To Spain and back - part 1, Granada

We have just arrived back in France from Granada.  It was a wonderful week despite occasional torrential rain, and we were lucky to stay with our friend Brenda whose knowledge of the Moorish past of the city is extensive and who offered her services so willingly as a guide.  We found Granada really attractive and will certainly return, if only because we have yet to see all of the Alhambra.

Some of the best moments were spent visiting Nasrid (mediaeval muslim) houses from the humblest to the richest.  The decorated arches over doorways and windows, the courtyards with pools, galleries with wooden balustrades and the play of light and shade were wonderful.  Here are a couple of pictures:

Alongside this restrained beauty the baroque excesses of some of the Christian churches was rather hard to bear, but taken in small doses there were some fine scuplptures and ornaments.

We did a lot of walking and found wonderful views of the Mediaeveal Albayzin area, not least this one from the top of the Alhambra fort.

We were lucky enough to be around for the Festival of Crosses on 3 May with displays of red-flowered crosses, plants, copper pots and other items including apples speared with scissors (a symbol intended to ward off evil spirits):



Despite failing to get tickets for 2 of the palaces, we saw a lot of the Alhambra, including the Generalife and gardens and the forts, and came away with memories and photos to treasure:

After a week we've come away with a strong desire to return, and views of the Sierra Nevada above the city fresh in our minds.