GRANADA

We started our journey to Andalusia bright and early on Thursday morning. I met my parents, as I promised, at the Plaza at 8 to escort them to the bus on time. I also took them to my favorite grocery store, Super 24 hours, for some breakfast. The bus pulled out of Plaza Gabriel y Galan at 8:30, and we started the six-hour journey to the southernmost province of Spain.

The bus ride to Andalusia was pretty picturesque. Much like the ride to Barcelona, the landscape was varied, ranging from gently rolling hills and flat plans to mountainous and rocky regions. As we neared closer to Granada the, we started to notice all the olive trees. A few here and there at first and then there were millions and millions. As far as the eye could the land was covered with olive trees, and if there was a mountain or a canyon then the land was terraced so as many olive trees as possible could be fit. I guess as one of Spain’s only exports, its important for them to grow as many as possible.

We entered into the city of Granada and we were dropped off at our hotel called Saray. Our hotel was another amazing four-star accomadation complete with a pool and free Wi-fi. I was put in the triple room, but I knew I would be staying with my parents the entire time. We had about an hour in the hotel to freshen up before we left as group to go into the center of town.

The bus took us into the center of town and Jesus showed un the main road, Gran Via. Then we walked up through the Arabic area to a lookout point. There were tons of cool hippie shops selling everything from hukas to dresses that all the girls were dying to browse through. The walk up the twisty winding streets was quite challenging. Every time you thought you reached the top of the hill the street would curve the other way and the hill would be keep going.

The lookout was set on top of a hill and had a view of Alhabra and the distant snow capped Sierra Nevada mountain range. This view is probably in my top five best views of my life. I could see the entire castles, both the Arabic and the Spanish one. I could see the summer palace and the wall surrounding the hill top palace. It was incredible. The look out area was filled with all sorts of tourists taking in the incredible vista, and several other slightly sketchy hippies. There were some creepers selling jewelry, some playing music and other just selling pot and smoking it. I caught quite a few drug deals. I even got some pictures of one going down. The hippies did not seem that concerned though, even when the cops showed up they just continued doing their thing.

We walked back down to the main street after everyone had gotten their fill of taking pictures. Jesus told us how to get back to the hotel and then he set us free to wander back to the hotel. We had dinner at the hotel when we returned. It was just another buffet, but I tried my first taste of real Spanish Gazpacho. It was delicious!