Feliz Ano Nuevo!

(For you non-Spanish speakers, that's Spanish for 'Happy New Year')

The bags were hardly unpacked from our Christmas holiday when time came to repack them - the destination this time Seville and then Granada for a few days each with travel buddies Andrew and Sel.

Our hotel in Seville was located in the heart of the old town and it was a great base for the next couple of days which were spent exploring this beautiful place. The cobbled streets are lined with orange trees which gave the sense of a warm summer town - notwithstanding the fact it was the middle of winter!

The main attraction in Seville is the Alcazar - a fortress palace and reputedly the best example of Moorish architecture outside of the Alhambra (see below). While the building is beautiful, the highlight for us here was exploring the huge garden grounds which are filled with ponds and fountains - symbols of power and wealth in this dry southern Spanish environment. On the sightseeing front we also ticked off the bullring - although unfortunately there are no bullfights at this time of the year, so we had to settle for a tour instead.

Grounds of the Alcazar

Fountain at Alcazar

A local at their window in Seville

We also celebrated New Year in Seville. We had an interesting night - our expectation of lively bars and parties in the streets was not quite met - it seems the Spanish tend to spend New Year with their families and as a result most bars were shut. We did manage to settle in with some locals in a small bar by the river - complete with an ancient free pouring barman!!! We managed to find a restaurant for the countdown - and in Spanish tradition marked the New Year with grape filled mouths and cries of 'Feliz Ano Nuevo'.

Mich, Sel, Andrew and Malaga Virgin

We embraced the tapas culture and enjoyed the odd tipple of the local sherry - the Malaga Virgin proving particularly easy to drink! One afternoon Michelle and I were befriended by a local couple in a tapas bar and passed the time exchanging tapas and buying each other drinks while trying to converse in pigeon English/Spanish!

Typical Tapas Bar - Hams lining the roof

Our new friends......

From Seville we went by train to Granada (2 hours). In Granada we were again located in the heart of the old town, this time in a beautiful old house converted to a B&B.

On the hills over Granada
Cave homes in foreground, Alhambra in the distance

Pomegranate - the symbol of Granada

We enjoyed the next two days exploring the steep cobbled streets of Granada. In some ways it was similar to Seville but overlaid with a more diverse cultures - the influence of Gypsies who lived in homes built in caves on the surrounding hills still evident as well as a Moroccan influence with shisha bars, lots of mosaics and Moorish influence. For us - Granada was the pick of the two cities.

Me!

The main attraction in Granada is the Alhambra - Spain's most visited attraction, and rightly so in our opinion. The Alhambra is a complex of buildings located on a hill overlooking Granada. It started life in the 11th Century and was home to various rulers over the years that followed. In around 1830 Washington Irving stayed there and wrote about his experiences -following which the Alhambra had cemented its reputation as a must see attraction.

Fountain - Alhambra

Alhambra

Our 5 hours here flew by, exploring the main building attraction (the Palacios Nazaries), the impressive Palacio de Carlos V (which was built later) and the incredible gardens, ponds and fountains - particularly those which surrounded the Summer Palace.

Palacios Nazaries - Pond

Palacios de Carlos V

Palacios Nazaries - Fountain

There were lots of great eating experiences and nights spent in wine and tapas bars. We had a very relaxed time exploring these cities, and while due to the time of the year we did not get the benefit of the Spanish summer, we also avoided the crowds of tourists which would pack the streets in the warmer months. It was great holiday - with a nice mix of tourist sights and relaxing with friends.

Grounds of the Summer Palace