We finished work at 9:30, packed quickly and ran to catch the last train out of Alcala. We waited in the cold bus station for quite some time, and our bus finally left Madrid at 1:30 am and headed south, to Andalucia, to Granada. Travelling at night has its obvious downfalls, but the positives are there too. Namely, you can add a full day to the holiday.
After a quick AM siesta, it was off to the Alhambra, the palace in the sky. The Alhambra (from the original name qa'lat al-Hamra meaning Red Fort in Arabic)is the best preserved medieval Arab palace in the world and has stood on its plateau overlooking Granada and the looming Sierra Nevada since the 11th century. The grounds are sprawling, and visitors make their way slowly through each castle, tower, and chamber and into the amazing gardens of the Generalife.
Craig recreated battles and patiently taught me the essentials of defending a major fort as we toured, stopping often to admire the incredible views and the shamelessly excessive art. Most walls were intricately carved, bright tile lined entire walls, and everywhere we turned there was running water, fountains, ponds, and baths. I could not stop taking photos, as the sheer beauty was overwhelming.
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