Today I’m starting a new weekly post called “Snapshot” where I’ll write about one of my favorite places in the world that I’ve visited. My first city is Granada, Spain.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Granada, it’s located in the southernmost region of Spain, Andalucía. Like most of the country, it’s a place of labyrinthine cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, and red tile roofs. It’s the quintessential Spanish town where brightly-colored bougainvillea crawl over ornate ironwork and marble fountains gurgle in central patios. Besides being famous for gypsies and flamenco, the highlight of Granada—which sets it apart from everywhere else—is definitely the 14th century Moorish palace, the Alhambra. Words can’t describe its majesty. The intricate, arabesque detail of the stone- and tile-work is absolutely astounding. Plus, the breathtaking views of the city, nestled below in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains make it truly unique.
El Patio de los Arrayanes
The first time I traveled to Granada was after college, while backpacking through Europe. A friend of mine was studying there as an exchange student at the university, so he let me crash at his dorm for about two weeks. It was great—I ate and slept for free! (I don’t think the staff ever even realized that I wasn’t part of the program.)
I was fortunate to be able to return to Granada in January of 2008. From the moment we drove into town, we headed straight for the Alhambra in order to catch the sunset. It was even more awe-inspiring than I remembered.
Everyone goes to Spain for Madrid or Barcelona, but I feel that no trip is truly complete without a visit to Granada as well.
Here are a more couple photos:
