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Granada
The weather has not improved and it is still raining. We set off along the coast and the road winds thru the Cabo de Gata-Nijar National Park for Granada in 301 km.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8732/...b93392dd_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-03-22 at 8.24.38 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr The Cabo de Gata-Nijar is a wild and isolated coastal preserve, which is a volcanic area with sharp peaks that fall into the Mediterranean. From the Coast you head inland and then we made a detour to check out Las Negras. It is a hip and trendy spot usually, but was pretty deserted on this cold stormy day. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7602/...dc24d8cf_c.jpggranada 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
We then made for the freeway to expedite the rest of the trip to Granada.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7700/...73ecdd3d_c.jpggranada 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr All along the sea here you see signs in Arabic for the Ports to get the ferries Africa. So exciting!! https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8827/...a33bbf3d_c.jpggranada 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We got a great deal on a hotel in the center with a view of the Monastery of San Jeronimo with its patio covered in orange trees. We had free parking out front which was cool too. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7692/...7018f655_c.jpggranada 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8684/...09975870_c.jpggranada 8 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8746/...55e0c4ae_c.jpggranada 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
We did a bit of a walking tour to see some of the action.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7695/...8dbf002b_c.jpggranada 9 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7724/...8e3f7475_c.jpggranada 10 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7626/...8bc72205_c.jpggranada 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8827/...99f9c122_c.jpggranada 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7622/...c90420c8_c.jpggranada 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7683/...5a83cbde_c.jpggranada 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Alhambra
There are a lot of tourists here, who are mostly here to see the Alhambra monument. This is a palace and fortress complex originally constructed in 889, it was renovated and rebuilt to its current form in the mid-11 th century by a Moorish Emir, and converted into a royal Palace in 1333 by the Sultan of Granada.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7687/...4ff63303_c.jpggranada 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8788/...09f9fe08_c.jpggranada 21 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Walking up to the site you stroll thru the palace gardens. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7681/...ffa41a98_c.jpggranada 27 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7596/...aaa99906_c.jpggranada 29 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8708/...c5c796a8_c.jpggranada 30 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8764/...0fb73d04_c.jpggranada 56 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
It was allowed to fall into ruins in the 1500’s and restored in the 19 Th century. A fortified wall with 13 towers encloses the palace complex. The portion on the cliffside is the citadel or alcazaba.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7631/...daca4f1e_o.jpggranada 22 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7653/...7c32ce55_c.jpggranada 24 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr This area is entered thru the “wine gate”. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8693/...b7d53565_c.jpggranada 31 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8762/...ec539dc9_c.jpggranada 32 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7617/...106ac0b5_c.jpggranada 33 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
The Nazaries or Moorish Palace is entered thru a small door from the myrtle courtyard.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7687/...54de178f_c.jpggranada 35 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8795/...fd4a4a35_c.jpggranada 58 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8762/...e3ca4faa_c.jpggranada 61 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr You enter into a reception room covered in Islamic script. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8815/...e3c04bca_c.jpggranada 65 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8693/...e2128b27_c.jpggranada 67 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8820/...f17b3672_c.jpggranada 68 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
From here you move into the hall of the ambassadors where the Emir would here petition from a seat on the top of the stairs. The façade was designed to be an imposing and intimidating show of power.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8773/...c41f237b_c.jpggranada 69 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7698/...b00533bf_c.jpggranada 70 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8823/...539c6a7f_c.jpggranada 71 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8801/...01e56f50_c.jpggranada 73 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7586/...9c112764_c.jpggranada 75 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7611/...08f09e79_c.jpggranada 78 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7706/...e08f277b_c.jpggranada 77 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7716/...bee98ffa_c.jpggranada 79 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Now you pass into a central courtyard on your way to the hall of lions. This is named for the 12 alabaster lions of the fountain. The ceilings, walls, and floors are highly decorated.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7587/...a6a227bd_c.jpggranada 81 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8803/...8e2243a6_c.jpggranada 83 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7688/...84758ca3_c.jpggranada 85 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8686/...4bbc42e8_c.jpggranada 88 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7674/...17141361_c.jpggranada 90 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
The walls of the throne room are covered in decoration.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7627/...c95be8b1_c.jpggranada 96 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7614/...576f45ac_c.jpggranada 98 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8781/...bf3bc68b_c.jpggranada 99 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7616/...819913bc_c.jpggranada 102 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7668/...9b0ff333_c.jpggranada 116 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8695/...1093e58d_c.jpggranada 118 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7706/...6fedddd6_c.jpggranada 123 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
It was a bitter cold day and now it began to rain so we took refuge in the museum inside the Palace of Charles V.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8742/...0427bc91_c.jpggranada 134 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7599/...81ced480_c.jpggranada 60 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7704/...46156023_c.jpggranada 127 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7644/...1361648d_c.jpggranada 136 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8796/...a4f2780c_c.jpggranada 137 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Marbella
Well its still raining in the always sunny south of Spain and so we headed directly southwest the 186 km to Marbella.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7632/...9b8bd98e_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-14 at 6.10.10 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We had been kindly offered a place to stay by Antonio and Natalia. We met Antonio at the BMW dealership in Madrid last week just before he left for a trip to Morocco. We arrived to there home and were served a gourmet lunch. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7645/...f91b6101_c.jpgIMG_0206 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8741/...f0a1ed88_c.jpgIMG_0209 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7705/...471f5326_c.jpgIMG_0210 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
We then rested up and waited for Orvar of the Kingdom of Sweden to arrive. He left home 4 days ago and has come almost 4000 km to meet us.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7660/...73313de6_c.jpgmarbella 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8751/...b63b19fe_c.jpgmarbella 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8689/...7d41c6cf_c.jpgmarbella 34 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Our gracious hosts chauffeured us around town and showed us some of the sights. Walking along the seashore we checked out the big boats moored there and all the fancy shops.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7620/...ac1f6313_c.jpgmarbella 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7629/...380fc9eb_c.jpgmarbella 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8810/...d447ccab_c.jpgmarbella 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7663/...679da7e7_c.jpgmarbella 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8697/...e425d5ce_c.jpgmarbella 8 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Then we toured the old city or Casco Antiguo and stopped in for some vino tinto and traditional tapas.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7610/...3b219389_c.jpgmarbella 10 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7709/...3bac2a43_c.jpgmarbella 9 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8744/...0fba357d_c.jpgmarbella 11 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7665/...cb89f9ae_c.jpgmarbella 12 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7678/...fc71f043_c.jpgmarbella 14 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8728/...914dee58_c.jpgmarbella 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7725/...31304998_c.jpgmarbella 16 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7707/...65ed1011_c.jpgmarbella 24 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7590/...57566c80_c.jpgmarbella 26 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7609/...c5f8045e_c.jpgmarbella 27 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7703/...9b849794_c.jpgDSC09020 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8809/...a28b088a_c.jpgmarbella 32 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr At home we opened the bottle of bubbles Orvar brought with him from Champagne. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7637/...f46ed94a_c.jpgmarbella 35 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
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