This time we’re off to Granada, city of the Alhambra. This stronghold of the Moors was the last city in Spain to fall to the Christians in 1492. You simply can’t go to Spain, or at least certainly not to Andalucia, and not see this place.
We stayed at the Parador here, which is one of the state-run hotels. The Granada Parador is built in a 15th-century convent, and sits right in the middle of the Alhambra itself. It was the only Parador we stayed in on our trip, and though expensive, was well worth the money. Here I am knitting on the terrace in the afternoon.
The day after we arrived, we had a guided tour of the Alhambra. Again, the pictures just don’t begin to show what this place is like. Here are a few though:
Simply splendid. As a sidenote, listening to a recording of Julian Bream playing “Recuerdos de la Alhambra”, while hanging out in your Parador room inside the Alhambra, is one of the highlights of the trip for me. What can I say, I’m easily amused.
We also spent an afternoon wandering through the Albaicin, the oldest section of Granada, which dates as far back as the 11th century. This is a labyrinth of tiny streets that is a hoot to get lost in. We hung out at a Plaza overlooking the city for sunset. Here are a few of the natives, doing what they do.
This is a knitting blog, after all. The woman with the yarn was selling the paintings in the foreground, and while she was waiting she knitted. The guys were part of an impromptu street concert. Here’s the sunset we waited for.
Next time: Off to Arcos!
You know, really, it’s a shame you didn’t enjoy your trip to Spain at all….
Oh, WOW! Great photos, Lorette. Now I’m dying to go tos Spain but I’ll have to wait until I build up some vacation time again.
Wonderful pictures, especially the architecture reflected in the pool. Spain has made it to the must-do list.
Oh, your photos of Granada are fabulous, and make me long for the place. We were there in January 2005. Yes, we also went to the overlook where the young and old hippies were knitting, crocheting, making tea, playing guitars and hanging out. We also loved the Alhambra, but stayed at a hotel just outside the entrance. I’d love to spend a week just knitting and hanging out at the Alhambra. Sigh, what a wonderful voyage you had.
I am really enjoying your travelogue. For the record, eleventy thousand is not too many!
Hi Lorette!!
#1 I LOVE the picture of the place with the pool in front! What a BEAUTIFUL picture!!!
#2 I LOVE the sunset picture!!!!
Hope all is well there!! I hope to see you soon!
abbey lindsey
Eleventy-Thousand and Labyrinth all in one post. Just love those words.
🙂
I’ll need to stop back later and see the photos, but it sounds like you had a wonderful time 🙂
Please, please more photos! Although my trip to Granada was one year ago, I am tempted to put some of my photos on my blog simply because the place is so marvelous. I am anxiously awaiting photos from the rest of your trip! We miss spain so much that we are returning for a month this summer; however we are going to thenorth where the weather should be tolerable.
what a lovely place..
I’ve never had Spain on my “list of places to visit” but after seeing these, it made the list! (a sweater of those colors and designs would be lovely!)
I’ve no advice on your Jo Sharp sweater – I’ve got some Sharp Yarn in the potential sweater que and I’m anxious to see how it knits up. (I’d be frustrated and think I’d abandon the pattern given those awful measurements…)