Granada

                                Granada

The train glides through a fantastic landscape from Cordoba to Granada. This is the olive producing heart of the world and for hours we pass thousands of acres and millions of trees. Actually 2.4 million acres and each tree has it's own gps designation as they are so valuable. Rocky barren soil worthless for anything else produces liquid gold. It is beyond comprehension how they tend and keep track of all of this. They produce 2 to 3 times the olive oil of any another country.

The cab drops us, suitcases and all, and driver says, "take second alley to left to find your hotel." Remember the pack light rule? We trudge across the square in the glaring noon sun and dive into the second alley. It is cool and shady and uphill and on stone streets so the suitcases rattle and vibrate. Up, dead end, try right, then an even narrower alley and there it is. Casa 1800 is one of the highest rated hotels in city and up from the patio is our room where we throw open the drapes and across the tile roof tops and up the hill is the legendary Alhambra.  A journey to find this special spot.

We are getting into Spanish time so we head off to have lunch at 3PM.

Jon loves the hams

Two fantastic salads, Jon's tomatoes and mine is oranges, salted cod, eggs and onion and black olives. Sounds awful but is like eating liquid sunshine, freshness of the oranges are ambrosia.

Music from street performers fill the air and the streets are lined with stalls selling spices. To live the moment take your spice cabinet and dump it upside down while listening to Lady of Spain on guitar.

One of the wonders of the Alhambra is the way the sun paints it red as it sets. We saw this magical moment from our room and it lasts only a few minutes, then poof it is gone.

This is the street in front of the hotel. Main doorway is just behind me.

Entrance to the hotel lobby

It is hot here in mid day but by 10 PM it is cold and at 7 AM when we head for the square for breakfast it is still cold. When I booked our tickets for the Palace for a 8:30 AM time little did I realize how pleasant it would make the visit. We are second ones in door so no crowds and it is so cool for all the time we are there that it is totally delightful. The center piece of the Alhambra is the sultans palace and the gardens.

View from windows of the palace.

The gardens of the palace are filled with fountains. First the aquaduct was located to bring in water and then the house and gardens are built around the water source. To the desert dwelling Moors water was the symbol of heaven. We are reminded once again that it is good to be king or sultan or bishop in Spain.

We are off to Seville and are drawing a few conclusions about the area. One thing that really surprises us is that this part of Spain is not a wine culture. Bars are lively but 90 percent of people are drinking sangria or mixed drinks. No wine stores and in the grocery stores wine is mostly 1 to 10 eu a bottle. Restaurants do not offer a wine list. White, tinto( summer red) or Rioja (Cabernet). However at a very nice outdoor bar we find good wine at 3 eu a glass and every glass is accompanied by a wonderful tapas compliments of the Casa. Our meals are pretty much tapas as they are so good and the perfect size. No need to split giant plates of food here and we get to try lots and lots of different dishes.

Planning this trip I checked the weather beforehand and it should be 85-89 this time of year and while hot that would not be too bad. However the weather ever fools us as it has been 95-98.  We are learning to siesta and taking long night strolls when it is cool and the cities are filled with people.

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