| Page Views: 454 Last Visit to Granada: - | i fell in love with granada by willy_wonka - last update: Jul 16, 2008 |
it's hard not to fall in love with granada. the city is like a mound of icecream with a cherry on the top (the alhambra in this case), its a city you want more and more of, and that final cherry is just oh so fantastic. my story of how i 'found' granada, and the alhambra in particular, is a funny one, and one to thank VT.
it was back in 2003, and i had just joined VT. i was a huge fan of other european countries, and was researching them. i found a few friends who i started talking to a bit, one of them being johnny_CA. i was cruising by his pages, and decided to check out his spanish journeys. i was amazed by how much spain had to offer, especially his page on ronda, and in turn, granada. he mentioned a book, by a Washington Irving, called "tales of the alhambra'. i had never heard of this book before, but it seemed to have inspired him of tales of moorish castles, sultans and knights, old historic wives tales and the like. i was intrigued, so scoured my local bookshops and couldn't find it at all. so i did the next best thing, found it as an e-book here on the internet, and proceeded to print all couple of hundred pages and make my own book in a file. lol.
from there, i was enchanted. what amazing stories did washington irving learn about his stay in one of the salons of the alhambra. stories from the early days of the fort. some fact, some fiction, legends, myths etc. the more i researched the alhambra and granada here on VT, the more i realised that i will get here one day.
spain became a new passion.
and so, in 2006 i finally arrived here, and not just alone, as in most of my travels, but with 3 good friends from VT! we had such a great time, enjoying the beautiful warm spring weather, exploring this marvellous city. granada was all i can wish for and more, and i hope to return one day, maybe creating my own romantic legend! |
|  | for those of you who would like to read Irving's "tales of the alhambra" you can read it online on this link http://www.globusz.com/ebooks/Alhambra/index.htm
while it is free, and a great sampler before your visit, i would recommend buying the actual book when you get to the alhambra's bookshop. this version not only has irving's writing in it, but it also includes numerous pictures of paintings, drawings and sketches from other artists and historians who have been to the alhambra. it is definitely a worthy keepsake after your visit! |
| | when granada fell to the christians in 1492, it could easily have meant the destruction and ruin of the alhambra and the city. but thankfully we still get to see this beautiful monument and world heritage site today. the fall of the city did mean though that the last bastian of arabic influence on the iberian peninsula was finished, and the lament of this situation can be seen in many of the poems of the time...
“Generous are the clouds, if they should shed tears
For the past ages which link us to Andalusia.
This link can now be only in a dream which cheers,
In sleep, or in a fleeting deceit or idea”.
- Ibn al-Khatib
|
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "moorish architecture and history" | | Cons: | "overcrowding of the alhambra" | | In A Nutshell: | "a city in a fairytale setting!" |
willy_wonka's Granada Travel Tips
 willy_wonka's Granada Travelogues | | | |
|
 Comments for willy_wonka about Granada | | | | |
DAO Tue Nov 10, 2009 09:54 UTC
I want to go to Uzbekistan next year. How about a VT meeting there? | zumodemango Wed May 27, 2009 10:11 UTC
i am lucky cause i have friends who live in Granada and i go once or twice a year.eva | mfas2000 Sun Mar 8, 2009 20:40 UTC
GREAT PAGE..I personally think that Granda represnts ed the civilized capital of the world once upon a time...if you fond of Moorish middle eastern architucure, should visit some Arabic countires: Morroc, Jordan ,etc.. cheers | Bwana_Brown Mon Sep 15, 2008 00:24 UTC
It's geat that you were finally able to fulfill your long-time dream of visiting the Alhambra! Beautiful pics of the architecture and I also really liked the peace of 'patio de lindaraja' as well as the stunning beauty of 'generalife gardens'!! |
|
|
email me
add as friend
