Granada is awesome, period

So I've had another lapse with the posting, but here goes. So I went to Granada last weekend and it was by far my favorite city that I've seen in Europe so far. I mean I needed to spend more time in Florence to get a feel for it, but for now Granada's holding that place. What a city. La Alhambra, in the part of the city called the Albaicin, was one of the coolest thing's I've ever seen. The history of that spot is really interesting, with the Moorish construction and various forms of Arabic rule and the following Spanish conversions that were done after Ferdinand and Isabella took over the city in 1492. The Alhambra has some of the most amazing gardens, all fed by the still functioning system of aqueducts and natural water flow coming down from the mountains using a very ingenious system of channels throughout the entire complex. Everywhere you go you see water and vegetation, it's beautiful. The air's crisp and the place is great, all around. Check out my pictures, you'll see what I mean. It's a hike to get up there if you walk from the city, we got ridiculously sweaty, but I think it was better than taking a bus. It would've lost something without actually 'assaulting' the hill.

The Granada Cathedral was absolutely huge inside. I've been in countless cathedrals so far this summer it seems, all over the place, but that one is different. It's got five naves (two more than normal), huge towering pillars inside and is generally expansive in every way. Then the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel) is next door, which was very impressive. It was exciting to see so many little parts of history come together, from way back in about first grade all the way up through the present, right in front of my eyes. Unfortunately, our very nice guide asked us not to take any pictures in there, and he hadn't said that elsewhere, so I went ahead and followed the rules. That was where things really got interesting.

The tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, among others, are in the Capilla Real for starters (although unfortunately ransacked and probably emptied out by Napoleon & co. circa 1810). They're relatively important figures, I suppose you would say, with reference to Spanish history, the history of Europe, and Christopher Columbus's eventual little trip across the ocean. Speaking of which, there's a statue of the exchange between Columbus and Isabella out in a public square on one of the main drags of the city. I enjoyed seeing Ferdinand's sword there as well, but my favorite thing was the little empty box that had contained Isabella's royal jewels. It seems that Isabella financed Columbus's journey (at least in part) with the jewels previously contained within. How great is that? Seriously. That whole sailing the ocean blue in 1492 thing, coming down to this little box that the lady in the tomb in the other room gave to the guy from the statue outside to go find India and happen to run into America. Again, relatively important.

So I could go on and on and on about Granada, how much I want to go back, but I won't. I have already. I only still need to mention a few more things. I got to see a Flamenco show, one of the real cultural Spanish music traditions that actually originated in Andalusia (the province Granada is located in). It was a fun night with some really fast feet and quality dancing. I enjoyed seeing the Palace of Carlos V (where they used to hold bullfights in the inner ring), and if you like tea or relaxing massages or spas (there are several local baths that are pretty famous), then this is the place to be. Also, ordering a beer or pretty much any drink in a local bar will cost you only about €2 or so (maybe $3 US) and will come with the tapa of the day for free. It's their local tradition (the history of which I don't know, sadly). If several people order drinks, you get a huge plate of tapas, and the second round of drinks will often get you whatever the secondary tapa of the day is at that bar. I found that very interesting, kind of exciting, and unbelievably cheap which is something that I have not experienced elsewhere this summer. At all. Anywhere.

So again, I've posted a new round of pictures for you to check out; the link's off to the side if you haven't noticed it yet. I've already experienced yet another exciting event this last weekend here in Barcelona, but I'm running extremely long, so I'll have to keep you waiting in suspense for another day.