Tuesday, 20 May
Today was spent heading from Madrid to Granada. After breakfast we headed to the bus at nine. Our first stop after about an hour and a half was a little town, Tembleque, for a look at the town square, a coffee and rest rooms. Another hour and a half before a stop for lunch at a roadside cafeteria and a chance to stretch our legs. The last part of the drive was through tens of thousands of acres of olive trees, some on hills so steep I wondered how you could get to them. As we got close to Granada, I was surprised to see the snow covered peaks of the Sierra Nevadas. Snow covered mountains in the distance when the temperature was eighty.
Dolora and I arrived in Granada about four and checked into the Hotel Anacapris. We are right next to the cathedral and main square. Luis gave us an orientation to Granada showing us the all important gelato shop, ATM, tapas restaurants, bus and taxi stops and more. Granada has a north African section that Dolora and I explored after our orientation. The pomegranate, Dolora’s favorite fruit, is the symbol of Granada. Pomegranates can be found on lampposts, buildings and souvenirs as well as pomegranate trees along the streets.
On the way to dinner, we stopped by the Church of San Gregorio where a Franciscan sister is always kneeling at the altar dressed in white. Tonight was an optional group activity, a dinner at a carmen, Las Tomasas. The carmens are fancy houses that were built on the hill facing the Alhambra. Most have been turned into hotels or restaurants. Dinner was wonderful while being able to look across to the Alhambra as the sun was setting. More about the Alhambra tomorrow after our tour.