the various palaces, gardens, miradors and pools of El Alhambra but will simply say that if you are anywhere near Granada it is not to be missed. And, as we were told, you need to prebook and to spend as much time there as you can. If you are told to be at the entrance point to the Nazrid palaces at a particular time, because the number of people allowed in at any one time is severely restricted, do so. You are reminded every step of the way how much this matters and it is interesting to see what happens to people who don't turn up at their time or who try to get in early. We followed the advice and started queuing about 20mins ahead of our appointed hour and it was worth it.
El Ahambra does us in, particularly Rob's feet which need a real rest so quick meal as we arrive back in town, up to the terrace here for a final mint tea then bed. Granada is the first place since the day we got to Barcelona that we have been able to sleep with the windows open and caught a bit of a breeze at night. It has been a welcome relief.
Back to Madrid tomorrow on the evening train, it feels a little like coming home as we are back to the same hotel we stayed in the first time.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Spain 14/7
The Alhambra overlooks Granada and dominates a lot of tourist planning and everywhere we have spoken about it we are told to prebook. You cannot however prebook at the tourist information centre - you can do so only by phone or online. Online we go, and at the conclusion of the transaction are advised to go to a particular brand of ATM to print out our tickets. How efficient - and when I do put in my card and ask for the tickets out they come. I don't like to sound as though I don't have faith in the system but I am a little wary I must admit.
Off on the bus, earlier than our admission time of 2pm but there are areas for which you don't need a ticket. The scale of the Alhambra is amazing, particularly when you realise that once again the whole thing is not exposed. Carlos V (he of the extravagant wedding in Seville) liked staying here so much he built his own palace. Everything we hear about Carlos V leads us to see him as an extraordinarily arrogant King, and the most amazing show off of all time.
I am not going to go into a blow by blow description of 
the various palaces, gardens, miradors and pools of El Alhambra but will simply say that if you are anywhere near Granada it is not to be missed. And, as we were told, you need to prebook and to spend as much time there as you can. If you are told to be at the entrance point to the Nazrid palaces at a particular time, because the number of people allowed in at any one time is severely restricted, do so. You are reminded every step of the way how much this matters and it is interesting to see what happens to people who don't turn up at their time or who try to get in early. We followed the advice and started queuing about 20mins ahead of our appointed hour and it was worth it.
El Ahambra does us in, particularly Rob's feet which need a real rest so quick meal as we arrive back in town, up to the terrace here for a final mint tea then bed. Granada is the first place since the day we got to Barcelona that we have been able to sleep with the windows open and caught a bit of a breeze at night. It has been a welcome relief.
Back to Madrid tomorrow on the evening train, it feels a little like coming home as we are back to the same hotel we stayed in the first time.
the various palaces, gardens, miradors and pools of El Alhambra but will simply say that if you are anywhere near Granada it is not to be missed. And, as we were told, you need to prebook and to spend as much time there as you can. If you are told to be at the entrance point to the Nazrid palaces at a particular time, because the number of people allowed in at any one time is severely restricted, do so. You are reminded every step of the way how much this matters and it is interesting to see what happens to people who don't turn up at their time or who try to get in early. We followed the advice and started queuing about 20mins ahead of our appointed hour and it was worth it.
El Ahambra does us in, particularly Rob's feet which need a real rest so quick meal as we arrive back in town, up to the terrace here for a final mint tea then bed. Granada is the first place since the day we got to Barcelona that we have been able to sleep with the windows open and caught a bit of a breeze at night. It has been a welcome relief.
Back to Madrid tomorrow on the evening train, it feels a little like coming home as we are back to the same hotel we stayed in the first time.
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