It took us three hours from the Atocha in Madrid to reach Granada. Hotel Anacapri, located in the moorish quarter of Granada, remained an unsolved mystery for our taxi guy. Dragging our luggage, we found our way into our quaint and small room. They were sold out, so our request for an upgrade also went amiss.
Unperturbed, we stuck to our plan of hiking up to San Nicholas viewpoint. The hike goes right through the middle of the town, and the colorful lamps constantly attracted us like moths to a flame.
Next day, we rushed through breakfast to reach The Alhambra 10:30a tour time slot.
Being January, it was still quite chilly and cold. For the timed entry to Nasrid’s castles, I had to wear my backpack on the front, which made it feel like walking with a big belly.
The palace entry itself is ornate and spectacular. The Lions House which Moorish Sultans built over time are grand, ornate and luxurious.
The courtyards glitter with the light of the morning Sun, and reflect beautiful skies of paradise for the sultans. The lions courtyard, and main palace courtyard were especially enchanting. The roof carvings were full of geometric designs.
The entire seven heavens and paradise is carved up in the ceiling of the throne room. In places, murals depicted scenes of the battles between Christian kings and Moorish sultans.
Generalife’s fountain and flower beauty are sensory overloads.
The design of the gardens is romantic and your mood soars along the maze like pathways.
Seeing San Nicholas from the palace windows was surreal, and took us back hundreds of years. It was fitting to visit the Alhambra just before the COVID-19 lock downs.
