The Alhambra in Granada

Well, I am having a hard time writing about the Alhambra, because it is so famous, and what do I have to add? 

Everywhere you look are blooming flowers, splashing fountains, magnificent vistas, and intricate details.

 

We paused a bit in this quiet side garden off of the oldest fortress-castle.  The other newer, fancier palace was packed with people and I did not take pictures.  There were astonishing amounts of blinding white marble.  We went with a guide because that was the only way we could get tickets.  Otherwise it was sold out.  That turned out well as we liked our guide (in Spanish) and the group was not too big.  Plus guides get to cut in line.

Someone else took this nice picture.  Tristan maybe?  We were all fighting over the camera and complaining when someone else asked for it.

At the foot of the church is a band of people in a plaza with a nice view.  We went all the way down and back up again, motivated by Tripadvisor that promised there was ice cream.

The walk down was through a magnificent park.  A massive Roman-inspired fountain fed the little creeks running down either side of the path.  The moment was cool peaceful perfection.

Until we had to go back up.

My favorite picture of the trip.

Here we are at the foot of the St. Nicolas church, looking back at the Alhambra and to the snow-capped mountains beyond.

Wyatt and I were struggling to finish our extremely tart lemon ice.  I was eavesdropping on this lady next to me, who was telling her son? daughter? how much she loved one particular church and was looking forward to the processions.  I wanted to ask about that, but I did not get a chance.  Try taking kids on an all-day walking tour with no more plan than, "I don’t know when or where, but there will be one and we will wait for it.”  I am kidding.  I had more plan than that.  I had the earliest possible dinner reservation at 8:30.

There is a little artisan fair at the plaza with the scenic overlook.  I found a little coin purse that I have been looking for ever since Angel at the hospital showed me his.  Wyatt found me one, but the snaps were too stiff and it was full of sand from the trip over from India.  That is what the girl told me.  So much for local artistry.

Tristan and Winston's ice cream was not too tart and they were off climbing immediately.  Are those parents worried my kids will fall?  They are too young to be the grumpy old people telling them not to climb on the crypt.

Every plan evolves, and mine was to have our siesta on these benches in the shade, by the babbling streams and the Romanesque fountain. That is Tristan asleep under the bush.  Though there was a lot of grumbling about going back up, it was easily my favorite moment of the day.

 

Part two tomorrow:  pointy hats!