Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyGranada, Andalucia, Spain
"Impossible to go this week. It's always full. You should've booked weeks ago." – says the rep in Torremolinos.
"Ok, f*cker - I DID book weeks ago, but you're arrogant a$$ forgot to do it" – is what immediately shot out of my mouth.
I'm usually a lot nicer, and try to keep the potty-mouth reserved for those that know me (therefore know that it's really part of my everyday language), but I specifically contacted this dude to book tickets for the Alhambra (not a tour, just the entrance ticket) because there is a limit of how many people are allowed in the place everyday, and I was fully aware that it gets sold out quickly.
So no tickets in hand, and not even knowing if we'd get into the Alhambra – which is my main reason for heading to Granada to begin with – we still get up early and drive the 1.5 hours from Torremolinos to Granada and cross our fingers that getting there right when it opens (8:30 am) is early enough to get into the place.
ALHAMBRA, GRANADA
We arrive where the GPS directed us to at 8:15 am, however the GPS decided to take us to some Alhambra Restaurant located 15 minutes outside of Granada – and which honestly looked eerily close to the Titty Twister in From Dusk Till Dawn! Anyway, back on the right track, we get to the proper Alhambra, find parking, and manage to be fifth in line (wish that rep who told us there was no way we'd get in was there so I could shove it in his face – mind you, it was low season in March, so that may be why we lucked out). Tickets cost around 16€ (or buy in advance online here), which includes entrance to the Alhambra complex, the Palacios Nazaríes, the Alcazaba and the Generalife. You get specific times on your ticket for entrance to the palaces, but other than that, they give you a map and off you go.
Won't get into any more specifics – I mean, it's the Alhambra – probably one of the most breathtaking places you'll ever visit, but be sure to have good walking shoes because it'll take a good 2 to 3 hours to see the whole thing.
Granada, Andalucia, Spain - Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon Photography Views from the Alhambra
Views from the Alhambra
Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyWalking along the path to the entrance of the palace (a good 10-minute walk)
Walking along the path to the entrance of the palace (a good 10-minute walk) – Alhambra
Parador de San Francisco - Granada, Andalucia, Spain - Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyParador de San Francisco
Parador de San Francisco – Alhambra
Palacio de Carlos V de Granada - Granada, Andalucia, Spain - Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyPalacio de Carlos V de Granada
Palacio de Carlos V de Granada – Alhambra
Palacio de Carlos V de Granada - Granada, Andalucia, Spain - Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyPalacio de Carlos V de Granada
Palacio de Carlos V de Granada – Alhambra
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyTorre Quebrada (Broken Tower) and Torre del Homenaje (Keep) of the Alcazaba (Old Citadel)
Torre Quebrada (Broken Tower) and Torre del Homenaje (Keep) of the Alcazaba (Old Citadel) – Alhambra
The views from the Alcazaba - Granada, Andalucia, Spain - Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyThe views from the Alcazaba
The views from the Alcazaba....
Gorgeous views from up here - Granada, Andalucia, Spain - Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyGorgeous views from up here
....of Albayzín / countryside
Attention to detail at the Palacios Nazaríes - Granada, Andalucia, Spain - Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyAttention to detail - intricately moulded arches at the Palacios Nazaríes
Attention to detail - intricately moulded arches at the Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra
Insane intricately carved wooden ceilings - Palacios Nazaríes - Granada, Andalucia, Spain - Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyInsane intricately carved wooden ceilings - Palacios Nazaríes
Insane intricately carved wooden ceilings in the Sala de la Barca (Hall of the Blessing) – Palacio de Comares, Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra
Beautiful tiling everywhere too - Palacios Nazaríes - Granada, Andalucia, Spain - Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyBeautiful tiling everywhere too – Palacios Nazaríes
Beautiful tiling everywhere too – Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra
Palacio de Comares and the Patio de los Arrayanes – Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyPalacio de Comares and the Patio de los Arrayanes – Palacios Nazaríes
Palacio de Comares and the Patio de los Arrayanes – Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra
Reflections – Patio de los Arrayanes – Palacios Nazaríes Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyReflections – Patio de los Arrayanes – Palacios Nazaríes
Reflections – Patio de los Arrayanes – Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra
Patio de los Leones (Lion Courtyard) –Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyPatio de los Leones (Lion Courtyard) –Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra
Patio de los Leones (Lion Courtyard) – Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra
Patio de los Leones and 124 slender marble columns – Palacio de los Leones, Alhambra Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyPatio de los Leones and 124 slender marble columns – Palacio de los Leones, Alhambra
Patio de los Leones and 124 marble columns – Palacio de los Leones, Alhambra
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyMesmerizing patterns – Patio de los Leones, Alhambra
Mesmerizing patterns – Palacio de los Leones, Alhambra
Sala de Dos Hermanas (Hall of Two Sisters) – Palacio de los Leones, Alhambra – Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographySala de los Abencerrajes, the legendary murder site of the Abencerraj family – Palacio de los Leones, Alhambra
Sala de los Abencerrajes, the legendary murder site of the Abencerraj family – Palacio de los Leones, Alhambra
Last look at Patio de los Leones – Alhambra - Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyLast look at Patio de los Leones – Alhambra
Last look at Patio de los Leones – Alhambra
A hallway, somewhere in the massive Alhambra complex - Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyA hallway, somewhere in the massive Alhambra complex
A hallway, somewhere in the massive Alhambra complex
Sala de los Ajimeces – Palacio de los Leones, Alhambra, Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographySala de los Ajimeces – Palacio de los Leones, Alhambra
Sala de los Ajimeces – Palacio de los Leones, Alhambra
Patio de la Reja – Alhambra - Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyPatio de Lindaraj – Alhambra
Patio de Lindaraj – Alhambra
That's where we have to make our way over to.... and it's cold... very very cold this morning Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyThat's where we have to make our way over to.... and it's cold... very very cold this morning
That's where we have to make our way over to.... and it's cold... very very cold this morning
Torre de las Damas – Palacio del Partal, Alhambra– Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyTorre de las Damas – Palacio del Partal, Alhambra
Torre de las Damas – Palacio del Partal, Alhambra
Jardines del Paraiso – Alhambra - Granada, Andalucia, Spain - Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyJardines del Paraiso – Alhambra
Jardines del Paraiso – Alhambra
Too cool fo y'all @ Jardines del Paraiso – Alhambra Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyToo cool fo y'all @ Jardines del Paraiso – Alhambra
Too cool fo y'all @ Jardines del Paraiso – Alhambra
Walking along the neverending path – Jardines del Paraiso, Alhambra - Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyWalking along the neverending path – Jardines del Paraiso, Alhambra
Walking along the never ending path – Jardines del Paraiso, Alhambra
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyTeatro del Generalife
Teatro del Generalife – Alhambra
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyGardens of the Generalife – Alhambra
Gardens of the Generalife – Alhambra
Gardens of the Generalife – Alhambra - Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyGardens of the Generalife – Alhambra
Gardens of the Generalife – Alhambra
Gardens of the Generalife – Alhambra Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyGardens of the Generalife – Alhambra
Gardens of the Generalife – Alhambra
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyImagine this place in the spring! – Gardens of the Generalife – Alhambra
Imagine this place in the spring! – Gardens of the Generalife – Alhambra
Too much of line to go in, so just settled for wandering around the gardens – Generalife Summer Palace Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyToo much of line to go in, so just settled for wandering around the gardens – Generalife Summer Palace, Alhambra
Too much of line to go in, so just settled for wandering around the gardens – Generalife Summer Palace, Alhambra
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyGeneralife Summer Palace, Alhambra
Generalife Summer Palace, Alhambra
It's so cold (winter still), yet oranges look ripe for picking – Gardens of the Generalife, Alhambra, Granada, Andalucia, Spain Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyIt's so cold (winter still), yet oranges look ripe for picking – Gardens of the Generalife, Alhambra
It's so cold (winter still), yet oranges look ripe for picking – Gardens of the Generalife, Alhambra
View of the Alhambra palaces from the Gardens of the Generalife – AlhambraView of the Alhambra palaces from the Gardens of the Generalife – Alhambra
View of the Alhambra palaces from the Gardens of the Generalife
CHURROS CON CHOCOLATE
After walking the entire Alhambra complex, we head back down the hill and wander around the city a bit. We make our way to Churreria Alhambra (thanks Nicole for suggesting it!), and settle down for some coffee and these Churros con Chocolate that I keep hearing about. We were going to order two, but the waiter suggested maybe one would be enough... and sure enough it was more than enough – a mountain of churros and a cup of the most exquisite dark chocolate to dip them in.
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyWalking aroung Granada
Walking around Granada
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyChecking out the gorgeous architecture
Checking out the gorgeous architecture
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyNarrow streets and bike parking.... doesn't leave that much more room for walking
Narrow streets and bike parking.... doesn't leave that much more room for walking
Plaza de Bib-Rambla Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyPlaza de Bib-Rambla
Plaza de Bib-Rambla
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyChurreria Alhambra - Granada, Andalucia, Spain
Churreria Alhambra
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyChurros con Chocolate - Granada, Andalucia, Spain
Churros con Chocolate – Churriera Alhambra
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyChurros....
Churros....
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon Photography... and a cup of chocolaty delicious to dip them in
... and a cup of chocolaty delicious to dip them in
Travel Keeps Me Sane - Jennifer Mahon PhotographyThat's it for Granada, time to back towards the coast to Nerja
That's it for Granada, time to back towards the coast to Nerja
Photos taken | written by JENNIFER MAHON
LIKE THIS? YOU MIGHT WANNA CHECK THESE OUT: