Granada

Our arrival into Granada was smooth, good directions, mostly one way streets and we found the accommodation quite easily. Very centrally located in the old town. (Which means narrow, cobblestone streets) Then came the tricky bit, parking the car. 

A car park is provided with our accommodation but this one takes the cake for degrees of difficulty. Firstly it's a couple of streets away, not far, but it does involve a few more tight corners. The garage is secure and underground, but getting in without any damage was somewhat of a miracle. Thank goodness for Mike and his calm and positive approach!!! After visual inspections of the street, the poles inside the garage, the gradient and the turns required, Mike decided to reverse into the parking space. And he did it! And the car is facing out, so should be a breeze to leave...ha, I don't think so.

After siesta we set off to explore Granada in the evening. It's very different from any other Spanish city I've been too, the Arabic influence is evident everywhere. In the shops, buildings, restaurants etc. 

Plaza Isabel, our homing beacon for this city.

Ice creams are everywhere, haven't tried one yet because I can't decide on the best decoration.

On Sunday we got up early to visit the Alhambra, the main attraction in town. Getting tickets in advance is advised but we had tried and had no luck. So, along with a couple of hundred or so others, we lined up at 7a.m. in the hope of securing ourselves one of the limited tickets available each day for sale. Our strategy of being the in both queues, cash and credit card sales, worked! Hooray. (But if you did miss out on a ticket, there is much of the complex that is open to the public, you just can't get into the prized bits).

It was still dark when we arrived to wait for our tickets.

Well, the Alhambra is worth it. We spent most of the day there exploring each of the palaces, fortresses, gardens, chapels and surrounds. The highlight being the Nasrid Palaces. 

The palace of Carlos V, round on the inside and square on the outside.

The fortress of Alcazaba with its views over the city.

Best view of the Cathedral in town is from the Alcazaba as its completely surrounded.

Nasrid Palaces and gardens with its intricate plaster carvings and Arabic script.

The only original remaining stained glass window after the civil wars.

After a break at the Parador Hotel, in the old convent within the grounds of the Alhambra, we headed over to Generalife, another set of palaces and gardens. Many jigsaw worthy scenes.

Dinner with a view in Albacin.

On Monday we had a free day to explore Granada, I went in search of churros with chocolate in Realejo at the Futbal Cafe, an institution in Granada.

Then checked out Centro and the area around the Cathedral.

Roma women by the cathedral try to force cypress sprigs on you, sometimes with the promise of telling your fortune. Methinks it could involve some light fingered removal of property.

The artisans market.

An old Arabic Carmen, (house).

Calle Neuva during the day, much less crowded than in Saturday night.

In the evening we climbed to the viewpoint of the Alhambra at Plaza San  Nicholad in Albacin.

And wound our way back down stopping for tapas at several cafes.