If you’re just catching up, you can read Part I (Seville) here and Part II (Cordoba) here.

The last leg of our journey!

Granada! This was not only the city in which we spent the most time (3 nights, 3.5 days), but also my favorite city of the three.  I liked Sevilla for it’s charm and mid evil feel, but I liked Granada for the things we did and for the feeling that it was an actual city and not a tiny little town.

Our first day in Granada, we didn’t do too much- only got situated at the hotel and then walked around the city a bit before parking it in a cafe while we watched bits and pieces of the 3 Reyes Magos parade that was going by. It was pouring rain (again…) so I was more interested in the thick hot cocoa and tea that were on the table than what was going on outside.

The next morning, the sun came out from hiding and this was, by far, my favorite day of the trip!  We went to the Alhambra, which is an absolutely breathtaking palace built in the 9th century.

Alhambra tickets have to be booked in advance (and in the peak season, booked months in advance).  It was busy, but not too, too busy.  We wandered our way through the palace and then through the grounds, garden, and other structures on the property.  For your viewing pleasure…

And some with actual humans:

My mom’s way of getting people to smile is by pinching them.  It works…apparently..

After lots and lots of walking (do you sense a theme here?), we walked some more and headed to the Cathedral where Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand are buried…

And then we had dinner at a Turkish place.  All I wanted was salad and hummus and I was a happy camper (even though they gave me a plate of iceberg lettuce and onions…).

Here is a riddle:  How many ways can you say “pork” in Spain?!

Then bedtime…

On our final full day in Granada, we started with big totilla bocadillos (huge sandwich with egg/ cheese) and coffee and then another walking tour.  Side note- I am walking toured out for the foreseeable future…

Again, the walking tour was beneficial in that it took us to places we wouldn’t have otherwise seen and allowed those of us that were paying attention to learn something new.

After the walking tour, we did our own walking tour of the Albayzin, which is the Moorish quarter of Granada…basically a huge mountain that we climbed.  And then we rested for awhile with awesome views..

Once we found our way back down, we went for beers and tapas, did a bit more walking, and then went and had the best meal we had all week at a Syrian restaurant.  I wish I knew the name of it because it was incredible food, totally affordable prices, and definitely not a tourist trap. (Edited to add: We think this meal gave all 3 of us food poisoning. Fun stuff…)

Then we took the long walk back up the mountain to head to our hotel.  We estimated that we probably walked somewhere between 10 and 15 miles that day, and seeing as I fell asleep almost immediately, that’s probably accurate.

On the day of our trip home, my mom did ANOTHER walking tour while my dad rested and I went shopping.  We were all so thrilled to be back in Madrid and home and to finally have vegetables (haha). I am so, so thankful that I am able to travel with my parents, that they were able to come visit me, and that they are the two best people in the world. I am very, very lucky- and they’re still here!  I am off to spend the afternoon with my mom (writing this on Sunday).

If you have any questions about our trip, let me know!