Between the sun and the snow!

If I sounded about put off about Granada yesterday I was perhaps underwhelmed by the downtown area. However I did not take into account that it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and everyone was out. Today it was very manageable and the sun was the warmest I've felt so far. Although it was freezing last night 

I am stilling on a lovely balcony not far from the cave in the upper section. I am enjoying a glass of wine on a comfortable wicker sofa and looking across to the Alhambra and the snow capped Sierra Nevada mountains in the background

Last night after my walk around town I pondered my agenda and found that another flamenco show was a mere 250 feet away. 

The shows in the caves are a bit less formal and have several female dancers guitarists and singers. It is a gypsy style show and is reminiscent of the previous residents of the caves - and perhaps the abundance of hippies!

The show was a bit disorganized at first and the service could have been better (I got talked into the tapas package which was fine but well more than I wanted at 11pm). Ultimately I enjoyed it and actually just saw an overpriced watercolor print that was very evokotive of the experience. I'll think on that, as I still have no souviner of Spain. 

After perhaps my best sleep of the trip - quiet and dark in the cave! I stumbled into town for some coffee and a traditional Spanish breakfast - ham, cheese and tomato sandwich. I did a bit of a wander and have yet to see the proliferation of tapas bars like in Sevilla. And I'm ok with that except for all the talk of the free tapa with your drink. (Need to research Bourdain)

Then it was time for the big attraction - the Alhambra. It is Spain's biggest attraction. And ps there is very limited bullfighting in Spain and it usually starts after Easter. It is so big you must buy advance tickets and the main palace is a timed entry. There are three parts - the summer palace and gardens, the castle and the Moorish palace. So it combines lots of things I've seen but on a grander scale and very nicely presented. Surprisingly I haven't read of as much about Moorish palaces even in Morocco. 

The gardens must be very nice in another month but even now are amazing. And the architecture, tile work and intricate stone or plaster detail is amazing. There is also an abundance of water and fountains and many of them are connected by small tracks in the floor and even down the handrails in the stairs. 

I booked my ticket for 5pm and according to the website there were hundreds of spaces left. But it was packed and that definately detracted - especially the tour groups. But it was a good afternoon - almost four hours - and I am thoroughly glad to have made the trip. 

It appears I have a big of a free day tomorrow. Which wasn't really planned but is unfortunately too difficult to change now. I have been carrying a book which I gave yet to open or I could look for a trip out of town but I don't think there is much to be had. Need to find internet and some dinner. 

And the sun is setting and the snow suddenly feels much closer. 

[surpringly there are a lot more English speaking tourists in Granada - in fact the entire flamenco show from last night was English speaking. But the service staff is decidedly not - my cavekeeper who replied to all my emails in perfect grammer and tense barely speaks a word]