Visit the Alhambra palace in Granada

“There were points where I had to simply stop and let my senses catch up – to run a hand near (but not on, of course) the carved stucco to believe it was real, or to lean close to decipher a few Arabic words [...] Standing there, I felt those words come alive around me.”

“So I enter the complex with a very small personal backpack. I’m moving along the crowded corridors with the rest of the crowd when I think I feel someone touch my bag. Concerned I’m being pickpocketed, I turn around and there are guards pointing to my bag, but they say nothing. I thought perhaps it was open. Finding that it wasn’t, I continue on my way. Then another guard stops me and begins tapping my backpack. It wasn’t open so I wasn’t sure what was happening. Then there were several of them in front of me, all tapping their chests but continuing to stay silent. It was like Charades. I began to get stressed, the crowds of people now bustling past me. [...] After all of that, a woman speaking broken English finally shows up and informs me that I need to turn my backpack around and wear it on my chest.”

“Like most visitors, the main reason we have come to Granada is to visit the Alhambra, which is indeed a magnificent sight worthy of the oft quoted tag “the eighth wonder of the ancient World”. By pre-booking tickets we have committed most of our first full day to an Alhambra visit, having read that it’s advisable to allow around 4 hours to explore the place fully. [...] The buildings of the Alhambra are majestic as well as beautifully preserved, but there is further joy in wandering around the sumptuous gardens of Generalife adjacent to the citadel and palaces: truly glorious, peaceful gardens.”