Spain 6/12/2011-Granada (Read below first)

We made it to Granada! We arrived at our hotel and got settled around midnight. Navigating the city was a bit difficult, especially since Matt decided spending 2 extra Euros to buy the nice atlas with enlarged city views was unnecessary. He seemed to believe we could use WIFI internet and printed maps from the internet to navigate. Fail! Our "hotel" in Granada was quite intertesting. It had four separate twin beds, probably purchased right after the building was built in the 1400s. The pillows were a little flat, but that's not even the best part. The web site advertised a choice of private shower or bath; I chose shower assuming it would be part of an entire bathroom. However, it was a shower and sink in the middle of our room, right next to the window.

Shower in the middle of our room...Matt doing laundry in the sink-traveling cheap at its finest.

 We were also starving after arriving, but were unable to find anything open besides shoarma. This was the low point of the trip. Everyone was tired, angry, hungry, and grouchy and in the end we just had to go our separate ways and take a break from each other. Julia and I did our own thing while the boys went out on their own. The good news is, we all woke up the next morning in much better moods and ready to see the Alhambra.

Matt, Max, Me, and Julia happy
atop the Alhambra

Alhambra from a distance at sunset

The Alhambra is the most visited landmark in Spain, with over 3 million visitors per year. It was almost chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Alahambra is an old Moor Palace that is very well preserved and absolutely beautiful. Don't worry there are pictures to follow. The other great thing I can say about this destination is that they do an excellent job of crowd control. In order to better preserve the palace, only a certain number of people are allowed in at a time. Instead of having insanely long lines like most other monuments, they give you a ticket stating the time you can enter and must leave. It makes the whole experience much more enjoyable. The Alahambra is absolutely huge and it took us about three hours to hike all the way through, plus an hour to eat while waiting to enter. After all this, we didn't have time to see anything else in Granada. The stop in Granada is absolutely worth the journey if only to see the Alahambra. After sweating all day, it was time for four stinky tired people to jump back in our tiny car and head to Seville.

On the road again....
-Meg