Spain (Granada)

Granada,

The home of the Alhambra and tapas! Getting there involved a train and bus ride to the city, which was surprising since they are only about 70 miles apart. I was easily lulled to sleep on the bus ride and then woke up in a place that might as well have been 700 miles apart. Gone were the wide streets with busy glass storefronts. Instead, we were greeted by a small bus/train station that was under construction but seemed to be at a standstill for weeks. The local bus system in the city seemed to be more of a convienence for citizens rather than a policed public mode of transportation. Locals had cards that needed to have enough money for a "fare" in case if a random bus worker happened to get on your bus to actually charge you. The city and its people gave the sense that enjoying the moment and the company of others was issue number one. Our accommodations were better than many other stays that cost us double and the food and drinks were cheap (not to mention a free tapas for each drink you ordered!). While not as thriving or bustling as our previous cities, it's charm is brought by the idea a group of friends could enjoy each other's company without worrying about time or money (a rarity in the U.S.).

The Alhambra and Generalife

I wouldn't say the Alhambra is "worth the wait", but rather worth the climb! Having done a lot of walking in days past, the climb to the Alhambra seemed to be our last. Tricia most definitely underappreciated the last time she went to the top on a Segway. While taking a taxi might have been a better option for my legs, walking up the path is an experience in itself. We went to see the Alhambra early in the morning, which was great to see the views without fighting the gobs of tourist groups. The peaceful morning and unencumbered views made it a picturesque setting to take in the view of the sleepy city below. Unfortunately we were unable to stay longer to see all of it, due to our transfer to Madrid, but I definitely could see myself coming back to Granada again.