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Discover Granada Posted by on Mar 10, 2010 in Spanish Culture

As we are going to share some words, because I will be writing for the Spanish blog from now on, let me introduce myself. My name is Magda, and I’m a native Spanish speaker who lives in the south of Spain. I’m from a small but wonderful city, Granada.Perhaps you’ve heard of it? We have a magical remnant from the city´s Muslim past which is the pride and joy of all of us “granadinos”: The Alhambra. Here you have some photos I took in one of my visits two summers ago to get an idea of what I’m talking about. And maybe this way I’ll see you soon here in Granada on holidays!

 

Patio de los leones
Court of the lions

These are only two different views from this fortress, full of albercas (ponds), Fuentes (fountains), and the fresh scent of jardines (gardens) and “parterres” (large landscaped gardens). I say fortress because the whole site is made of several buildings: there are the winter palaces, the ones in the pictures above, a summer residence surrounded by orchards and flowers, known as Generalife, and they are all surrounded by a fortified citadel, the Alcazaba.

 

Patio de Comares
Court of Comares


During a warm evening, we can wander through the callejones (narrow streets) in the Albaicín or Realejo, the historical Muslim and Jewish districts, pass by the statue of Cristóbal Colón (Columbus) kneeling in front of Queen Isabel la Católica at the end of the main street, “La Gran Vía”; have a drink and some tapas sitting next to the river, on El paseo de los tristes (below), with such a beautiful view just in front of us…

 

If you spend several days in Granada we can also have a cup or two from one of the large variety of teas in the teterías (traditional North African tea shops); they also offer zumos (fruit juices) or batidos (milkshakes), that you can pair with some delicious Moroccan desserts. They are a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon in good company.

As you can see, the old Muslim kingdom is still very present in our city, so why not spend some time in the baños árabes (Arab baths)?: Cold and warm pools will help you relax body and mind while listening to some soft background music.

But Granada has a lot more to offer: Sierra Nevada and its ski resorts overlooking the city; beaches to sunbathe in the summer are just half an hour away; a buzzing cultural and literary scene; new buildings such as El museo de la memoria (The memory museum) and El Parque de las Ciencias (Science Museum), where we can find innovative educational projects…

Let me end this first Spanish post with a simple question: where would you like to spend your next holiday?

¡Hasta pronto!

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About the Author: Magda

Hi all! I’m Magda, a Spanish native speaker writing the culture posts in the Transparent Language Spanish blog. I have a Bachelor’s in English Philology and a Master’s in Linguistics and Literature from the University of Granada, in Spain. I have also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, and then worked as an English teacher in several schools and academies for several years. Last year was my first at university level. In addition, I work as a private tutor, teaching English and Spanish as a foreign language to students and adults. In my free time, I’m an avid reader and writer, editing and collaborating in several literary blogs. I have published my first poetry book recently. And last but not least, I love photography!


Comments:

  1. wheels:

    yo tengo muchas ganas de ir al sur de america, pero hay muchas sitios de conocer en españa primeramente¡

  2. arif:

    Dear Magda,
    Very good picture of granada in your website make me interested to visit.

  3. Janice Falk:

    I enjoyed your article & pictures of the Alhambra! I lived right outside Madrid in the late 1960’s. I also spent a lot of time in southern Spain. The Alhambra was one of my favorite places to visit.

  4. Magda:

    It´s a pleasure to read your comments! I find it rewarding to know that you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it…

  5. Cathy:

    We have enjoyed reading your blog. We are visiting Granada soon (from Australia) as we plan to walk the Via de la Plata from Seville at the beginning of May.
    We hope the Spanish word of the day will help with conversation along the way.

  6. Raleigh Froese:

    Very good blog post. I absolutely love this site. Continue the good work!