We have come to Granada in the region of Andalucia, southern Espana.
I am writing this from the hotel lobby (air conditioned, of course because it is 38 degrees outside) at 3.30 on Friday afternoon, with a long black coffee (called a cafe americano) and a slice of strawberry tart. I have my heavily bandaged knee propped up on a padded chair and pain-killing cream smothered on my arthritic toes. Even though I managed to find those elusive sandals this morning (and on sale to boot! Paul was pleased) I just can't walk any further. So I have retired hurt - and Paul has come off the field in sympathy. It was yesterday that did it! We walked and climbed and hobbled all over the Alhambra for 6 hours in 40 degree heat.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm sitting here in the hotel lobby looking upwards at the glass roof - complete with glass elevators and lots of REAL plants. We are getting reasonably good deals at these business hotels in mid-week. We arrived at about 3.00 pm on Wednesday and decided to buy a three-day ticket on the hop on-hop off tourist bus. We spent the first day of our ticket (about 3 hours) doing the full circuit - to get a feel for the city. So the following photos are from the top of an open, moving bus in about 36 degree heat.
Granada is in the Sierra Nevada where the three highest peaks (which are quite nearby, but not in this photo) are around 3,500 metres. That is permanent snow you can see on the furtherest peaks.
As well as the heads of the Japanese couple and the Russian, who looked just like Freddy Mercury, you can see the snow caps again.
Two rivers of melted snow from the Sierra Nevada run through Granada. Here the two of them join up ... one is rushing in from the left and one from the right.
They run through the city in this very sturdy channel. I can imagine the force of water tearing down here in Spring when the snow is really melting.
Granada is a very attractive city with wide streets and footpaths and many modern buildings. Shade is always a challenge, and in this street of newly planted shade trees, a little extra was needed while they grow.
There are many parks …
... and attractive walking areas (for those who can still walk).
Here is the tower of the science museum, which is where we were planning to go today - oh, well! The observation deck is shaped like a boat and those are giant ants crawling up the side. I don't quite get the connection ........ but it is very attractive none-the-less.
But the one thing that everyone comes to Granada to see is La Alhambra......
...... a vast hillside of royal palaces, fortifications and gardens.
It was fantastic, but SO HOT!
Day 2 coming up.
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