Alhambra, Granada
Don’t fight it, just give in. That’s my advice to anyone visiting Southern Spain, a land where dinner starts at 9:30 and the whole country shuts down after lunch. Before this trip, we tried to push through the day - braving the scorching Andalusian sun just to make it to an early dinner time.
Shortly after arriving in Granada, we adopted a new rhythm. Get out early and do your sightseeing, come back to rest in the heat of the day and then go back out when the real fun begins. Take as much time off as you need during the afternoon, but whatever you do, don’t miss out on the evening.
Granada
View of Granada from our rooftop in the Albacin
Granada is still my favorite city in all of Spain. Just big enough to have a vibrant energy, yet small enough to feel manageable. Overlooked by the Alhambra, the greatest islamic palace in all of Europe, Granada teems with excitement.
We had already committed the first of our travel sins - taking rolling suitcases into the sacred Albacin or old jewish quarter. The wheels bumped over the cobblestones like two little jackhammers as people stopped mid-mouthfull to turn and see who was taking the “walk of shame” this time.
Happy to be in Spain
It started with a quiet evening in. Exhausted from driving through the Sierra Nevada mountain range, I decided to kick back on the rooftop with a glass of wine and crack open the Spain guidebook our host had graciously left us when suddenly, I heard the tapping.
The sound of Flamenco dancers in the street, their heels hitting the pavement, and nearby spectators clapping to keep the beat. The Albacin was like a tangled maze of narrow, cobblestone streets and white washed houses. You could tell the city was just coming alive and it was like a carnival of excitement.
We can’t stay in tonight, the city is calling our names.
Years of American conditioning were washed away in that one evening. The night isn’t a time to retreat back into your home to watch Netflix, it’s when the city is at its best.
Musicians were performing as families danced in the streets. Young couples were enjoying their cocktails while older couples finished their dinners. Something about these streets just made me want to walk all night.
Albacin at dusk
The magnificent architecture of the Alhambra in the soft morning sunlight
In the morning, we got up early to tour the Alhambra. Before the sun rose too high into the sky, the air was cool, fresh and dry.
Walking through the magnificient treasure trove of moorish architecture, I couldn’t help but think we were doing it right.
Do your sightseeing in the cool morning air, return to your hotel for a siesta and then head back out in the evening when the city really comes alive.
Instead of searching to find the one restaurant in all of Granada that is open at 7:00, we just stayed up a little later.
After exploring the gems of Southern Spain on two separate trips, we’ve really found a great itinerary and would love to share some of our favorite spots with you. Sarah is a registered travel agent and she can help you book your dream trip to Spain!
Sevilla
The unique moorish architecture of Seville
The Sevilla leg of our trip was where this new schedule would really be tested.
