DAY 8, 20 July, Saturday Granada Day 2
No breakfast here at the Abadia
Hotel, so the clan trooped off to the corner bar for toastadas, juice, and
coffees/hot chocolate. It was sufficient and very continental. Ian, Cathie,
Zoey and I walked up to the taxi stand and headed up, up, up to the Alhambra! Plan
for the day is to visit the Alhambra with Paul remaining in town catching up
the blog bullets for later writing. I tell you, he has the easy job!
We went early to beat the heat
and Jane had to stand in line to get the proper tickets. After about 15
minutes, I emerged victorious! There had been a glitch with the computer but I
wish they had explained that instead of letting us stand in line as they joked
and laughed while we glared at them
through the window! There are specific times to go through the Alhambra and
because of the delay we were told not stand in line but explain and they would
let us through, which they did.
The Alhambra was originally built
as a fortress in AD 889 on the remains of Roman fortifications, that fell into
disrepair and these ruins were renovated by Nasrid emir Mohammed Al -Ahmar of
the emirate of Granada. The history of this building is so complex and so
important I cannot address it here. It has seen Sultans, Kings and Queens,
squatters and even Columbus who received royal endorsement for his expedition
to the New World. It has been magnificent and in ruins and is now being
restored to it rightful place as a magnificent historic building. It is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and if you are ever fortunate visit, bring your most
comfortable shoes and a lot of stamina! Actually, go to Google and look it up,
then look at Ian and Cathies wonderful pictures!
In the meantime, Paul wrote blog
files, mailed post cards, found water, and killed time until the gaggle
returned at 1400 hrs. He waited by the taxi stand, in the shade and watched the
world go by until we returned. After descending from the magnificence we had a Siesta
until reconvening at 7:30 PM. The bus is at 9.30 and we are going to eat
beforehand, a bit early by Spanish standards!
We boarded the bus at 09:30 at
the Hotel Condor, for the Albaicin area of Granada and the flamenco show. It is called a micro bus and
small it is. These ancient streets wont take anything much larger. Our Guide
was Ignacio and our driver Daniel. We did a short walking tour of the area, it
is very traditional.As explained to us , the Arabs led there lives around their
patioed homes but the Andalusians socialize around their Plazas , lovely
restored old houses with narrow passageways which people still managed at times
to drive down! 
We headed to the restaurant /
flamenco place in Sacromonte which is the traditional , original caves area at
10.30 and waited with breathless anticipation! We were seated right in the
front row and Oleed and clapped with enormous enthusiasm. They were very
talented and Paul made a new girlfriend! One of the dancers had seen him
photographing and asked for the pictures. He was only too happy to oblige.
Minibus driver, Daniel expertly
back up to the passing zones for on
coming buses, One minibus and One full sized (huge) bus, successfully passed
each without scrapes. Ian gasped and sucked in his breathe everytime we turned
a corner. It was a virtuoso driving performance. Bravo Daniel!
They dropped us close to the
hotel and we were ready to crash as it was 1AM.Exhausted!
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