Andalucia - Granada

Dried meat at a tapas restaurant in GranadaAlbayzin from the Alhambra hillLocal beer and YL's favourite snack in Andalucia - pickled olives. ("They're really the best I've tried! Try one!!". As if.)Inside Hall of the Sisters in the Palacio Nazaries, one of Alhambra's many fine opulent roomsWater everywhere - At the Patio de los Arrayanes (Court of the Myrtles). Because water is such a commodity amongst Islamic cultures, it is featured everywhere in the Alhambra, from fountains to water staircases to pools.

The Patio de los Leonares (Court of the Lions). The lions are under refurbishment!!! :(Archaelogical remains of the old apartments that used to be located inside the AlhambraSo now you know he's not as kayu (wooden) as he looksMy favourite feature of Andalucia - orange trees! They perfume the air such that you feel like you're in a dream, especially in SevillaInside one of the gypsy caves of Sacramento, waiting for a flamenco performance to start. These caves are still inhabited by the gypsies and are equipped with all the creature comforts, e.g. air-conditioning, TV, washing machine, etcYes, that's me with that spastic jerky move. No, I did not volunteer for this, and yes, YL laughed his liver out A typical gypsy in his cavehouse

One of the most challenging streets of Albayzin, which we climbed twice. Gosh am I unfit. How to complete the Inca trail in December??
The animals are into their siestas too

View of Alhambra complex from the lookout point near San Nicolas church in the Albayzin

Granada was the last surviving Islamic capital in Spain after Sevilla & Cordoba had fallen to the Catholic monarchs in the Middle Ages. Thousands of Arabs and Muslims flocked to this last stronghold and hence here you can sense, taste & smell of Islamic culture especially in the old city quarter of Albayzin.

Albayzin was also where we encountered the narrowest, steepest, windiest, and most uneven of the narrow, steep, windy and uneven Andalucian historical streets. At least they were well-lit and well-trafficked in Seville. When we got lost in Sevilla (which you are bound to), we could still laugh it off while backtracking or trying the other fork in the road. In Granada, because of the grafitti, deserted lanes, stillness in the air, and dimly lit (if at all) corners, I feared for my life with every turn we make, whether it was the right one or not.

Of course it didn’t help that we we out wandering about at midnight looking for our dinner (what can we say besides when in Spain, do as the Spanish does - have dinner as late as you can). Already cranky from hunger, it was definitely not smart for the husband to get us lost two nights in a row. On our second night, we ended up having a dinner of a small can of Pringles, 2 tiny tubs of Haw flakes, and a chocolate milk each back in the hotel room at 1am. Having said that, I should apologise for getting mad because I know that navigating the streets of Albayzin in the dead of the night is tough enough for any experienced trekker without having to juggle the nerves of a agitated wife. Thank you for getting us home safely!