SPAIN ~ GRANADA: Alhambra & Churros con Chocolate

December 11, 2016 • Leave a Comment

"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.

Views from the Alhambra

Walking along the path to the entrance of the palace (a good 10-minute walk) – Alhambra

Parador de San Francisco – Alhambra

Palacio de Carlos V de Granada – Alhambra

Torre Quebrada (Broken Tower) and Torre del Homenaje (Keep) of the Alcazaba (Old Citadel) – Alhambra

The views from the Alcazaba....

....of Albayzín / countryside

Attention to detail - intricately moulded arches at the Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra

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, Alhambra

Palacio de Comares and the Patio de los Arrayanes – Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra

Reflections – Patio de los Arrayanes – Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra

Patio de los Leones (Lion Courtyard) – Palacios Nazaríes, Alhambra

Patio de los Leones and 124 marble columns – Palacio de los Leones, Alhambra

Mesmerizing patterns – 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

A hallway, somewhere in the massive Alhambra complex

Sala de los Ajimeces – Palacio de los Leones, 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

Torre de las Damas – Palacio del Partal, Alhambra

Jardines del Paraiso – Alhambra

Too cool fo y'all @ Jardines del Paraiso – Alhambra

Walking along the never ending path – Jardines del Paraiso, Alhambra

Teatro del Generalife – Alhambra

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, Alhambra

Generalife Summer Palace, 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

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.

Walking around Granada