Granada, Spain

We took a 3 hour train ride from Seville to Granada. The scenery was rather boring, but the trains run on time. Granada is a smaller version of Seville. Except it has the Alhambra. The Moors ruled Spain from about 1000 to 1300. Then the Christians began pushing them south until Granada was the last Islam city. The sultan built a city within Granada called Alhambra as his last defense. It is a very large walled city with 3 palaces and many residences for the nobles plus gardens and more. Alas, the Moors were pushed completely out of Spain in the 1400s. Some of Alhambra was destroyed by Napolean many decades later, but the palaces remain.

Granada has other sites to visit, but the Alhambra is the key one. It is the only Moorish palace in the world outside of Arab countries.


The food continues to be hit and miss. But we did decide to splurge and go to a fine restaurant one night. The food was awesome, like any upscale restaurant. While we were eating, 12 guys came in and sat at a large table next to us. After we had all finished eating, Marcia did her normal and said hi and asked where they were from. They all worked for the same international company. Ten of them were from Egypt and 2 from Lebanon. They were extremely friendly and for the next 15 minutes we talked as if we had known one another for a long time. They then asked if they could take a photo with us, and we all began snapping away. I guess maybe there is still hope that all cultures might live together in peace one day.

We are off to Barcelona. And if you want to impress your international friends, here is how the Spanish pronouce these cities.

Seville is Sa vee ah with the accent on the vee.
Granada is just like it looks.
Barcelona is Barthalona.

Check back here for a few updates when Marcia has a chance to add her 2 cents.

Shana Tova.