Granada

On Monday we moved on to Granada, by train from Ronda and then were transferred to a bus at Antequera as the rail line has been out for some time due to track works. It was a nice trip through the Andalusian countryside, olive plantations being the main agricultural activity. The trains and stations we have been to in Spain have all been very clean and well maintained. Antequera St. Ana, where we did the bus transfer is brand new, and it looks like the new track work is for high speed trains. It is a good mode of travel in Spain.

Granada is a bustling city, with many young people as it is a university town. It is quite noisy and there are lots of motorbikes. We are staying at an NH Collection hotel, as we did in Seville, and appreciate the sound proofing, they have both been lovely places to stay. That night we went to dinner at an Andalusian restaurant and had an amazing feast of seven courses. It was a struggle! You certainly do not go hungry in this part of Spain.

The next day we hardly ate, apart from the free tapas you get whenever you order a drink in Granada.

We visited the Alhambra, one of the great sights of Europe. Beautiful gardens, a Moorish palace and a fort. It is well worth seeing, the highlight being the Palacios Nazaries. It is such a popular sight, you need to buy your tickets days ahead, and are allotted a specific entry time. The palace was built in the 14th century and gives an insight into the civilisation of Al-Andalus - rooms decorated with carved wooden ceilings, stucco 'stalactites', ceramic tiles, filigree windows and molded plaster walls; open air courtyards with ponds. 

The cathedral in Granada is very grand, but at the Monastery of St Jeronimo we saw a very striking church with fresco covered walls.