Granada, Spain
May 13-22See photos below
Our bus ride to Granada, like most of our transportation thus far, was interesting. It was a beautiful ride down to the coast and through the hills, with views of seaside towns and miles of olive trees. All was going well until we reached a high pass and, without warning, the bus began to be pounded by a barrage of hail nearly the size of golf balls. It sounded like the storm was going to tear right through the roof for two straight minutes. We slowed to a grinding pace so as not to slide off the road. Cars were pulled over, lining the highway shoulder. Then, as fast as it had started, it stopped and it was as if nothing ever happened. After a few more hours of driving we arrived at the bus station.
There was a warm breeze blowing through the city streets as we walked to our hostel for the next few nights. After thirty minutes, and with ten minutes left to go, we were greeted with a steep street that would take us to our accommodation. Sweating and tired, we wandered through the claustrophobic streets until arriving at the old, wooden front door of the Amaka House. We checked in, dropped our bags, and walked to the plaza around the corner. Still hungry after the long travel day, we sat down at the first restaurant we saw. This turned out to be a great decision, because the paella we ate was the best we had had in Spain. What made our meal even more special was the energy in the square. Kids were playing near the church, families and friends were enjoying each others company, birds were swooping in and out of sight, and the light was perfect. We couldn’t help but smile and laugh about how fortunate we felt in that moment, and about our travel experience as a whole.
The next day, after a filling dinner and a wholesome night, we hit the streets to explore the city. Venturing down the hill once more, which would be a common occurrence the next few days, we stumbled into a downtown market hosting local artists and vendors. We stopped for lunch to escape the heat, only to venture back up to the Albaicin, where the hostel is, to meander the beautiful streets. Many of the apartments were adorned with flowers and tiled decorations, making for some picturesque scenes. Finding our way through the maze that they call streets, we happened upon one of the most stunning views in the entire city; Mirador de San Nicolás. With direct views of the world-famous Alhambra, it is hard to imagine a better place to sit and enjoy a view.
That night back at the hostel, we befriended a few other travelers and enjoyed the night drinking wine and playing various card games, the most popular being ‘ride the bus’. When we ran out of the shared wine, we strolled down to a bodega for a few more bottles to ensure the games could continue. It was in that store where we learned a valuable lesson from one of our new friends; “always go for the SECOND cheapest bottle of wine, never the first.” Thanks Chris. After riding the bus late into the night, we stumbled up to our rooms for some rest. The next morning we all went for coffee at an adorable café nestled between two homes with a view of the Alhambra. After a few cups and a few “goodbyes”, we were off to Cogollos Vega; a small town thirty minutes outside of the city center for a few days of hiking, climbing, and a more laid back atmosphere.
