Andalucía, it just sounds sexy. We were not to be let down one bit, even
though our expectations were high. Starting in Seville we arrived after a three
day drinking binge leaving Ireland behind for sunshine. I had forgot just how
bright the sun is! The weather was brilliant and Tompers would like to point
out my freckles have finally returned. My favorite way to explore cities is by
wandering with no destination in mind. Over the next week I would find myself
averaging twenty five thousand steps per day in four different amazing cities
of this region… Andalucía.
The Spanish people have decided that they want to live outside and the
cities reflect this with massive amounts of green area and plenty of seating. I
found myself every day just sitting on a park bench somewhere and absorbing the
beauty of these places. For the first time ever actually just enjoying doing
nothing. After all I earned this vacation, and I suffered through enough rain
for a life time.
Now forever being the budget traveller that I am I discovered some
things worth noting. The mosque in Cordoba is free after half eight and before
twenty past nine in the morning. This made it more than worth a visit. I have
walked into a million churches all over the world this was something else. I
cued to be one of the first people into the building and didn’t waste any time.
I entered and went straight back to the famous prayer wall. Unbelievable. The
gold mixed into the intricate designs you really have to see it to understand
the beauty. When the pipe organ started
playing in the church in the middle of this mosque the sound made the hairs on
my body stand up. I guess you could say I had a divine moment letting the sound
wash over me.
In Granada you must wait until at least half eight at night to go out
for Tapas, but for a couple of euro you get a glass of wine and a delicious
bite of food. I found after three was enough for me amounting the cost of my
dinner to around €6. If you want the true tapas experience Granada is a must.
The city of 300,000 people actually feels more like a small town and everything
is a short walk away (except the bus station!!) I had booked us tickets to the
Alhambra with a guided tour as it was recommended to me. The tour itself was
terrible and I had left Tompers in the hostel for the day so I didn’t even have
him to amuse me. The palace itself was amazing but a self-guided tour would
have been a better idea. I headed up there very early and found a pathway which
lead me up to the top of the mountain where I found myself sitting and watching
the sunrise over the city. This made me realize I want to spend more time in
nature and to get out of the cities I have planned my whole trip to be in.
The only reason Tompers and I headed into Malaga was to catch the train
out to do the Caminito Del Rey. Now this used to be the most dangerous hike in
the world but they have built these extra safe walkways overtop of the original
pathway. I did not get the adrenaline rush I was hoping for but it was a
beautiful sunny day and the views were breathtaking. I picked up stuff from the
market and we had a little picnic in the sunshine after completing the hike
while waiting for the train back into the city. Malaga reminded me that Spain
was not nearly as safe as the other cities in the region had me believing.
There is a dark underside to this city you can see in the streets if you open
your eyes to it. I certainly didn’t wander down and side streets after the sun
set. I try to avoid obvious danger just so my mother doesn’t have to worry too
much about me.
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