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| The Alhambra, Granada, Spain |
To go to the beginning of this book, Tropic Moon: Memories, click HERE.
For us,
Granada was the main point of the trip.
Our three days there turned out to be well worth the wait. Located
in a mountainous region of great beauty, the lands, which once attracted
Moorish sultans, now beckon skiers who flock to the popular resorts of the
nearby Sierra Nevada. But the true attraction of Granada is the Alhambra,
a palatine city that stands on a hill above Granada like an Acropolis, defended
by a series of towers and walls.
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| C'mon, Ed. Smile! It won't kill you.... |
Cumulative
history was evident at the Alhambra, starting with a military fortress
from the 9th century, and beautiful palaces built by the sultans of the Muslim
dynasty, which ran from the 13th to the 15th centuries. When Ferdinand
and Isabella, Spain's first Catholic rulers, defeated the Moors, they moved
into the Moorish palaces, combined them, and built chapels and the like.
When Charles V came along in 1526, he found the facade too unimposing
for his tastes, and added a rather incongruous Renaissance palace.
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| The Courtyard of the Lions is the main courtyard of the Nasrid dynasty Palace of the Lions, in the heart of the Alhambra, the Moorish citadel formed by a complex of palaces, gardens and forts in Granada, Spain. |
But it
was the Moorish influence that dominated, with pillars, arched gates and
passageways, and lovely stucco artwork in intricate geometric patterns covering
the interior walls. Gardens of great beauty, courtyards with reflecting
pools and spraying fountains, surrounded by masses of blooming roses greeted
the eye at every turn, and enhanced the view from every window. While we
had a lot of competition from tour groups while we were viewing the palace, by
late afternoon things had quieted down considerably. We did a little peaceful contemplation in the rose gardens of the
Generalife, with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada peaks ranged behind us, and the
city of Granada, the view framed by arches and palm trees, nestled below.
After
our time in Granada, a bus ride returned us to Almerimar and Tropic Moon.
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