Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
After a long trip through the countryside, we arrived at the Alhambra palace in Granada. Before I tell you about that, let me just re-emphasize how many olive trees were on the way. Tons. My informal estimate has about 95% of all living things in Spain being olive trees. Okay, I'm really done with the olives now.
The Alhambra palace in Granada was the last seat of power for the moorish kings of Spain, who ruled from 711 to 1492. It was beautiful in a way that is difficult to describe, but I'll give it a go. Every wall in the palace was carved in intricate detail, and I mean every single interior wall. The entire Koran is written on the walls, along with intricate tesselations of patterns. Tiles cover the walls, each piece crafted by hand. Escher was apparently inspired by this site to create his work. The palace was painstakingly crafted and shows the attention to detail that can only come when thousands of the best craftsmen, artists, and mathematicians are told to do a good job or they will be put to death.
Also, the palace is huge. I think the guide said there were 4 km of gardens to walk through, not including the buildings. Beautiful flowers, courtyards, fountains. It was a site that really needs to be experienced to understand. Sorry about that.
Late dinner tonight and a day in Granada tomorrow.
- comments