a hike through the atmospheric & labyrinthine Albaycin district to enjoy superb views of the illuminated Alhambra on the hill opposite - a memorable way to end our day in Granada.
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| Exploring the alleyways of the Albaycin |
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| Worth the uphill hike - nighttime views of the Alhambra |
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