Granada, Day 1

We started out this morning visiting the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, the site of various fortresses since the time of the Visigoths. Parts of the current structure were first built on the site in 1328 by Alphonso XI.  It has been renovated over the ensuing years, and only a wall, the donjon, and a tower are original to that time.  Columbus met here with Queen Isabella to ask for money to finance his expedition to the Indies.  It was an important site for torture during the Inquisition.

We then took a 3 hour bus ride through miles of olive groves up to Granada.  I slept, so there are no pictures.  We checked into the hotel, went out for tapas, then took a walking tour of the Albaicin.  This neighborhood was the Arab quarter, established when Moors were driven out of other cities during the Reconquista, when Spanish Christians retook the land from the Moors who had ruled it for 700 years, and the Jews who had lived here since long before that.  Winding narrow streets, whitewashed houses, balconies, and apparently cheap housing.  There are beautiful views of the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada mountains, which today are still covered with their winter snow.

The rest of the group went to a Flamenco performance tonight, but I took a break. We are here 2 nights, so I took advantage to wash some clothes, write, and read my book.  Tomorrow morning we are off to the Alhambra, and later we go to an olive plantation, to learn how the oil is made.  There will be a tasting, too.  Another busy day I am looking forward to.

More pictures are here.