Viaje a Granada

This weekend some friends and I took a trip to Granada, 3 hours east of Sevilla. And what a difference those 3 hours make! Granada has a completely different look and feel to it than Seville, it's actually hard to say which I prefer. It's a smaller city first of all, with more of a hippy, relaxed vibe. Also, its location at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains (I saw snow!) makes you feel far closer to the countryside. Seville can just feel like a sprawling urban area so it was nice to get a look at some natural beauty.

cathedral pretty

On our first day we had a wander around and visited the Cathedral and Royal Chapel. I loved the Cathedral (what is it with me and cathedrals seriously) because it felt so light and airy. The usual gaudy gold stuff was offset by the white walls. The Royal Chapel or Capilla Real is where two of Spain's most famous and important monarchs are buried; Ferdinand and Isabella. Short history lesson here: These two not only bankrolled Columbus and his voyage which led to the European discovery of the Americas, they are also known as the "Reyes Católicos" or Catholic Monarchs and their marriage and rule is largely considered the cause for the unification of Spain. Under their rule Catholicism reclaimed power in the Iberian peninsula, but that whole process would take too long to explain here. Basically, they are very important in Spanish history, and Granada is significant here because it was the last Muslim kingdom to fall during the Catholic reconquest.

Ok phew now that's over we can relax.

calm down and look at this cat

The weather improved for our second day which meant we could enjoy our visit to the Alhambra fortress, former seat of Muslim rule in Granada. The beautiful palaces and gardens contained within the Alhambra's walls are among the most visited attractions in Spain and the number of visitors is strictly controlled. My top tip? Bring food. We were all deliriously hungry and grumpy by the end of our 5 hour visit.

Speaking of food, Granada is an amazing place if you're hungry. They still have the old tradition of giving a free tapa with every round of drinks which can mean you never actually have to order food separately. However, the food is so cheap and so good you should do so anyway. The alcohol is also very cheap. We won't go into that. The Moorish influence in Granada is also visible in the large amounts of tea and shisha houses, which make you feel like you're stepping onto the set of Aladdin.

ooh, Arabian

Overall Granada is a beautiful city with a laid back feel and I'd recommend a trip. I'm not sure if I'll make it back because of the distance and the amount of other places I want to visit in the new year, but never say never.

on the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again...