Indescribable Beauty

I’ve spent weeks contemplating how to begin this article other than using cliche words like “Beautiful, Charming, Breathtaking,  Awe-Inspiring” but in this case it’s unavoidable. The town of Granada, Spain really is all of these things and it ranks high on my list of  “Most Beautiful European Spots Ever”.  

Here’s a short recap of my 2 night visit in September and a few tips for those of you who are planning a trip there  –

Living Like A Local In Granada

From the moment we stepped foot into the entrance of our accommodation, a private guest house detached from a larger home in the middle of the Albayzín neighborhood, I fell in love!

Filled with Spanish style antique furniture and lamps that were all clearly treasured pieces in the family collection, the guest house was inviting and a picture of serenity.

Two sets of french doors in the living room opened to the owners’ private garden that we were able to use during our stay.  The garden gave us the opportunity to pick and eat our own pomegranates, figs, or any other type of fruit growing from the trees.

If you can stay at an apartment in the middle of a residential neighborhood such as the Albayzín, you’ll experience the city more like a “local” than staying in a hotel in the center of town. I highly recommend it. We rented ours through Airbnb. 

 

Don’t Miss Out On…

The Alhambra

The Alhambra is the famed sight most associated with a visit to Granada, but when a guide informed us we should plan at least 4 hours for our visit I felt my eyes glazing over. What I expected to be a long boring day ahead transformed itself into an amazing tourist experience overall.  Though crowded, the Alhambra complex was so large that there was plenty of opportunity for personal space and to enjoy a leisurely walk through the Generalife gardens, marveling at the views of the mountains and the town of Granada below.

The Albayzín Neighborhood – Scenic Views & Great Walks!

As I weaved in and out of narrow cobblestone streets, I discovered small independent shops selling mouth-watering cookies and freshly baked bread and croissants. I watched old men chatting together on a bench as they observed life around them.

It’s easy to get lost in the streets, and I’d advise GETTING LOST. You’ll be surprised at all the amazing things you’ll see.

The Plaza de San Nicolas is the really touristy part of the neighborhood, but head down below to one of the great restaurants and bars to get away from the crowd and take in the views of the town, the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada mountains!

An Activity To Consider

Segway Tour

My segway handle was unfortunately half broken and I had to pull the handle to the far right in order for it to move in a straight direction. One hour into our three hour tour I became a little intimidated as we wound our way down very steep cobblestone hills in the Albayzín neighborhood. I felt like a beginner skier who accidentally veered onto an expert ski slope full of moguls!

Once during our 3 hour tour I even made the worst Segway mistake ever…I attempted to get off the Segway before I had stationed it solidly against the wall and it started speeding away on its own until our guide yelled at me to jump back on it. I have no excuse, I’m a klutz sometimes!

After that mishap, Jim, looking worried as to what clumsy move I’d make next, urged me to switch and use his less broken segway the rest of the tour, which I did. (See picture below where I’m faking a very confident look!)

I do recommend this tour, even for the klutzy people. It’s a lot of fun if you follow the basic rules. A little advance preparation is something to consider (read this Segway guide before you go). As you probably already figured out, I did ZERO advance preparation!

Short But Wonderful Stay

Two nights in Granada is a good amount of time to get a feel for the town, but you could easily spend a week or two or more based upon the type of experience you’re looking for. The Andalucia tourism website has some useful information for planning your trip.

Our experience was exactly how I envisioned it – eating, relaxing and admiring the views.  A trip I will never forget.