The ´rents in Granada
Trip Start
Apr 18, 2007
1
46
54
Trip End
Ongoing
Granada,
Spain
Monday, October 8, 2007
I arrived in Granada a week ago and practically killing myself showing my parents around by day and spending time with friends and salsa dancing by night. My parents just left for Sevilla to pick up a car and drive to Arcos de la Fontera for 3 days and then Rhonda for another 3. They are going to be slumming it around Spain, just like their daughter (the tree doesn't fall far from the apple) until the end of October. I hope to see them again before they return to the states, either in Denia or in Barcelona. It was really great so see them again after a six month absense, the longest Sandra ever been away from Mommy and Daddy. I was so excited to show the folks this wonderful little city and watch them fall in love with it as I had. Its also great to be back in the sun and familiar surroundings speaking a familiar language with familiar faces. For the last week I stayed in Hotel Austria in Plaza Nueva next to the Albycin with my parents and now I am staying with a Salsa friend Dr. Francisco who teaches at the Univercity here.
As always, I don't have enough time to write all of my accounts. However, this time I have a pleasant substitute to unkept promises of bloggs to come. My very own mother, has written her account of her time in Granada in which I feature. She describes of Granada and our adventures in a creative, yet concise manner. Something her daughter has never learned to do. Anyway, it should give you an idea of what I´ve been up to and be a pleasurable read. Enjoy.
Wednesday, October 3rd 2007
"Hi again
We have been in Granada with Sandra for 2 1/2 days now. She looks great and
it is wonderful to be with her. She flew here from two weeks in Germany with
different friends. We are in old Granada nestled between two hills. One is
the Albayzin or Arabic Quarter from 700 AD with whitewashed buildings
crawling up the hillside. There are narrow pebbled streets and an ancient
wall with cave homes above that. Much of this we have yet to explore. We
spent many peaceful hours today on the other hill - the Alhambra - endless
palace rooms of Moorish architecture beautifully presevered since the Moors
were ¨thrown out¨in the 1300s and endless refreshing European gardens with
flowers fountains and pools. There are wonderful views of the city and
Albayzin from the Moorish castell and the palace. Last night Ricardo - one
of Sandra's Spanish friends- took us to two tapa bars and tonight he has
invited us for wine on his terrace in the Arabic Quarter. As always -
knowing a local and Sandra's knowledge of Granada adds so much to our
experience. The weather has been mid 70 to low 80 - perfect- and the few
rain showers have been warm and breif.
We hope you are all well
Love
Marilyn, Don and Sandra"
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Sunday, October 7th 2007
"Hi everyone
We have loved Granada as everyone seems to who visits here.
As this is my travel journal as well as my contact with family and friends
this will be a long one.
Feel free to delete it, skim it or print it to read in your favorite chair.
The Alhambra with it's lush forested slopes topped by the walls of all
it's palaces, churches and castle is the back drop to nearly every scene.
The stone walls change from tan to rust to gold to foldlight over the day.
We actually had a RAINY day ! Embarrassed to say it felt refreshing ! We
"toured" the ramshackle hostel where Sandra worked it June. It is perched
high on a hillside in the Albaycin with a breathtaking view of the Alhambra
and city. The patio is crowded with animated young travellers sharing
experiences. Later we visited the cathedral. It's interior was like walking
into an old growth forest of HUGE white Roman columns soaring up to an
arching stone sky. The alter and two walls of organ pipes towered up many
stories covered in gold leaf. A humbling emotional experience .
Sun and those painfully blue skies returned. Sandra walked us up the
windy stone roads of Sacramente along whitewashed walls and past crowded
whitewashed houses crawling up the hillside. More of those terrific views !
We wandered amongst rundown hippie cave homes dug into the arid slopes
above. The entrances were cluttered with bedframes, old couches,rusted
carrages, tarps and .... Later that evening we "powered" (as Sandra put it
) to the top of the Albaycin hill to the ancient city wall. Sandra tried to
get us to climb up on it for a picnic but we old folks chickened out. Instead we sat on a lower safer wall and watched the sun set on the city and Alhambra far below. Sandra had brought Spanish wine, jamon, queso and gifts to celebrate our belated Mother's and Father's Day !
Today we spend one last day here with Sandra - I imagine she will lead
us up through the narrow streets for more adventures and views. We catch the
train to Seville tomorrow where we rent a car and drive to the hiilltowns of
Arcos and then Ronda for the next week.
Love to you all
Marilyn, Don and Sandra
Sandra sends a special large hug to Grandma, Grandpa, Nana and Brian"
