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!