la alhambra wed

I woke up later than expected. I looked out the window while I had my breakfast and relized my view from yesterday was incomplete! There are white MOUNTAINS in the back, covered in snow! They're the Sierra Nevada, which is funny since that's what our mountains are called too.

I went into town via the wrong bus to the end of the line and another one from there. The original stop is LITERALLY directly in front of my hotel. How did I miss that yesterday? During my ride, it started to rain. I had Burger King for lunch. I wanted something fast and easy so I could move on to la Alhambra. I took a bus from the back side of Plaza de Isabel Catolica. It dropped me off about a block away from the ticket window.
I got my ticket and had to ask where to go in! The girl told me I needed to go straight to the palace. They have timed entry and if you're not there for yours, they send you away.
So I started the walk. I went over a bridge and through an arch and down a path. The path had a good view of the wall holding out the bad guys. The wall had viewposts or some sort of building on it periodically.














The path went through a row of manicured hedges.














It also went by lots of sort of ruins of what used to be. That's what it looked like anyway, really low stone walls. On the map, this part is called Medina.














Then I passed a row of shops. This one sold books and had a cafe.














There was one that had "Arabic photos" like they have old Western costumes you can put on in Old Town Sacramento, here they've got Arabic outfits and wigs and props.













I think this is the back of the church. I decided to ignore the church. I don't think it goes with the rest of the Alhambra theme. Alhambra was a palantine town. From the XII to XV century, it was home to Nasrid Sultans, high commanders, civil servants, and soldiers.













This is Charles V's palace. I didn't go inside. I didn't even realize I could. Apaprently it's a musuem, but they don't make the entrance very clear. The lion was on the side of the palace.















Then the path takes you to the Nasrid Palace, aka the main event. I saw a line and got scared. I tried to get in it, but apparently that was for the 1pm entrance. My ticket was for 1:30. A watch is something that every traveler should probably have, but this one doesn't wear.














Outside of the palace, my favorite thing in the area was an arch connected to the information, vending machines, bathrooms, giftshop building. It was maybe the highlight of the whole Alhambra for me. I took SEVERAL photos which you will be forced to enjoy here. The approach-view:















closeup of the front...

















view of the back, with cats

















view of the back with ME

















closeup of the interior of the arch-- there were BENCHES inside on the sides.

















Close-up from the back side with kids in it. It's amazing how many places I've been that there have been a bjillion kids out for a fieldtrip. This was no exception. That makes sense though, since it seems to be Granada sight numero uno.
















I wandered across the open area in front of Alcazaba, the military area, to check out the view.















Here's the complex next to the palace.














I decided I'd stalled enough. I went to the servicios and then got in line. I ended up near the end of the line for my time! I didn't mind that idea. It meant if I waited people would be forced to get out of my pictures. I wouldn't have more coming in. The people in front of me were American and very obnoxious. We Americans tend to discuss the STUPIDEST things. Other people probably do too, but since I can't understand them, I'm not annoyed. Does anyone really care whether or not you get out your umbrella that you brought but is still in your bag? NO! Get it out or don't, but we don't need a play-by-play of your thought processes. I'd probably say similar stuff, I admit.
They scanned our tickets and let us in the door to a tiny courtyard to another door.















The first room was already AMAZING! Its Moorish decor was fascinating. Curved arches with divets were over everything. A partial second room was upstairs in half of the area. In retrospect, this room was a borderline dud, but at the time it was AMAZING!
















There was a sort of alcove off of the room that as much more interesting-- ithad intricately carved walls with more arches over a doorway and over tiny windows overlooking Albaicin.














A doorway off to the side led to an open sort of courtyard. There wasn't really much in it, but it was stunning all the same. It also had an alcove off of the side. It had wall decor almost like wainscotting. The top half was carved wall and the bottom half was checkered colorful tiles. Without flash, it was nearly impossible to capture. I had to settle for just the patio.
















The tiny room that the patio led to had a really cool ceiling. It was wood with golden insets of a starlike pattern with white molding leading to it from the walls.














Off to the side, it also had an alcove. It had a sort of inset arch at the back of the alcove.
















Next was a huge outdoor courtyard with a big pool in the center and a view of the arched balcony above with a big room off the side with alcoves off of the room. What a collection!


















The wall between the rooms and the courtyard were really interesting.
















Here's the inside of the big room.



















And more of the courtyard out front...

















More Alhambra photos to come...