Sabbatical 9/04 - Alhambra (Part II)
After my extensive morning in the Alhambra led to a nap for both me and my camera battery, we both awoke recharged and ready to visit the Generalife palace at the other end of the extensive Alhambra complex. The Generalife was the summer palace of the Nasrid Dynasty, and although the buildings that comprise it are less ornately decorated than the main palaces, the gardens are even more extensive.
First, of course, I had to get into it. It turns out that my ticket for the Nasrid Palaces, which also covered the Generalife, was not just timed entry but expired at a certain time. I found this out at the entrance, which meant that I had to go buy another ticket for the Generalife. Fortunately, the Generalife is much easier to get into than the Nasrid Palaces, so this was quickly accomplished.
From here I wandered through the grounds en route to the Generalife entrance. I passed an old convent and various other small Catholic religious buildings. I went near the outdoor stage and auditorium that is used for concerts. Even by the standards of the Alhambra, that particular portion of the grounds has more than usually extensive gardens, hedges and fountains.
The Generalife itself is definitely the least impressive part of the Alhambra. The layout of the rooms is much like that of the Nasrid Palaces I'd visited in the morning, but the tile and plaster is significantly less impressive, most likely because it was never the official residence of any Kings, just a summer residence. That said, both the Patio de La Acequia (literally: "Patio of the Irrigation Ditch") and Patio of the Cypresses had stunning flowers along the fountains. As with the parts of the complex I visited in the morning, the irrigation is driven by the original gravity works built in 1200, including one irrigation pipe that is inside a stair railing.
Because the Generalife is at the other end of the complex you get completely different views of Granada from the windows and vistas. Then I left the Generalife and walked down a long pathway which is under such a thick canopy of trees that it feels like you are walking down a green tunnel. Alas, this tunnel led to the exit, for I had seen quite literally every building that was open in the complex, and the vast majority of the gardens.
When I walked down the hill to my hotel it still wasn't terribly late, so I opted to take the "hop on hop off" tourist bus for Granada. After all, it had worked well in Barcelona, and there was a stop was right next to my hotel. Unfortunately, Granada is comparatively light on the attractions compared to Barcelona, or even to Cleveland. I got off to photograph a fountain at Jardines del Triunfo and some statuary near an old hospital, but nothing at any of the other stops motivated me to get off. Worse, long stretches of the route was basically looking at a wall on either side of the road, which was boring.
I had a large meal of paella at the city plaza, followed it up with some gelato, walked around the old quarter for a bit and went to bed early after watching the sunset. It had been a long day, and I had to be up early to get to the airport.
The 37 photos in this set are from my afternoon at the Alhambra and from elsewhere in Granada.
First, of course, I had to get into it. It turns out that my ticket for the Nasrid Palaces, which also covered the Generalife, was not just timed entry but expired at a certain time. I found this out at the entrance, which meant that I had to go buy another ticket for the Generalife. Fortunately, the Generalife is much easier to get into than the Nasrid Palaces, so this was quickly accomplished.
From here I wandered through the grounds en route to the Generalife entrance. I passed an old convent and various other small Catholic religious buildings. I went near the outdoor stage and auditorium that is used for concerts. Even by the standards of the Alhambra, that particular portion of the grounds has more than usually extensive gardens, hedges and fountains.
The Generalife itself is definitely the least impressive part of the Alhambra. The layout of the rooms is much like that of the Nasrid Palaces I'd visited in the morning, but the tile and plaster is significantly less impressive, most likely because it was never the official residence of any Kings, just a summer residence. That said, both the Patio de La Acequia (literally: "Patio of the Irrigation Ditch") and Patio of the Cypresses had stunning flowers along the fountains. As with the parts of the complex I visited in the morning, the irrigation is driven by the original gravity works built in 1200, including one irrigation pipe that is inside a stair railing.
Because the Generalife is at the other end of the complex you get completely different views of Granada from the windows and vistas. Then I left the Generalife and walked down a long pathway which is under such a thick canopy of trees that it feels like you are walking down a green tunnel. Alas, this tunnel led to the exit, for I had seen quite literally every building that was open in the complex, and the vast majority of the gardens.
When I walked down the hill to my hotel it still wasn't terribly late, so I opted to take the "hop on hop off" tourist bus for Granada. After all, it had worked well in Barcelona, and there was a stop was right next to my hotel. Unfortunately, Granada is comparatively light on the attractions compared to Barcelona, or even to Cleveland. I got off to photograph a fountain at Jardines del Triunfo and some statuary near an old hospital, but nothing at any of the other stops motivated me to get off. Worse, long stretches of the route was basically looking at a wall on either side of the road, which was boring.
I had a large meal of paella at the city plaza, followed it up with some gelato, walked around the old quarter for a bit and went to bed early after watching the sunset. It had been a long day, and I had to be up early to get to the airport.
The 37 photos in this set are from my afternoon at the Alhambra and from elsewhere in Granada.