Granada is known for one of the greatest accomplishments of Islamic art and architecture ¨the Alhambra¨. The intricate wood carvings and mosaics in the palace date back to the 11th century and are stunning. So popular is the Alhambra that we had to book tickets over the internet in advance. The site contains a fortress, palace, patios and gardens and gives a good insight how life was for the Muslim rulers of 11th to 15th century Granada.

Granada is also a place where Flamenco dancing is world famous and is performed in cave restaurants up in the hills opposite the Alhambra. We found a little known road between the Alhambra and the caves which saved a lot of walking.

Two other things are quite notable about Granada. Firstly the Siesta rules completely here! Everything including supermarkets shut for around 4 hours in the middle of the day. The other thing is Tapas or bar snacks are extraordinary. It is the custom in Spain to serve beautiful morsels of food with each drink and it is often quite enough to go without a proper meal. We thoroughly enjoyed Tapas throughout Spain but especially in Granada. From Granada we caught a local bus to Algeciras ready for our ferry ride to Morocco and our next big adventure.

Footnote: Alhambra, Granada, Spain was an official Finalist in the New Seven Wonders Of The World listing. It is also featured in the book Unforgettable Places to See before you die. Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzin, Granada are also UNESCO World Heritage listed.