La Alhambra

Sometimes a place is so famous that you think there is no way it can live up to all of the hype surrounding it. You know that the moment you enter inside, it will be a let-down and no matter how much you try to build it up in your mind, it will never resemble the place that you imagined. The Alhambra is not this place.

Exactly four weeks after my initial arrival in Granada, we took our first tour of the Generalife and the Alhambra. The Generalife was the royal family's residence and The Alhambra (mainly the Palacio de los Nazaries) was the Sultan's palace during the Arabic rule in Granada which lasted from 711-1492. Despite the crowd of tourists and the restoration of various areas of the palace, it was an incredible experience.

First walking into the Palacio de los Nazaries, I kept thinking "wow, this is it?" Sure there were mosaics and intricate designs on the walls but especially after our guide told us they were made from moldings, I was a little underwhelmed. However, we continued through the room and entered into the first patio. The fountain in the center was low set since Arab rulers did not have thrones -- they sat on carpets. But the facades of the buildings were completely covered with Arabic characters and designs in plaster. If you looked closely, it was amazing how many actual words were written and apparently, these form poems and phrases, welcoming visitors and describing parables.

We moved on to one of the most famous parts of The Palace where foreign visitors would enter to meet with The Sultan. Here a long pool reflected the imposing arches of the entryway. Once inside, the entire tower was again covered with Arabic figures and detail which at one point were painted in reds, blues, and greens. The ceiling was a marvel too, made of dark wood with a spiral design of stars and planets to represent the seven levels of heaven. I am sure that back at the peak of the Muslim Empire with the floor covered in carpets and the brilliant mosaics shining above the water, the palace must have been spectacular. It still is.

I know that describing a place to someone via a blog is perhaps boring for some of you, dear readers. However, if you never see The Alhambra, I feel it is a duty of mine to describe it to you. Seriously, it should be one of the seven wonders of the world, even if it is missing some color...