La Alhambra: The Grand Canyon of Moorish Influence

May 19th, 2010 by admin Leave a reply »

Until today, we had not yet felt like tourists being horded around and squeezed for money. That ended today with our visit to the Alhambra, a 14th century fort / palace constructed by the Muslim emirs. Wars, abandonment, and time caused much of the Alhambra to fall into disrepair. Only once Grenada realized what a goldmine they were sitting on did they begin to repair it, in the 19th century. Now it is THE destination for buses full of elderly tourists.

Moors apparently love hedges and shallow pools

To be fair, the only things in the US which are this old are either carved into cliffs or inside Larry King. And like Larry King, much of the Alhambra was rebuilt to stand up to the wear and tear of many engagements.

What remains of the palace would have been greatly enhanced by artwork, tapestries, furniture, and far fewer tourists. While I love exposed brick as much as any New Yorker, I very much think the emirs would have opted for something more grand. Some parts that remain hint at the former opulence, but even those are under constant reconditioning (e.g., the famous lions circling the main fountain were off getting cleaned – this was the pinnacle of bummers).

The most interesting part of the Alhambra for me was the ingenious ways the architects designed some rooms to be cool, even in the blistering sun. It was in the mid-80s when we visited, and the sun was oppressive enough to slow the older tourists to a crawl. There were rooms in the palace however that — without any doors or fancy contrivances — were 20+ degrees cooler. Marble, it turns out, is quite good at staying cool.

As we exited the palace and explored the surroundings, we discovered that there are scores of semi-wild cats who call the palace home. We noticed that these cats had perfected the ability to perch on the rims of trash cans and reach in to pick out choice morsels. All I could think of is what an amazing bum fight we could have between these cats and the Grand Central trash-diving hobos. Winner gets a bindle full of fish scraps.

My biggest takeaway from today is that even though crossing paths with tourist hordes is inevitable, it is quite nice to watch them pack into a bus bound for the next photo opportunity while you set off to figure out a way to get back to your hotel. Sure, you may end up walking or catching a local bus, but there is some excitement in not having a guide to fall back on. Also, the tapas and beer taste a little better when you had to earn them.

Advertisement

126,474 comments

  1. I like this web site because so much utile material on here : D.

  2. Hi, i think that i saw you visited my web site thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m attempting
    to find things to improve my site!I suppose its ok to use
    a few of your ideas!!

  3. Hi there excellent website! Does running a blog similar to this take
    a massive amount work? I’ve no understanding of coding but I had been hoping to start
    my own blog in the near future. Anyhow, if
    you have any ideas or tips for new blog owners please share.
    I know this is off subject however I simply wanted to ask.
    Thanks!

  4. I was curious if you ever thought of changing
    the layout of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
    Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two pictures.
    Maybe you could space it out better?

  5. I һave reaԁ sso many aricles сoncerning the blogger lovers һowever
    thiѕ article is ɑctually а fastidoous paragraph, kеep it
    uⲣ.

    Here iѕ my website; 이것을 무료로 읽으십시오

  6. goyard bags says:

    My wife and i ended up being so peaceful when Albert could carry out his research by way of the ideas he came across through your blog. It is now and again perplexing to just choose to be giving out tips that others may have been trying to sell. So we do understand we have got you to be grateful to because of that. The type of illustrations you’ve made, the easy blog menu, the relationships you assist to create – it’s got all powerful, and it’s really assisting our son and the family reason why that topic is enjoyable, and that is really indispensable. Many thanks for the whole lot!

  7. jordan shoes says:

    I would like to express my thanks to the writer just for rescuing me from this challenge. After exploring throughout the the net and finding views which were not beneficial, I believed my entire life was well over. Existing without the presence of strategies to the difficulties you’ve resolved as a result of your main report is a crucial case, as well as ones which might have in a negative way affected my career if I had not noticed your website. The competence and kindness in touching almost everything was priceless. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t come upon such a thing like this. I can also now look forward to my future. Thank you very much for this impressive and amazing help. I won’t think twice to refer your web blog to any person who wants and needs tips on this problem.

  8. cheap kd 13 says:

    I would like to show my gratitude for your kindness supporting those individuals that need guidance on that question. Your real dedication to passing the solution around had been surprisingly productive and have specifically helped guys and women like me to realize their goals. Your new interesting hints and tips can mean this much a person like me and further more to my fellow workers. Thanks a lot; from all of us.

  9. Outstanding story there. What occurred after?

    Take care!

  10. I’m no longer positive the place you are getting your info, but greazt topic.
    I neeeds to spend some time learning much more
    or understanding more. Thank you for wonderful information I uswd to be searching for this infco for my mission.

  11. I’m rеally enjoying the design and layout of yoսr blog.
    Іt’s a vеry easy ߋn the eyes ԝhich maкeѕ it much mогe
    pleasant foг me to come here and visit moгe often. Ꭰiɗ you hire out a
    designer to creɑte yojr theme? Superb ԝork!

    Feel free tⲟ surf to my hօmepage: ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਸਮੱਗਰੀ ਆਨਲਾਈਨ

  12. Hey! Quick question tһat’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to maке youг site mobile friendly?
    Ⅿy blog loоks weiird whyen viewing from mу apple iphone.
    I’m tryіng to find а template or plugin that ight Ьe аble to resolve tһis issue.
    If you have any recommendations, pleaѕe share. Apprehiate
    it!

    Havve а look at my website – slot gacor deposit pulsa Slot777

  13. Have you ever considered writing an e-book or guest authoring
    on other blogs? I have a blog based upon on the same topics you discuss and would really
    like to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would value your work.
    If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send
    me an e mail.

  14. What’s up friends, its enormous post regarding tutoringand entirely defined, keep it up all the time.

  15. Foto İndirici. iGram tarafından sağlanan Instagram foto indiricisi, Instagram gönderilerinden resim kaydetmek için harika bir araçtır.

  16. Asking questions are truly fastidious thing if you
    are not understanding somethinjg fully, except this piece of writing gives good understanding
    even.

  17. Thanks so much for providing individuals with an exceptionally spectacular opportunity to read articles and blog posts from this blog. It’s usually so awesome and jam-packed with a lot of fun for me and my office fellow workers to search your site the equivalent of 3 times in one week to read the fresh guides you will have. And of course, I’m certainly satisfied with all the perfect opinions you give. Some 3 facts in this article are really the simplest we have all had.

  18. kyrie shoes says:

    My husband and i felt now cheerful when Jordan could finish off his investigation through the entire precious recommendations he acquired from your own site. It’s not at all simplistic to simply find yourself giving out concepts which usually the others have been selling. Therefore we realize we have got the writer to thank for that. Those explanations you made, the simple site menu, the relationships you will assist to engender – it’s mostly sensational, and it’s really leading our son and the family feel that the subject is satisfying, which is certainly extremely mandatory. Thanks for the whole lot!

  19. I blog often and I genuinely appreciate your content. The article has truly peaked my interest.
    I’m going to take a note of your site and keep checking for new
    information about once per week. I opted in for your RSS feed too.

  20. I’m not sure why Ьut tһіѕ web site iѕ loiading iincredibly slow fⲟr me.
    Is anyone eⅼse һaving this issue or is it
    a issue on my end? I’ll check back latеr on and see іf the probⅼem stipl exists.

    Herе is my web sitye :: আরো তথ্য সংগ্রহ কর