La Alhambra

 

 

Started the morning at 6 with a brisk 30 minute walk up to the ticket office. Despite seeing no one except taxi drivers at Plaza Nueva, at 6:30 I found about 35 people waiting for the 8 am opening of the ticket office. I had a momentary flash of panic when I realized the ticket office only took cash and cash in my pockets was a few euros short for the tickets I wanted. However, ever resourceful, my earlier life experience came in very handy as I panhandled 10 euros from the couple from the Netherlands standing behind me in line.

 

After a quick nap and breakfast, we returned to La Alhambra (from the Arabic al-qala'a meaning red castle) and didn't leave until 11 pm. It was an amazing day - Islamic palaces, beautiful gardens, fountains, mosque baths, a convent turned parador (Spain has taken many old buildings and converted them into hotels; the one at Granada is one of the nicest), the water stairway, the incredible vistas, and many other fabulous sights. It was a hot day so our lunch and mid-afternoon stop at the parador's terrace restaurant was welcome and oh so refreshing.

Granada became the last bastion of Moorish rule in Spain and prospered for about 250 years before royal infighting weakened the empire and led to the reconquest by the Catholic monarchs (Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabelle of Castile evidently entered as conquerors in Moorish dress).

 

 

During the Nasrid emirs' rule in the 13th and 14th centuries La Alhambra became a fortress-palace complex with an adjoining village. After la reconquista, the victors made changes (mosque replaced with church, convent built) followed by the changes made by Charles V who after visiting decided to build his palace there in the 1500's. During our visit, we were visibly reminded of the different cultures that have left their mark and simply amazed at the architecture and craft of those times.

We stayed and visiting the Nasrid Palaces under lights and were surprised at the differences made visible under the artificial light - brighter colors emerged and the 3D nature of some of the art/architecture was more apparent.

 

It is hard to articulate the many feelings and thoughts that occur as one wanders through amazing architecture and art created many centuries ago, in some cases walking the same paths as the creators, builders and inhabitants of a long ago age. We are filled mostly with the wonder of it all. We ended the night at the Mirador de San Nicolas - the viewpoint 10 minutes above our apartment with an incredible view back to La Alhambra.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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