After saying goodbye to Sevilla I took the three hour train to Granada. Train travel in Europe in general is pretty nice but aside from the dropping from the sky part after a while it is just like flying and I was glad out and about in the much cooler air.
The hotel is up on a high hill and is actually old caves that were once dwellings. The bedroom part is actual cave, sealed and painted white and then the rest is old but actual construction that makes up the kitchen area and the bath. It's really cool - in both senses - as there are two space heaters already on!
The main attraction in Granada is the Alhambra which is the huge Moorish castle, summer palace and gardens across the "river" and up the other side of the hill from the city. The crowds are so vast they use timed tickets to control them. I am booked for the afternoon tomorrow.
So the city has a small town feel and has two distinct sections. The upper part where the cave is seems more local and authentic and the lower part which is filled with tourists and hippies. Not sure why but they are everywhere - and they all have dogs in tow. All I know is the barbers are starving and the hostels are making a fortune.
I had a nice lunch of non-tapas in a busy but quaint square in the upper section. Grilled green tomato wth goat cheese and chicken in mustard sauce over French fries.
I have now made my way to the lower town and a square being guarded by the castle tower across the way. I've seen a lot of bottle service in Spain and fit some reason I was in the mood for gin - so out comes a fish bowl of ice and gin and a bottle tonic.
I guess it is no surprise that there us a distinct Arabic influence here. Lots of shops and restaurants. Even a few shesha shops. (I had better get used to it)
There is a lot if activity at night near the room. Lots of small venue flamenco and well as a jazzy club that could be fun. Granada is also supposed to be the only place that still serves a free tapa with your drink. Haven't really seen that yet - I got some meat and cheese with lunch and mixed nuts with my gin. I'll keep you posted.
(Spain went an hour ahead today. Would have been nice for the apartment manager in Sevilla to say something - thankfully my phone changed automatically but could have been a problem with catching a train)
No comments:
Post a Comment