Granada, Spain | August 12th-14th, 2019
The party city (Malaga) had worn us out, so we chose a secluded campsite outside of Granada to relax and get organized. We did some laundry and read our books while enjoying the cool breeze.
We slept in late and then drove the rest of the way to the top of the mountain where we had stayed and were greeted by a spectacular view. We found a lookout tower and a panoramic shot of the surrounding towns. It was really neat! We drove around a bit and ended up at the Nevada Shopping Mall where we ate lunch and used their electricity and WiFi.
To begin our touristy day, we parked on the outskirts of the city and walked three miles to find the Alhambra. Sadly, we did not book our tickets far enough in advance, so we knew we probably wouldn’t get inside. But we went anyway hoping that by some miracle we could get tickets at the door. No such luck! We kicked ourselves for not planning far enough ahead, but then made peace with the beautiful palace as it was still a wonderful sight from the outside.
Side note:This is one of the disadvantages of traveling on a whim and only having a rough outline of when you will be where. It was nearly impossible for us to book the tickets one to two weeks in advance (which is what the Alhambra requires) because we weren’t even sure what days we would be there. This is the way we wanted our trip to go, we didn’t want to be tied down by schedules or deadlines, so sometimes this is just what has to happen!
But trust me, we got what we came for by just walking around the city and spending time in the city center. We walked for miles just admiring the architecture and the designs of the buildings. We watched the street performers and shopped at the small kiosks and cute stores. Lunch was delicious at a small cafe by a fountain and the people were kind.
Plus, that night Ben surprised me with my birthday present! To give some background; Ben and I decided early in the year that we would not buy birthday presents for each other. Instead, we made a deal to plan a surprise “date night” to celebrate while in Europe. So, Ben’s birthday surprise to me included a night of relaxation at a luxurious spa called Hammam Al Ándalus. IT WAS FREAKING AMAZING! The spa is rich in history as it is located at the foot of the Alhambra and mirrors its unique Moorish (Arabic) design. We were transported from the busy streets of Granada to the elegant tranquility of the Turkish baths. We soaked in three different baths each increasing in temperature from cool to hot. We also lounged in a sauna with mist so thick you could scarcely breathe, yet it was so amazing and calming. Then we were whisked away for a traditional Kessa massage. This place promises to “revive your body and make you float”. That is exactly what it did for us and i would strongly recommend for you to look this up and experience it for yourself. I can’t even explain this experience and it’s impossible to show you the beauty of the building as well as the feeling of true peace. We will never forget our “water journey” at the Hammam spa.
So there you have it. Ben crushed the birthday gift and made it impossible for me to beat this date. Granada, we thank you and we will miss you dearly.
Vaughan_Ventures 