Trip Recap: Granada, Spain – The City Of Hidden Gardens

Today is a very special day because I’m inviting you to  see and somewhat ‘experience’ Granada, a truly magical place I visited in April.

If you’d like to catch up on my previous adventures in Europe, don’t be shy to check out these posts:

• Trip Recap: Paris Is Always A Good Idea (Part 1)
• Trip Recap: Paris Is Always A Good Idea (Part 2)
• Trip Recap: The City Picasso Was Born In – Malaga, Spain
• Trip Recap: Picturesque Seville & How To Travel On Your Own Safely

So many things had gone wrong *Note: not necessarily bad either! HA!*, and yet despite it all, my brother and I had grown closer than ever before!

Be prepared to laugh because we got lost soooooo many times. Actually, it all started the moment we got off the bus! *Or… wait! No… It started in the morning because that’s when a strange man started following me in Seville!* Our hotel was supposed to be about 20-30 minute walk away from the terminal, but about 15-20 minutes into it, we realized we were walking in the opposite direction. *You see, I couldn’t think straight! LOL!* But as they say, good things happen to good people. When we reached our accommodation, I was surprised to find out that what I thought was a hostel ended up being a 4-star hotel. *That’s what happens when all you pay attention is getting a good deal. Haha!*  It was pretty late and we were tired, so we called it a night and went to sleep.

Imagine my big surprise when I looked out of the window and saw this beauty!

Our plan for the day was to grab something quick to eat, make sure we knEw how to get to the train station since our train to Barcelona was departing late in the evening, and take in as much of Grenada as possible. *Dah!*

We found our way to the train station very easily, but that’s where our adventures started. We got lost! I was trying to understand the map, but it was super confusing. So my brother decided to follow his intuition and that’s how we ended up here.

 

The view was indeed spectacular, but my legs were super sore from walking around Seville the day before: I wasn’t a happy trooper by any means, and all I wanted was to see PLACES. You know what I mean, right? *Haha!* What did I do? I planted my butt down and told my brother I wouldn’t move until I knew where I was. When I was able to finally locate us on the map and emotions cooled down, we admitted to each other that we both were wrong. *True story! I’ve got a great brother, but we all know that I’m my parents’ favorite. Haha! JUST KIDDING!*

When we came across the tea stand, I knew that all the exciting stuff was just around the corner!

Pretty much around the corner was the Cathedral of Incarnation. It was intended to be a mausoleum for but Phillip II of Spain changed the location to El Escorial outside Madrid.

There was an artist playing in front of the cathedral. We could tell he was really gifted, so my brother and I spent there some time and listened to music.

 

I guess I was overcome by the beauty of location and music and decided to spread some love to. My hubby wasn’t there, and showing affection to my brother would be… ummm… wrong! That’s where this shiny knight came in to the picture. *People thought I was crazy!!!*

 

After, we headed to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex built in the first millennium. On our way there, we came across a lovely shop.

I wanted to buy absolutely everything in there. I loooove little original things; especially, if I can see someone making them in front of me!!!

Not far from there was the entrance to the Alhambra.

I wish I could tell you that it was a nice walk in the park *well… it was!*, but it was almost a full blown workout walking up all those hills *which I enjoyed nonetheless*!

Not only that the place was extremely beautiful, the views from there were breathtaking.

It’s kind of strange because out of all abundance of art in the Alhambra, I was totally mesmerized by a ceiling in the mosque baths.

I guess, when I looked into the sky through those ‘stars’, I imagined how countless people looked up there throughout the ages. I’d love to know what they thought about, if it brought them some peace and tranquility… Do you ever wonder about that kind of things?

Another special place on the territory of the Alhambra is what it used to be the Monastery of San Francisco. The Queen of Castille ans Leon, Isabella the Catholic, was buried there before her grandson, Emperor Charles, ordered that her and her husband’s remains to be moved to the Royal Chapel in 1521.

After that, my brother and I wanted to explore the park some more but somehow got confused and exited the castle instead.

In all honesty, I wasn’t too upset about  it either, I just wanted to sit in some nice square and sip on Sangria. *Wouldn’t you?!* My brother, on the other hand, was ready to do some exercises… And he did when he saw these bars!

Good for him! *No, really!!! Haha!* 

We finished off our evening sitting in a beautiful square and looking at the kids having a blast. Oh, simple life pleasures!

Do you like getting lost in new places? What was your most memorable accident?

xoxo
Olena