Some statues and beauty in Spain

10 April 2012

When I tell people we went to Granada in March, they picture us sitting on a sandy beach in the Caribbean sipping rum punches and contemplating our next snorkeling adventure.

But this was a different Granada, possibly the most beautiful city I've ever visited. From its polished marble streets, sidewalks and plazas to its blend of Christian and Muslim architecture, lovely parks, orange tree-lined streets and historic statuary, Granada offers a vibrant urban experience with enough exploration opportunities to satisfy many trips.

The city is situated just north of the Sierra Nevada range in the south of Spain.  The sharp, snow capped ridges of the Sierra practically surround the nestled city and form a lovely backdrop to views in every direction.

A fine public transportation system makes it easy to get around the city of 350,000 and a national train network that runs like clockwork makes it real easy to live there without a car.

Spanish culture and Muslim history give Granada a wonderful momentum.  I'm already looking forward to returning sometime in the next five or 10 years.

Next time we go, we may give in to the pull of that African continent less than 100 miles away.  Sitting in the train station the day we left Granada, we heard the announcer calling the day's last train to Gibraltar - a four hour ride.  From Gibraltar, you can catch a ferry across the Mediterranean to Morroco and the northwestern region of Africa.

Remember that Crosby, Stills and Nash song, the Marrakesh Express?

All on board that train . . . All on board that train.

I've been saving all my money just to take you there.

I can smell the garden in your hair.

Here is some of the statuary that impressed me in Granada and Madrid.