Spanish Edition: Granada

While Al Hambra is the most famous attraction in Granada, the city itself is quite interesting and whimsical.

It felt to me, that Granada itself consists of 4 distinct parts - Al Hambra, Old Arabic 'hood of AlBaizyn, fun gypsy neighborhood of Sacromonte and boring metropolis of contemporary Granada.

We stayed in a charming AlBaizyn, with it's whitewashed walls, narrow "kissing" alleys, mosques converted into churches and flowers spilling onto shady, labyrinth-like streets from the gated courtyards.

I loved it there.

Sacromonte. I'm not sure how to describe it. It's a home to almost 50k gypsies, and basically, it's a bunch a whitewashed caves that were made into homes and flamenco halls. It's up on the hills, a bit dangerous, romantic and strange place.

When Michelle Obama came to Granada a couple of years ago, she visited Sacromonte and watched flamenco there. There's a huge picture of her with Gypsy dancers hanging on the wall in one of the flamenco caves-halls.

Winding streets of AlBaizyn

One of 20 converted mosques. We lived just around the corner.

Isn't he handsome?

Behind the gated patio



Silly pic of me.  Typical AlBaizyn courtyard.



Grand Mosque of Granada.  Beautiful and serene place, looking out to Al Hambra.

Sacromonte

Gypsy Mamas

Cave converted into Flamenco Hall