Carmen de los Martires

Just like the previous day, we arrived before mid day and left our luggage at the rental. We then went to take a tour of La Alhambra, one of the most iconic human-made structures on the entire world. Our tour lasted 3 hours and went through the three main areas of La Alhambra: Generalife, Alcazaba, and Nazari Palace.

Generalife is the largest area, and it was the place where generals arrived and rested in Alhambra. It is filled with lush gardens and beautiful fountains. The guide told us many stories and legends about the Generalife while we were walking its full extension.

The three main areas are all connected through a central plaza dedicated to Carlos V. After the visit to Generalife, we walked through the Alcazaba, which is the oldest part of the complex. It is full of ruins of walls and towers where soldiers used to live and defend the city.

Overall the Generalife and Alcazaba were not as impressive as Cordoba Cathedral in terms of architectonic style. However, our opinion changed once we arrived at the Nazari Palace. The work on the walls and floors of the palace is unique and showcases some of the best moorish work known today.

We visited most of the iconic places of the palace, including Patio de Comares, where the pool is set up as a mirror and Patio de los Leones. The work on the walls of the Palace makes it easy for the sight to wander and find new places to explore and see.

We enjoyed what we saw on the visit and the only detail that made it hard was that our tour guide was in "speed run" mode and we were rushing the 3 hours through the complex with limited opportunities to take on the sights and take pictures.

The last stop in the area was in Jardines Alberto, where we enjoyed some of the local Nazari cuisine. We got Vizier Lamb and Nazari chicken, and it was really good; Nazari food is significantly more complex than the one found in the North, combining fruits and nuts with meats to create unique dishes.

We got back home, and at night, Karina and Napoleon visited the Hammam Al-Andalus arab baths. The place is built on top of an old arab bathhouse that was converted into a bread oven after the Christian conquest forbid public bathhouse. The place is amazing with four different pools at different temperatures, a sauna, and a massage area.

Once the session was done, they got dinner on their way home, and the full family got ready to get back to Madrid the next day.Lue lisää