This is the last and greatest Moorish palace and one of Europe's top sights and attracts up to 8,000 visitors per day. Nowhere else does the splendor of Moorish civilization shine so beautifully.
The Christian Reconquista moved south, taking Corboba (1237) and Sevilla (1248). The Nazarids, one of many diverse ethnic groups of Spanish Muslims, held together the last Moorish kingdom, which they ruled from Granada until 1492.
As we toured their grand palace, we had to keep in mind that Europe was in the Dark Ages, while we're seeing the Moorish magnificence blossomed - ornate stucco, plaster "stalactites", colors galore, scalloped windows framing Granada views, exuberant gardens and water, water everywhere. Water - so rare and precious in mot of the Islamic world - was the purest symbol of life to the Moors.
After our all day tour of Granada with Maike, we all just needed a cold beer, glass of wine or Sangria and rest. We must have walked over five miles. It didn't take us long to realize that we were hungry after that light and fast lunch. But, none of us wanted to wait until 8:00pm to eat so we just walked down to a square five minutes from the hotel.
Jim had selected a Turkish wrapped sandwich - on the lines of a Gyro/Shwarma
Theresa selected the Turkish pizza we believe made with lamb/beef mixture
This place didn't have just what I wanted, so I waited until we were walking back to the hotel to have take out. I had seen a shwarma place that I was eager to try so held out for that. I ordered a chicken shwarma to go (ate it in the hotel room)…it was good and just lacked the slice of pickle to make it perfect.
A perfect day in Granada….the following day was our last day to tour the city. We still had the Cathedral to visit….next Blog.
Peggy
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