On the move in Barcelona

Today turned out to be our busiest day in Barcelona so far, as we were on the go from about 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. with only a quick stop back at the hostel to shower and change clothes!

One of today's highlights included a visit to Montjuic, the large hill that overlooks Barcelona. Montjuic is home to museums, gardens, a castle and also the main location of the 1992 Olympic site. Montjuic means "Jewish Mountain," as the hill was once a Jewish cemetery.

We began our visit by stopping by the Olympic Stadium, where we saw the buildings and fields that were home to the main events from 1992. I'll post some pictures below so you can see the impressive Torre Calatrava telecommunications tower.

From there, we took a bus up to Montjuic's castle. The castle has traditionally been used to watch over Barcelona, but it was also used as a political prison during Spain's civil war. We were able to walk around the castle and climb up to the top to get a great panoramic view of Barcelona and the port. The castle is also home to a military museum but we weren't able to see it. I'm not sure if it was closed or has been closed but all the rooms were shut. The views from the top of the castle, however, made the trip well worth our time.

On our walk back down, we stopped at the Ethnology Museum, which contained a variety of displays from across the world. The museum had everything, from swords to gourds (what you use to drink yerba mate tea in Argentina). It was probably the most unique museum I have visited. We also had a long chat with a Spanish woman we met at the museum. She explained how a lot of the young people in Spain are frustrated right now because the unemployment rate is nearly 20 percent. There have been a lot of protests across Spain during the last couple of months because of the high unemployment and young people's frustration with the government.

We returned to Las Ramblas around 1 p.m., had lunch and walked around for another couple of hours. This pedestrian street is such a fun place to explore. Today, for example, I saw the following:

• Several men sitting on a bench having a heated debate, probably about politics
• Several men selling these little devices that are about 1 inch long and shaped like a tube. You put them in your month and use them as whistles. They make the most annoying sound in the world!
• Several people set up with the ball and three cups game where you try to guess under which cup the ball is located after the man has moved them around. It definitely looked like a set up!
• People dressed up as wizards, dragons, princesses, skeletons, etc. -- complete with make up, face paint, glitter and costumes. They find a spot on the Ramblas and stand as still and as quiet as one of the Queen's guards ... until someone drops a coin in the collection box they have sitting in front of them. Afterward, they do something. The dragon, for example, makes a quick move and flaps his wings toward the person who deposited the coin, often catching the person off guard and causing him to jump, scream or scurry off. I'll post a short video when I get home.

While we were on the Ramblas, we bought tickets for a Spanish guitar concert at 9 p.m. Ekaterina Zaytseva played a variety of songs for nearly an hour. She was such a talented musician, and we both enjoyed the concert. Afterward, we returned to the Magic Fountain to see another display of the water, lights and music. It was different from last night and probably a better show.
　
Tomorrow, we're taking a daytrip to Montserrat, located about 30 miles or so from Barcelona. I'll write more about this mountain tomorrow.
　
Buenas noches,
--Justin

Torre Calatrava telecommunications tower at Olympic Stadium. 

Barcelona's busy port, as seen from the top of Montjuic's castle.

Resting at Montjuic!

Ekaterina Zaytseva plays the guitar at the Spanish guitar concert we attended tonight. It was a great show! 

Magic fountain light/water/music show! 

Magic fountain light/water/music show! 

Smurfs, mosaic lizards and a magical water fountain!

 The Magic Fountain of Montjuic ... more pictures below!

My day began at a park that is home to a mosaic lizard. A few hours later, I was surrounded by Smurfs. I was having the best dinner I have had since I arrived in Spain by the time the sun went down ... which was followed up with an invitation to come back tomorrow night. And as the night came to an end, I was treated to a magic water fountain show where the water changed colors to the beat of music.

 What's not to love about Barcelona? It's true that it is very crowded here since this is the high tourist season, but it's easy to overlook that because of the beauty of this city. It's a magical place.

 We had planned to begin our day with a trip to La Sagrada Familia church, designed by Modernist architect Antoni Gaudi. When we arrived, however, it was cloudy and drizzling and we discovered the church's towers were closed because of the weather. So, we decided to delay our visit and come back Tuesday, as one of the highlights is going to the top of the church. So, I'll write more about the Sagrada Familia later.

 We left the church and headed to Park Guell, a 37-acre park. Gaudi was given the job of turning it into a city garden around 1900. He worked at the site for 14 years until work was stopped. It became a public park in 1923 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. We walked around the park, starting at the top where we saw some amazing views of Barcelona. We made our way down the trails and eventually arrived at the part where several benches designed in Gaudi's style decorate the landscape. I'll post some pictures so you can see below, including a shot of the mosaic lizard.

 From there, we returned to the hostel for a bit before going to see Los Pitufos (The Smurfs) in 3D. It was so fun to watch the movie in Spanish and was a great way to spend the afternoon. A strong storm that downed branches hit Barcelona while we were inside but the rain had mostly stopped by the time we left to take the metro to dinner.

 We had dinner at la Fianna, and it was the best meal I have had in the last month. My friend and former colleague Gregory recommended this restaurant, as he had dined there a few years ago and knows the owner of the restaurant. I had a caesar salad and salmon, and it was delicious. As we were preparing to leave, the waiter introduced us to the owner, and I mentioned Gregory's name. The owner of course remembered Gregory, and we had a nice chat with him for about 15 minutes. We found out that he owns another restaurant nearby called La Luna, and he invited us to have dinner there tomorrow night. He even made reservations for us at 8 p.m., so we'll be having another wonderful dinner tomorrow night!

 Before returning to the hostel, we took the metro to the Plaza Espana to see The Magic Fountain of Montjuic. Here, we saw a light, water and music show that lasted 15 minutes. It was like watching the fireworks at Disney Land, as it's a magical environment. I'll post some pictures so you can see these bright, amazing colors at the waterfall.

 Tomorrow, we're planning a visit to the Picasso museum, as well as Montjuic. Montjuic is a big hill that overlooks Barcelona from the southwest.


 Hasta luego,

--Justin

Park Guell in Barcelona.

Park Guell in Barcelona.

Park Guell in Barcelona.

Park Guell in Barcelona.

Park Guell in Barcelona.

Antoni Gaudi's house at Park Guell.

Dinner at La Fianna ... excellent meal!

The Magic Fountain of Montjuic.

The Magic Fountain of Montjuic.

The Magic Fountain of Montjuic.

La Sagrada Familia church.

Beach day at Sitges

Sra. Bills and I met up with our friend Tish and her friend Tash this morning and took the train 45 minutes south to Sitges, a city of 26,000 people located along the Mediterranean Sea. After a short walk from the train station, we set our eyes on the beautiful Mediterranean and walked along the beach for about 10 minutes before finding the perfect spot to spend a few hours. Even though the sun was behind the clouds most of the day, the temperature was still ideal. The sun peaked out every now and then, but we still had a great time. The water was chilly at first but we soon got used to it. The beach wasn't too crowded, and it was a relaxing day along the sea. It was my second trip to Sitges, as we also visited this beach town when I came to Spain in 1997.

When I was here 14 years ago, we discovered this great restaurant called La Oca that served rotisserie chicken. I went back there today for lunch with Sra. Bills, and it was just as delicious as I remember it! I'll post a few pictures of our lunch below.

We returned to Barcelona around 5 p.m., did a little shopping and called it a day around 9 p.m. We're planning to visit the Sagrada Familia and Parque Guell tomorrow, as well as have dinner at a restaurant one of our friends and former colleagues from Fort Wayne recommended. It should be a fun day around Barcelona ... and I'm looking forward to writing about the places we're going to visit and sharing some pictures.

Hasta manana!
--Justin

A tall can of Coke in Spain that shows the Sagrada Familia.

Lunch at La Oca in Sitges.

Sitges!

Lunch cooking at La Oca.

Barcelona ... and peanut butter!

My colleague and friend Sra. Bills arrived in Barcelona today after her six-week trek across northern Spain on the Camino de Santiago trail. I met her at the airport this afternoon and we returned to the hostel to drop off her bags before heading out to see Barcelona. We visited the Ramblas (Barcelona's most famous pedestrian street) and walked down to the port. It was sunny and in the upper 70s again here today with a nice breeze blowing ... a perfect day! There were just as many people out and about this afternoon as yesterday. Barcelona is a very popular summer vacation spot, and I've seen just how busy it can be these past few days. We visited the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, a famous public market in Barcelona that is located on the Ramblas. The vendors sale fruit, meat, seafood, candy, flowers and more, and it was very busy as people were walking through and snapping pictures. We bought some fruit and a fruit smoothie and then walked around to see everything that was for sale. I'll post some pictures below so you can see just how colorful of a place this is. I visited this market when I was here in 1997, and my friends and I at the time couldn't believe that vendors were selling fruit, meat and seafood so out in the open. We had only seen grocery stores before, never a public market. This time, however, I couldn't wait to go back and walk through the maze of a market to see all the sights!

On our way back toward the hostel, we found a grocery store on the Ramblas and decided to go in to get some water and food for breakfast for the next few days. We stocked up on juices, fruit and some croissants but couldn't find any jam. We decided to visit the Corte Ingles (the big mall in Spain that has everything from groceries to computers) to see if we could find any there. I was also hoping to find some peanut butter, as I haven't had any in a couple of months.

Not only did we find some peanut butter, but we found Peter Pan, the brand that I always buy at home! We also bought some strawberry jam and bread and are now have enough breakfast food for our last six days here. I'll post a picture of our little pantry below. It's always fun to walk through grocery stores and markets in Spanish-speaking countries to see how many different products they have.

We had some Italian food for dinner and then returned to the hostel for the evening. We are planning to visit Sitges tomorrow, a city of 26,000 people located along the Mediterranean Sea. It's about a 45-minute train ride from Barcelona to Sitges, and the station is only about a two-minute walk from our hostel. Tomorrow will be a beach day. We visited Sitges in 1997 and I'm excited to go back again. I had to buy a towel today, too, as I didn't bring one with me since I knew I would only be at the beach for a couple of days at the most. It took some searching to find one, as the ones I saw at the Corte Ingles cost almost $25! I eventually found one at the grocery store for 9 euros, about $13!

I'll post some pictures from the beach tomorrow!

Chau!
--Justin

The Smurfs in Spanish!

Smoothies at  la Boqueria market.

Fruit at  la Boqueria market.

Meat and cheese at  la Boqueria market.

Peppers at  la Boqueria market.

More meat and cheese at  la Boqueria market.

Fish at  la Boqueria market.

Dulces at  la Boqueria market.

Our breakfast for the next few days ... and peanut butter!

Back in Barcelona!

As I walked out of the metro station and got my first glimpse of Barcelona this morning, all I could do was stop, smile, look around and keep smiling. For an instant, I felt like I was 16 years old again and seeing this city of 1.6 million for the first time. Even though I've been in Spain for almost a month, there was just something special about making it to Barcelona again for the first time in more than a decade. Had I not come here as a teenager, I probably wouldn't be writing this blog tonight because I probably would have never continued to study Spanish. But my high school Spanish class trip to this stunning city left such an impact on me. It was that defining moment that set the stage for my career and so much more. When I left here in June 1997, I promised myself that once I became fluent in Spanish I would return to Barcelona so I could better understand the culture and the language.

And here I am after all of these years! My 24-day odyssey around Spain so far has helped me better understand the country's history and culture better than I could have ever imagined, and I'm absolutely loving immersing myself in the language again. It's so much easier to talk with people and understand them than it was 14 years ago! Well, almost. There was this one store clerk I met today who thought I was French and it took me about two minutes to get a word in so I could tell him to please speak Spanish, as I had no clue what he was saying. Speaking of funny events, I wrote earlier on Facebook about my check in at the hostel this morning. I told the receptionist my name and her first response was, "Oh, like Justin Bieber!" I just smiled. She then said, "Wait until I tell my daughters who is staying at the hostel!"

Speaking of the hostel ... I'm staying in the same hostel in which we stayed when I traveled here with my Spanish class from Bluffton High School. In fact, my room is just two doors down from where two of my classmates and I stayed.

　
It's a beautiful night in Barcelona. I have the two doors open that lead to the small balcony outside my room, which overlooks the Rambla de Catalunya. La Rambla is Barcelona's most famous street. It is lined with restaurants, cafes, stores and more, and it is always filled with pedestrians.

I spent most of the day exploring the area and trying to remember my way around. My memory wasn't as good as I had hoped, as it took me a little while to recall my sense of direction for this part of the city. But as the day went on and I saw more places, it all began to come back. I recalled a lot of good memories from my first trip here as I walked around. I came across the Haagen Dazs my friends and I walked to nearly every night during our 12-day Barcelona trip. I also found this pasta place called Pastafiore that we ate at many times. It had moved locations but I just happened to stumble across it and later went back for dinner. It was as good as I remember it from 14 years ago!

I walked from one end of the Ramblas to the other and was surprised at how crowed the sidewalks were today. It seemed much busier than I recalled ... but that was 1997! The weather was absolutely perfect (upper 70s), so I guess everyone wanted to be out and about.

I didn't do much more this afternoon besides walk around the area, as my friends will arrive tomorrow and we'll begin our sightseeing then. I'll upload some pictures below to show you a little bit of Barcelona ... but many more will be coming over the next few days.

Hasta luego,
--Justin Bieber

Casa Milà in Barcelona. Modernist-style architect Antoni Gaudí decorated this city with his extraordinary edifices, including this one.

 Gaudí's Casa Battló, located very close to my hostel.

Las Ramblas, Barcelona's most famous street. I took this picture near the port.

Columbus Monument (197 feet tall) located at the end of Las Ramblas near the port. Columbus returned to the Barcelona port after his first trip to the Americas.

Pastafiore, located along the Ramblas. I had dinner here tonight.

A large public market located right off Las Ramblas. I'm planning to go here tomorrow afternoon.

My hostel is located right above this Windsor clothing store.

 Haagan Daus ... we had ice cream here nearly every night when I traveled to Barcelona in high school.

Barcelona bound

I'm off to Barcelona in just a little while and should arrive there around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. I had a little time in Murcia today and spent it by walking around the city center to see a little more of the area. I also spent about an hour just reading a book I bought a few days ago at the book store. It was really hot here today, so I found a nice bench in the shade in one of the many city parks to read and watched the people pass by. It was a pretty relaxing day here and would have been a perfect beach day! If I had more time here, I would have loved to have gone with everyone I met last night. Next time!

I also had lunch in one of the many cafes that line the streets of Murcia and thought I would write a little about eating out in Spain, as it is a lot different from in the United States. At most of the places I've visited, you seat yourself either inside or outside once you arrive (All of the outside seating is incredible!). The waiter then comes and many times you have to ask for the menu. The waiter normally takes your drink order and then returns with the beverage and the menu. About 10 minutes later, he returns to take your order. The food arrives a little bit later and it's normal for the waiter not to come back to check on you nearly as often as when you eat out in the United States. At dinner last night with Alejandra and her friends, this topic came up. Her friend who was with us yesterday lived in Miami for a year. He was telling me how odd it was when he would go out to eat in Florida because it seemed the waiter was back at the table every 10 minutes to see if he and his friends needed anything. It was annoying for him because he and his friends just wanted to eat and chat without being checked on so often. I now understand why, as the waiter doesn't return to the table nearly as often in Spain. Many times, you need to get his attention if you need something.

　
Another big difference has to do with the bill. In the United States, for example, it's normal for the waiter to bring the bill as soon as he sees you are done eating. We almost expect that to happen so we don't have to ask for it. Here, however, you have to ask for the bill, as it would be considered rude for the waiter to bring it to the table. It would seem as if he were trying to rush you to leave. People generally seem to take much more time here to eat when they go out because they enjoy talking with each other and relaxing. At dinner last night, for example, we were talking about Alejandra and her friend's impressions of eating in the United States. They always felt so rushed, especially when they had 20 to 30 minutes to eat lunch like we normally have at school or at work. Taking 20 to 30 minutes for lunch in Spain is so rare, as people normally take more time to socialize during the time away from school or work. It's one aspect of the Hispanic culture that has always fascinated me, and I really like it. I normally have about 20 to 25 minutes for lunch on the days I have time to squeeze it in, but most people here and in other Spanish-speaking countries think it is so odd to have such a short amount of time. I suppose most people in the United States would say the same about taking so long. It was an interesting observation I wanted to share.

My next post will be from Barcelona tomorrow night, the first Spanish-speaking city I ever visited. I'm curious to see if I'll remember my way around the area in which I'll be staying because I have reservations in the same hostel in which I stayed when I was 16 years old when Sra. Bailey brought my classmates and I to Spain. This whole journey through Spain has been so exciting and memorable, but the part I have been so excited about since I first applied for this grant is about to begin in Barcelona. Sra. Bills will be there, as well as my friend Tish who teaches at Carroll, and her friend. I am looking forward to spending the last part of this trip with my colleagues who are also my good friends.

Hasta manana,
--Justin

In Murcia!

I made it to Murcia this afternoon and had a great time seeing the area with Alejandra and one of her friends. Alejandra spent her senior year at Homestead in 2008-2009, and she came back to visit us once since then. She spoke to my Spanish IV classes one day about Spain and her hometown of Murcia, and she also showed us several pictures during her presentation. We all feel in love with Murica because of her beautiful pictures and stories. Since that day I had always hoped to visit Murcia.

　
That day finally came! Alejandra and her friend met me at my hotel around 6 p.m. and we walked through Murica to see the cathedral that was built in 1394 on the site of the mosque. We saw more of the city on foot and then stopped for some smoothies ... it was like being at Jamba Juice but only in Spain!

　
We decided to head back to the car and drive to Cartagena, which is located right along the Mediterranean Sea. Similar to Murcia, it's a very calm city. We walked along the coast for awhile and then went to see some Roman ruins. There are a lot of mountains here just like in Granada. We then got back in the car and drove to La Manga (the sleeve), a 14-mile stretch of land that is home to many beaches. It was my first time at the beach since I arrived in Spain, and the smell of the salt water and the sound of the waves were refreshing. We stopped at one of the beaches to get something to drink, and it was an absolutely idyllic spot. Mountains surrounded the beach, the temperature had cooled down and the breeze was blowing as the sun went down. It reminded me of being along the coast in northern California.

　
It was close to 10 p.m. and we had not eaten dinner yet, so we decided to meet Alejandra's sister at a restaurant close to her apartment. We ate at a delicious Italian place, and it was nice to meet Alejandra's sister. Alejandra's mom couldn't join us for dinner but she insisted on paying for our meals since she couldn't be there. I wish I could have met her in person to say thanks. Afterward, we drove back into town and they dropped me off at the hotel.

　
It was wonderful to spend the evening with Alejandra and her friends and see Murcia. They were such good hosts and incredible guides, and I really enjoyed seeing the area with them. I only wish I could spend another day or two here with them. It was also great for me to practice my Spanish all night talking about a myriad of topics. They even taught me a few new words and phrases that I didn't know! I have really treasured the moments on this trip when I can spend time with my friends who are native speakers. These conversations have really helped my Spanish since I've been here.

　
I'm leaving for Barcelona Tuesday, the final stop on my journey around Spain. It has been an incredible trip so far, and I'm really excited to return to Barcelona for the first time in 14 years.
　
Hasta luego,
--Justin

Check out this bridge!

El Puente Nuevo in Ronda connects the new town to the old town. The ravine below is 360 feet deep and 200 feet wide.

I was up early this morning and on board the Renfe train at 6:50 for the 2.5-hour ride to Ronda, which is located southwest of Granada. Ronda, one of Spain's pueblos blancos, is home to 37,000 people ... and one very famous bridge. The main reason for my trip to Ronda was to see the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) ... but it's definitely not "new," as it is from the 18th Century!" Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" even mentions Ronda in Chapter 10.

　
The Puente Nuevo goes across the Tajo Gorge and connects the new town with the old town. The ravine is 360 feet deep and 200 feet wide, and the bridge is absolutely amazing, as you can see from the picture above. It was a short walk from the train station to the Plaza de Espana. The Puente Nuevo is located just a few feet from the plaza. I crossed the bridge into the old town and made my way to one of the lookout points to get my first view of this stunning piece of architecture, as well as the waterfall. From there, I took a trail down about 150 feet to get another view. There was another trail I took that led me right underneath the bridge, behind it and to the top of the waterfall. I snapped several pictures, explored the area for awhile, and then hiked back up to visit the other side of the bridge. I walked to the Casa del Rey Moro because I had read in my Lonely Planet book that you could hike down an Islamic-era stairway that was carved inside the rock. I descended some 200 wide and zigzagging stairs and eventually arrived at the bottom of the gorge. The water was so clear that I could see the bottom.

　
After spending a couple of hours hiking around the bridge, I made my way back to town and walked to the bullfighting ring. It is the oldest one in all of Spain, as it opened in 1785. Ronda is where bullfighting on foot began. I thought I might go inside for a tour, but I didn't have time to wait for the next one, as I had to catch the 1:30 p.m. train back to Granada. I spent the next 30 minutes walking around Ronda. It was such a beautiful town, full of whitewashed houses and buildings. I wish I would have spent one night in Ronda so I could have seen more of the town and returned to the bridge near sunset. Now I know for my next trip to Spain! It was great to finally do some hiking! I even saw a cactus, which brought back several memories from Arizona hiking adventures!

　
I returned to Granada around 4 p.m. and walked back to my hotel. I spent my last night in Granada walking through some of the narrow pedestrian streets I hadn't explored yet. The evenings here really are beautiful. The sun casts some amazing shadows on the buildings, and the temperature drops to such a comfortable level. I've really enjoyed my four nights here.

　
Tomorrow, I'm taking the 11:30 a.m. bus to Murcia, located around four hours from Granada. I'm planning to visit a former exchange student from Murcia who studied at Homestead for a year about three or four years ago and came back to visit us a couple of years ago. I'll spend one day there, and Alejandra is going to take me around to see the city.
　
Hasta luego,
--Justin

The other side of the Puente Nuevo.

The Parador (a really nice hotel) that overlooks the bridge and ravine. 

Ronda

Ronda

Here is the road across the top of the bridge. This bridge connects the old town to the new town.

 A daycare place I saw today. In Spain, a babysitter is a "canguro," which also means kangaroo in Spanish.

The Renfe train station. All of the stop signs in Spain say ... stop, not "Pare" or "Alto" like in every other Spanish-speaking country I have visited. 

A Renfe train.

A trip to Spain's most visited monument

Pictures below

Today's highlight was a visit to Granada's The Alhambra. This stunning red fortress is located along the top of a hill with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background. It dates back to the Middle Ages and represents the best example of Islamic art still standing in the western world. It's not just one building but several that were constructed over the course of several centuries when the Muslims and Christians were the ruling groups in Granada.
　

The Alhambra dates back to the 9th Century. The most impressive of the buildings is called the Palacio Nazaries, which was built in the 1300s. After the Catholic Monarchs conquered Granada, the mosque at the Alhambra was replaced with a church. Later, Isabel and Fernando's grandson Carlos I removed a part of the Palacio Nazaries to build his massive palace, called the Palacio de Carlos V. The Alhambra was abandoned for a bit in the 18th Century but it became a national monument in 1870. Since that time much work has been done to restore the fortress.

Since it is such a popular attraction, only 6,600 tickets are available each day, and it's always a good idea to get your tickets early to avoid long lines and ensure you get in. I bought my ticket online Wednesday when I was in Madrid and was even able to pick it up there at a place similar to TicketMaster.

I visited four parts of the Alhambra today during a four-hour visit: the Palacio Nazaries, the Alcazaba, the Palacio de Carlos V and the Generalife. I stared my tour at the Palacio Nazaries because my ticket to visit this part of the Alhambra was for 8:30 a.m. You have to enter the palaces within 30 minutes of the time on your ticket or you cannot go in, as they limit the flow of people into the area.

　
The Palacio Nazaries, also referred to as the Old Royal House, is where you find the most important parts of the Alhambra: Mexuar (the council chamber), and two palaces, Comares (this was the private residence of the ruler) and Leones. I walked through many of the rooms and courtyards, admiring the wooden ceilings, tiles, stucco, arches, rectangular pool, marble fountains and more. From there I visited the Alcazaba, or the old Citadel. There are several towers here, including the most famous, Torre de la Vela (Watchtower). It was built in the late 1200s and measures 52 feet by 52 feet and is 89 feet high. I climbed up the tower's winding staircase to get some amazing views of Granada and the Alhambra. At the top of this tower is where the cross and banners of the Reconquest were raised in January 1492.

I next went inside the Palacio de Carlos V, a rectangular building that contains a two-level circular courtyard with columns. Work on the palace began in 1527. My final stop of the day was a visit to the Generalife, or Architect's Gardens. It was a place where the monarchs would relax away from the court. It is divided into the upper and lower gardens, and I walked through both today. It is home to flowers, plants, pools, fountains, trees (including cypress trees) and more. It was a nice stroll and a great way to end my day at the Alhambra.

I enjoyed visiting the Alhambra, but it was so crowded. In a way, it reminded me of my visit to the Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone National Park in 2004 because both places were so busy. Both are beautiful places and must sees but both are also so crowded that it takes away from the experience.

Later in the afternoon I returned to the grocery store to buy some more water and snacks, and I did a little more shopping in the evening before dinner. I'm taking the train to Ronda in the morning and am looking forward to the ride. It will be my first train trip in Spain, and the route between Granada and Ronda is supposed to be very scenic. Look for pictures from Ronda tomorrow night!

Hasta manana,
--Justin

A view of the Alhambra's Torre de la Vela (Watchtower) from the Plaza Nueva near my hotel. It was built in the late 1200s and measures 52 feet by 52 feet and is 89 feet high. 

From the top of the Alhambra's Torre de la Vela (Watchtower).

The Torre Quebrada and Torre del Homenaje at The Alhabmra. 

The Courtyard of the Myrtles at the Alhambra's Palacio Nazaries.

The Fachada de Camares at The Alhambra.

Mexuar Oratory at The Alhambra. 

Granada, as seen from the top of one of The Alhambra's towers. 

Un gato que echa una siesta en La Alhambra. 

Palacio de Carlos V ... Charles V's palace. 

Sierra Navada Mountains 

View from inside the Charles V Palace. 

Staircase in Charles V Palace. 

One of a plethora of flowers I saw while visiting The Alhambra's gardens. 

A picture taken within The Alhambra's gardens.

 Picture from The Alhambra's water gardens.

Cypress trees at The Alhambra's gardens.