The crown jewel of the trip?? The Alhambra-formerly the Calat Alhambra- is a place and fortress complex. Originally contracted in 889 and then largely ignored until its ruins were renovated and rebuilt in the mid-11th century by the Moorish King Mohammad be Al-Ahmar of the Kingdom of Granada
We walk up the hill for our tour...and up....the sheer red walls rise from the woods of cypress and elm.
and up...at least it's not hot....yet. Early start to avoid the other 5970 visitors they receive daily.
It was converted into a royal palace in 1333 by the Sultan of Granada. The Alhambra's Islamic palaces were built for the last Muslim emirs i Spain...then again, falling into disrepair (yes it's still hard to get good help) for centuries the Alhambra was AGAIN, rediscovered in the 19th century by European scholars and travelers...and the restorations ensued.
Come on Bub, keep up and be sure Pleep is on his best behavior so he doesn't get kicked out!
The use of ornamental calligraphy, stucco and colorful tile adorns the walls, the towers, water features and just about everything...
What a magnificent example of Moorish architecture....many scalloped arches..
Pleep and the child are contemplating a jump in the oh so interesting fountain in the Court of the Lions. The 12 lions in white marble with the alabaster basin are quite tempting. And how did they get those fountains to work back in the day??? Here a column, there a column, everywhere a column column.
And it says? The Al tiles are remarkable in that they contain nearly all, if not all, of the 17 mathematically possible wallpaper groups. Superb Symmetry on Steroids!
The stonework is stunning....great job on the renovation Spain.
How's that for some intricate work?
Blaire having a blond moment...doesn't she have a zoom on that camera?
Oh yeah, can you imagine the upkeep??? Do I hear Bubs humming The Grateful Dead's song "Alhambra"? Turn it up Bubs- so Terrapin Station.
Ok Angela, I've had enough walking around the old palace. I'm heading back to the hotel. Please let Boca know, just by some miracle she even notices I am missing.
On to the garden tours...wow.
Pleep get the heck out of the lily pond!!
Such an irrigation system....those Arabs were some kind of engineers.
Hey, Paul, are you getting some ideas for your garden?
Yes, Bubs was waiting for me back at the hotel....
Too much walking, so rest is in order and what about that diarrhea??? Touristika??? Lovely. I'm heading out to dinner down the road with m Taucktorians.
This group is for sure the most fun group we have traveled with on Tauk. Funny how that happens or doesn't....lots of wine drinkers and great senses of humor. Makes for a fab tour for sure. Is this the drop out group from Betty Ford? The group is talking about hooking up in the future for another tour together. Right, kinda like Bob Dylan's "NEVER ENDING TOUR". Love it! That's pretty much what Bubs and Boca do most of the time.
Pleep stayed back with Bubs as he also came down with a little bit of tourista....what the heck did you guys eat???
