Se fue a Granada para silencio y tiempo, y Granada le sobrendio armania y eternidad...

He went to Granada for silence and time,
and Granada surprised him with harmony and eternity.

-Manuel de Falla

So we made it back from the deep south of Spain, it was a glorius five days spent in Granada. I never thought I would be able to make it back to soon, it truly is a magnificent place. After meeting Em's mom in Madrid we raced down to Granada on Friday morning and went straight up to the Alhambra. One of the oldest buildings in Spain, this muslim stronghold looks over the city, keeping guard over the past. Consisting of three parts: the fortress, the Palace, and the Generalife, the Alhambra is one of the largest collections of mudejar art in Spain. Built in the 7th century it has been added to by many kings, and was once even the court of Ferdinand and Isabel. It is here where they received Christopher Columbus and sent him to the Americas. Anyways as always, the palace was gorgeous with its open entryways and courtyards. We really lucked out, it wasn't super cold outside either.

Mudejar art at its finest...

Just look at that tile pattern....

They sure used water well!


La Alambra at night.

El patio de los leones
One of the roses from the Generalife

Las tres americanas from atop the fortress

After we found our way down the mountain, we definitely made our way towards tapas!!! (Granada is the only city left in Spain that, when you order a drink, they bring a tiny appetizer...for free!) Ohhhhh....I forgot how good the tapas were! Slowly but surely everything became really familiar...almost like I had never left! That night we tapaed at a few new restaurants and then went salsa dancing with my old salsa instructor! It was rad to dance again!

My birthday cooke from Em's mom!....a Polar Bear!!!

The next day, Saturday, I was officially 23! and ohhhhh...what a day we had! We slept in pretty late....cause you know, I actually forgot about he nightlife in Granada. We didn't get home until about 5 am...and thats early! Anyways, we eventually got ourselves up and made our way over to Parque Federico Garcia Lorca, which, I don't know how I didn't know this, actually has the summer house of the Garcia Lorca family in it! I can't believe I didn't know about it. So that was one of my birthday wishes, to go inside. What a surreal experience. He is by far my favorite Spanish author, and here I was inside his house. It was like mecca. We walked the grounds and took the tour of the house which was absolutely beautiful. I got to see the desk where he wrote some of his most famous plays!

Dentro de la fragua lloran,
dando gritos, los gitanos.
El aire la vela, vela.
El aire la está velando.
- Romance de la luna, luna

Lorca's front door!!!!!

It's no wonder he had so much inspiration...he was drowing in it!
The name of the house, after his mother

Later that night we were lucky enough to come across tickets for a flamenco show up in the Albaicin. One of the best shows I have seen there yet, her name was Ana Cali, and she was incredible! Absolutely breathtaking and gorgeous. After the flamenco show, we again trekked down the mountain and set out for more tapas! I remembered a really good Moroccan tapas place that was awesome! The girls surprised me with a birthday couscous...way better than a cake! hahaha. We had a good time though. AFTER THAT we went dancing (but only after spending a couple hours in the tapas bar!) we headed to my favorite club Vogue that plays techno, house, and rock...so many memories! haha. we decided to leave around 6:00 and we headed over to another favorite hangout to get churros and chocolate...we didn't get home until at least 7:00 am! Oh I love Granada!!

The Granada Cathedral in all its baroque splendor

On Sunday the four of us decided to drive to Malaga for the night. We stayed in this beautiful hotel in Torremolinos that was directly on the beach. We're talking ocean-view balcony room....I could practically taste the water from my bedroom window. It was gorgeous...I still can't believe that it was December and we were walking around without coats. On Monday we wandered around Malaga for awhile which, like Granada is rich in Muslim influence. Orange trees everywhere, Malaga has this eerie calm to it. City on one side, beach on the other. I don't know, it was a such a peaceful ambiance that was just tranquil.

Karli climbing an orange tree.

Oh, that's just the view from the balcony...

Drive up flower shop!
The Malaga Cathedral
Cheers....Malaga?

When we got back to Granada, I met up with my house mother, Carmen. It was so good to see her! She hadn't changed a bit and we had a nice visit! Her boys have gotten so big....the little one is bigger than me now...(yea, I know, that's hard to beat) It was really nice to see her. That night we spent one last night tapaing it out....hoping all over the place and just hanging out! I thoroughly enjoyed being there and can't believe how much I missed this city! I mean, Calatayud is nice...but Granada has mi corazon...It was truly sad to leave.

Me and Carmen!

One last birthday celebration at the end of the trip...don't we look a little tired?

So, next stop....America! Can't wait to see everyone!!