Granada - the pomegranate

Out not so early today to ride the unusual hop-on, hop-off bus of Granada. As many of the streets are very narrow they have a purpose built bus that pulls carriages; a tourist train. As the streets are cobbled it is pretty rough but lots of fun and beats walking up hills all day. We did a full lap of the route and got off at the Alhambra to check where our meeting point is for tomorrow. Unfortunately our tour has been brought forward by one and a half hours requiring us to be there at 8.45 am.

Siesta time was spent in our hotel breakfast courtyard. Time to catch up on journals and have some r & r.

The Cathedral is another huge church dating from at least the 1400s. As a payment is required to enter these ancient monuments we usually are given a guided tour hand piece which is excellent. This Cathedral is very pleasing to the eye inside as it is built from white marble and has lots of windows making it very light. It is also spiritually pleasing as it seems every piece of art or decoration has a reason for being. Many of the churches are heavily Baroque and very theatrical.

Gelati time, which reminded me to mention that the Spanish for pomegranate is granada. As a result the pomegranate is the symbol of the city and appears everywhere. From gelato flavour to fountain, from traffic bollard to street signs. In fact, we have seen pomegranate bushes trimmed into hedges, with fruit attached.

The Basilica of San Juan de Dios, or St. John of God, was another special experience. Instead of hundreds there were only about a dozen of us and the audio guide was very detailed. This is an O.T.T. baroque church decorated in lashings of gold, but very moving regardless. St. John of God (d. 1550 in Granada), was a soldier turned health care worker who started the Brothers Hospitaller and cared for the sick, the poor and the mentally ill.  He was canonised in 1690. His relics are held in the basilica in an incredible reliquary which initially appeared very high up in the altar,  but later we were allowed to go up to the actual spot. Unbelievable!

We are enjoying the tapas method of eating here. At our favourite spot they give you a tapa for each drink you order, then you can buy additional ones to built an interesting meal. Last night we accompanied the tapas with a pino colada, another favourite drink here. Often there are roaming flamenco guitarists to entertain.