S11 Granada Independent Travel

Sunny Spain!

by Holly Cunningham

After spending a few cold weeks in the United Kingdom, I decided it was time to head somewhere that would offer warmth and sunshine! So my friend Colleen and I booked at trip to Granada, Spain, which turned out to be the most beautiful country I’ve visited thus far. It was so warm that we didn’t even have to wear our coats the entire time we were there! Granada is also filled with beautiful landscapes, views, and buildings. It was definitely a trip worth taking.

Our first day there we just explored the city, visited some shops, and attempted to speak Spanish. One of the locals told us that we should not miss walking to the top of the city (up a tall hill) to experience an incredible view. Although the walk was pretty steep, it was absolutely worth it. Even just walking up the hill was beautiful; the streets are all narrow and made of stone, and the houses that line the streets are gorgeous! Once we made it to the top, the view was fantastic! It took my breath away. On the horizon we could see the entire city, surrounded by a light layer of fog, with the sun beaming through. But the most beautiful scene was that of the Alhambra, with snow-covered mountains as its backdrop. Words really can’t describe the beauty of this site.

The next day we decided to visit some local markets, followed by a trip to the Alhambra. The market was a colorful, lively place, with shops that were full of good buys! There were beautiful painted tiles and ceramics everywhere, handmade leather bags, jewelry, scarves, and so much more. Each shop was unique in it’s own way, although most sold similar products. The shop owners were also really nice, and usually willing to lower their prices a bit if necessary. Once we left the market place we caught a bus to take us to the Alhambra.

This was probably our favorite site from the trip. The Alhambra is enormous, beautifully crafted, and filled with fascinating history. The inside of the palace was one of the most incredible parts. Almost everyone wall is decorated in hand-painted tiles, as well as detailed carvings and décor. It was all so intricate and spectacular; we took hundreds of photos! Every corner we turned there was something new and excited to see, and we felt like we never wanted to leave. There is also an amazing view of Granada from the top of the tower, which was simply breathtaking. The entire trip to the Alhambra was definitely worth the small entrance fee.

Finally, we walked back to our hostel after a long day of site seeing. The next morning we visited a local restaurant before heading back to the airport. Luckily for us they printed the menu in Spanish and English, so we actually knew what all our options were. We both decided to get a ham and cheese croissant, orange juice, and hot tea. The orange juice was the best I have ever had in my life! It tasted as if I were literally drinking a fresh orange, and it was wonderful.

So all in all I would say that we had a great experience in Granada! It was a good way to experience a different culture while seeing beautiful new sites. This has been my favorite trip of the semester, and I would highly recommend visiting there.