We got into Granada and had breakfast by the train station and took a taxi to our hostel. We are staying at Rambutan guesthouse and it is wonderful. It is this little gypsy run joint on the top of a hill (not fun with the packs) but it has the most amazing view of the Alahambra. Granada is heavily influenced by the arabic and moorish people who migrated here long ago. This is still evident in the various districts. We are staying in the Albaizin quarter which is very much influenced by arabic peoples. So it felt very much like Morocco. They sold all of the same products and the food was similar even down to the mint tea.
We made plans to go to the Alahambra tomorrow and wandered into town. We ended up taking and Arabic bath which was amazing. So you wear a bathing suit and when you walk in they explain how there are three pools one ice cold one bath temp and one hot. You are supposed to go warm, hot, to cool. It was lovely. The place was beautiful and dimly light and smelled of cinnamon. We went from pool to pool and then had the freedom to sauna, lay on a heated stone, soak, or drink mint tea. We soaked for a bit and then got our massages. Alicia got a exfoliating scrub and mom and I got regular massages. Afterwards I layed on the heated stone. I went for 7 twenty minute eucalyptus steam and then showered off all of the oil. We ended with a glass of mint tea and a soak in the warm pool. Overall an extremely relaxing experience. We were in the same baths that the people of the Albaizin used to bath in.
Afterwards we went on an epic trek to find a restaurant in moms travel book.. We ordered a plate of fried seafood and a salad as recommended. The fried squids and shrimps were delicious but some of the whole fried fishies were too much for me. The mid sized were fried in rings with the mouths biting the tails it was awkward.
Afterward we came back to our hostel and napped. We read and got ready for dinner leisurely. Our gypsy hostel is good for that. They are all very zen and live very much at peace where they are.
We had light tapas for dinner. Mom and I had Galacian Empanadas and Alicia had broad beans with jamon, a Granada favorite, all were great. The empanadas had tuna, onions, tomatoes, and other yumminess in them. Yes I made that word up, it seemed fitting. We ordered sangria only to find out halfway through it was a heavy spiked sangria not the regular. This had rum and vermouth in it. Not my favorite. I like the original.
We were going to see a flamenco performance given by the teacher of the man who runs our hostel but got the time wrong and are now going day after tomorrow. We ended up talking for a bit and heading back.
I am currently sitting with Alicia as she writes in her journal looking at the beautiful Alahambra which is lit at night. Tomorrow we go there and explore the town. The Alahambra is the castle where Columbus received his grant from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to find America. Crazy right. All three are buried here and we are going to see their tombs tomorrow as well. The history is amazing such a surreal experience.
I found this quote when we got to our hostel
"El mundo es un libro, y los que no viajan solo leen una pagina" Saint Augustine
In english it read the world is a book and those who do not travel only read a single page. I think it is so true, this world has so much to offer. I plan on exploring for the rest of my life.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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