Granada (Spain)

Granada ! where is that I hear you ask. Well go onto Ryan Air website and now book a return ticket direct !.

One of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C. This huge compound of buildings - including the Generalife - summer palace, with its fountains and gardens - stands at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada.

The Sacromonte hill, used to be home to a large Gypsy community and their influence can still be seen in all areas of Granada. Be careful of pick pockets. The shops certainly have the feel of gypsy influence.

We travelled via Ryan Air that now do flights direct to this hidden wonder, the flights were £74 each and the flying time approximately 2 hours 20 minutes arrive in plenty of time as security at the moment is very tight. I would also recommend that you take some food on the flight as everything has to be purchsed and it is not cheap, although by the time we got onto the plane we had already demolished are packed lunch !

As we were doing this trip on a budget we stayed at a 'Hostal' don't be put off by thinking that this means hostel, it is just a name for a cheap spanish hotel (2 stars) it was spotlessly clean with a double bed and bathroom conviniantly located for all attractions and costing 72 euro (£50) for two nights....cannot grumble at that. The hotel is only located 20 minutes from the airport and as a taxi was hard to come by, coaches are readily available and at 3 euro each a very cheap way to travel. The taxi returning to the airport was 21 euro.

The plane arrived at 11pm local time and we dumped our bags, washed faces and cleaned teeth and hit the town. Along the main road there were road works and walking needs careful attention (especially after hitting the bars), these road works have been going on for nearly two years now. On reaching the heart of Granada you are hit by the beauty of the place. Small cobbled streets strewn with bars of a plenty, so we had to try and sample as many of the bars as we could fit in a weekend. A beer grande would be an average of 1.8 euro and this would come with a plate of tapas (we still cant work out how they make their money). The tapas would get better depending on how many drink you would have, but we found in some places it was good no matter how many drinks ranging from calamari, beans, olives, meat and filled bagels. Don't forget to pay as most of the bars run a tab for you. can I recommend after a heavy drinking session finding a kebap (kebab) takeaway....I thought I was in heaven !

After a heavy Friday and Saturday session we took all of Sunday sight seeing and a MOST recommended visiting the Hammam baths for 25 euro (£17.48) with a 15 minute massage. This is such a relaxing way to finish off your trip and consists of of cave like rooms, dark with scented candles and fountains. There is a large hot pool filled with scented oils, if you feel brave enough you can dip into the cold bath which certainly clears your head. On paying you are given a numbered token, so when called you go for your devine massage. It is all mixed and dont worry how you look in your swim suits, it is dark and very tranquill so you dont feel like you are being watched.

Another small downside of Granada was if you ordered a meal, as we were mainly drinking the tapas was more than enough but on Sunday we ordered a meal and was very dissapointed and it worked out very expensive......so choose carefully.

Overall our experience was amazing and we will deffinately be going back !

Luego !