Monday morning and we decided to have breakfast around
0900 because of the huge busload of French tourists mingling around the lobby Sunday evening. However, hardly anyone was
present and the buffet line was not stripped as we had expected. D
Refreshed
and full we decided to tackle Granada. We needed cash and Paul remembered where
an ATM was located just a short walk from the hotel lobby. Back we went and had
the chap call a radio taxi direct to the front door and we set off to see the
Carmen de Los Martires high above the city. There were a couple of young girls
and a mom checking out the building and grounds for an upcoming wedding. After
touring the manicured grounds, there was a chap with a leaf blower also blowing
dust about as he tried to make the grounds presentable, we covered our faces and
scurried off to walk down the entrance hill where we were able to catch the
small Alhambra bus to the town center well below our elevation.
Refreshed we bought tickets for the tour bus
trolley train which travels over an hour for a full circuit but because it is
not a double decker bus there are times that the
trolley puts the spectators below the wall tops
and the potential view is full obscured. We did a full circuit decided the best
stopping point for us was stop nine for lunch and to stretch our legs.
Besides
Paul is still not walking long distances and the hills are very steep. Granada
is a magical city. The history is fascinating, the Alhambra a Moorish citadel
and palace, is a miracle of Moorish architecture. Of course once the Moors were
ousted it fell into disrepair and Carlos V built his own palace within the
walls. Now it is one of the most visited tourist places on earth! Paul and I first
visited in 1980 before it became popular. It was nearly closing time, the sun
was going down and the porter said “ you only have about 45 minutes to an hour”.
I was pregnant with Ian, Alison was nearly 8 and it had been very hot but we
went in and were the only ones there. It was so magnificent and heart stopping
I could not believe it! No one else in the place, the sky a bit pink
from the
setting sun and only the sound of the birds. Magic! I have never forgotten it,
obviously, and when we went back with Ron and Sandy and had to pick a 2 hour
block and line up to get in it was a bit of a shock! I wish they could have
seen as we did. It is still wonderful but that first experience was awesome. I
remember Paul pointing out the caves where the gypsies lived in Sacromonte and
sold trinkets, told fortunes and danced flamenco.
Anyway back to the present day, the train ride is still
good and you can cover a lot of ground, hop on, hop off and get the flavor. We hopped
off and had a great lunch and were serenaded by a singer/guitar player who was accompanied
by his howling dog! Seriously! It was hilarious and very entertaining! Paul
decided to opt out of the Cathedral vist. He swears we went there before but I
do not remember it so I went by myself. It is huge and magnificent.
Interestingly enough it has a small plaza in front but the surrounding buildings
are really quite close. I am always fascinated by these buildings and the skill
that went into the building. I know they were usually a sop to someone’s ego
but nonetheless they are worth visiting. I am not religious or catholic but I
often light a candle for a friend in distress.
We met up again and bought a few trinkets before
heading back to the hotel for a siesta. Paul went up and soaked his foot for a
while. Apparently the water was so cold it numbed his foot! Then we got ready
to go out to the Flamenco Show!! whooo!
The bus finally picked us up, 15 minutes late, and
we were riding with 44 French tourists! The place was packed and the show was
late because we were late but no biggie, we got nothing but time!
What can I say about Flamenco? It is passionate,
wanton, seductive, tender and thrilling! These people work hard at a craft they
train years for. It was hot and sweaty and the air was electric. The guitar, the
flute and the synchronized clapping of hands really gets you into the mood. We
yelled Ole and applauded enthusiastically for an hour and fifteen minutes!
After the show we all headed out side to take pictures of the Alhambra at
night. As I said before it truly is a magical city with a fascinating history.
I am typing as fast as I can but Paul is whining that he is hungry! So I gotta
go. More of the Beskow’s adventures tomorrow!
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