Here’s part 2 of our Spain family vacation. Having lived in Spain as a college student and now returning with my family there were certain sites I just had to show them and that I needed to see again for myself.
At the top of my list despite the bit of extra travel was the Alhambra in Granada. Now do not confuse the Spanish city of Granada with the Caribbean island of Grenada: they are not only located on totally different continents, but they are not alike in any way. And if I may point out, neither is better than the other!
My husband, daughter and I were there to visit our college age son, whose turn it is to retrace some of his mother’s footprints as he spends his own semester in Spain.
I recall the feeling of enchantment when I first stepped into the Alhambra many years ago. So my expectations were certainly high for this return trip. This Moorish Palace, once built as a fortress, boasts intricate architecture with beautiful archways, expansive courtyards and floral carvings. All so typical of the Muslim culture that built the structures centuries ago. I was pleased to discover that it still felt magical to be there. The Generalife Gardens, full of brightly colored flowers, ornamental plants, and spouting fountains are as meticulously manicured as I recalled them. And its location perched atop the mountains provides lovely views of the town below.
Due to the local train station in Granada being under construction during our visit, we had a slight detour via bus and train to get to our next must-see destination in Spain. Nothing was stopping us, so off we went to see the jewel of southern Spain and a personal favorite – Sevilla!
So charming, so pretty, so typical of what I envisioned a Spanish town would look and feel like when I first visited many years ago. That was why I originally fell in love with Seville, or as we pronounce it in Spanish and how I always refer to it, Sevilla.
Just being in the south of Spain you can feel the warm Andalusian culture as the temps warm up. While there they warned us it will get hot and humid in the city during the summer months. But we were traveling in the spring so for us the weather was just perfect.
First stop was the Cathedral. It is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world – that is impressive. In 1987 it was registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, so you know it is special. This cathedral is home to the largest and richest altarpiece in the world! And to the left of the Capilla Real is the entrance to the wonderful Moorish minaret, La Giralda, which functions as the cathedral’s bell tower. Naturally, my family wanted to climb to the top. Good thing I packed good walking shoes and extra water.
Everyone who visits Sevilla must take a guided tour of The Alcazar, one of the most important monumental compounds not only in the city, but in the country itself. Like the Alhambra, this palace is full of beautifully detailed architecture and sprawling gardens that draw you in with peace and serenity.
Afterwards it was time for a lovely leisurely lunch including some sangria and then off to explore the city – one plaza at a time. Yes, the famed plazas that the locals as well as the pigeons love so much. Why doesn’t America have plazas, asked my husband? Instead we have strip malls. Spain is not just a different culture but a totally different way of living; taking a breath to spend an afternoon enjoying the outdoors in the middle of the day. As we explored more of the city, we headed off to find Plaza de España, the most famous of all. I so barely remembered it. But once it came to full view, I was awed and captivated again. Right away I remembered it was where they filmed a scene of “Star Wars” in addition to other movies such as “Lawrence of Arabia”.
After an afternoon full of walking and touring, it was time for a siesta – Spanish style – so we headed back to our comfortable hotel room. We needed to get rejuvenated for the Flamenco dance show I had planned for us that evening. While I had seen Flamenco before, my family had not. I was not sure what they would think of it. But they were delighted and entertained. Sevilla being the birthplace of this beautiful gypsy dance, it was the perfect place for them experience it on our last night.
Now just when you probably think I am done, the next morning we board a train, to our next stop – central Spain. And that’s for next month, amigos!
