Cathedral, Royals and Sacramonte in Granada

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cathedral, Europe, Granada, Sacramonte, Spain

After a late night last night everyone slept in a little.  After brioche, juice, and coffee we tried the cathedral again with much more success. However, coming upon the corpus Christi procession yesterday was by no means a bad thing.

Sherrie and I both enjoyed the cathedral.  It had a unique layout with no transept making the large space more inviting.

Lucas and Isabella in the Granada cathedral

Granada cathedral side chapel with small painting given to queen Isabella from the pope

We then went next door to the capilla real, the royal chapel.  No pictures or video were allowed although I’m sure Sherrie snuck a few in.

In the chapel are several tombs of Spanish nobility, most notably those of Isabella and Ferdinand. Something different about this tomb is the ability to visit the crypt and view the actual coffins. While the above marble effigies are ornate and beautiful, the coffins are plain and made of lead.

The space adjoining the chapel is a sacristy containing some of their belongings such as her missal and crown along with many works of art.

For eight euros, for two adults, it was a short visit. Comparatively,we paid 28 euros for two adults and spent 4 hours at the Alhambra – and would have paid more.

We then began to trek towards the Sacramonte, a series of caves tuned homes which were, until recently, the traditional home of Granada gypsys. It is also the home of flamenco.

To get to Sacramonte we walked along the river and enjoyed another part of Granada. In a small plaza directly beneath the Alhambra and along the river we got lunch.

Along the river in Granada

Sherrie and the kids along the river in Granada

Plaza beneath the Alhambra where we ate lunch

Alhambra view from plaza

Sherrie and Isabella at lunch

Sacramonte

Flamenco bar in Sacramonte

Sherrie and Isabella walking in the Sacramonte district

The day was getting warm and we had already walked awhile so we decided to go back to the apartment to rest before going back out.

Lucas colouring his Alhambra designs

Isabella, Aurelia, and Sherrie resting writing in their travel journals and playing iPad games

We headed back out at 1800 to see a couple of more historic buildings. However, we got lost and even asking for directions never found the places but instead enjoyed a different part of Granada and stumbled onto a nice couple of plazas.

Lucas and Isabella enjoying the mist from a fountain

We enjoyed it so much we stayed for dinner – or maybe it was just the chorros and hot chocolate 🙂

Chorros y chocolate

Aurelia enjoying her chorros and chocolate

For not having spoken Spanish in over a decade and not many spaniards speaking any English we are getting along fine – except for the hot milk I ordered with desert!

So far Sherrie and I rate this as one of the best holidays ever.

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Granada and the Alhambra

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Alcazaba, Alhambra, Andalusia, Generalife, Granada, San Nicolas, Spain

We awoke at 0900 well rested. We obviously needed the rest. A pan of scrambled eggs and chocolate brioche with pineapple grape juice satisfied everyone. Of course coffee was involved.

Morning coffee

We set out, after applying sunscreen at 1030 ready to hit the cathedral. But our plan was stymied by a religious procession celebrating Granada’s most holy day, corpus Christi.

It was a great experience and we stayed for an hour watching the various nearby villages parade past. Everyone around us explained what was occurring and we were trying very hard to understand in our poor Spanish. But, we understood, somehow – plus they loved the kids.

Sherrie and the kids walking to the cathedral through the old Islamic district

Procession of corpus Christi in Granada

Since the city centre was going to be uncomfortably busy we made alternate plans, picked up our Alhambra tickets and headed up the hill to Mirador San Nicolas.

Sherrie, Isabella, and Aurelia picking up Alhambra tickets

Isabella and Lucas running through the streets

Isabella and Lucas inspecting an old city water source

It is a terrace located nearby the gypsy quarter, the Sacromante, which contains a small plaza and a 16th century church. It is also one of the nicest views in the city and hosts musicians and artists all day.

We hiked up to the top of the church steeple and enjoyed the view, music, and atmosphere.

Sherrie and the kids in the San Nicholas bell tower

View from San Nicolas bell tower

View from San Nicolas bell tower

View from San Nicholas bell tower

Plaza San Nicholas

Sherrie and the kids at plaza San Nicolas with the Alhambra in the background

Sergio, Lucas, and Isabella at plaza San Nicholas with the Alhambra in the background

We then ate lunch in a restaurant near the plaza.

Isabella and Lucas with paella tapas

Isabella with eggplant and honey - so good!

Tuna in white wine with onions and almonds

Aurelia feeding the birds

From mirador San Nicholas we took a taxi to the Alhambra. As we had heard that the walk up was rough we decided to take it easy. Seven euros and ten minutes later we were at the Alhambra. Our tickets for the Nazrid palace was not until 1900 which have us four hours to explore. Boy, did we need it.

First we saw the Generalife. A more unofficial palace.

Lucas and Isabella at the Generalife gardens

Sherrie and Aurelia at the Generalife gardens

Lucas and Isabella in the Generalife gardens

A lizard in the Generalife gardens

Sherrie, Lucas, Aurelia, and Isabella in the Generalife palace

Decorative entryway in the Generalife palace

Generalife palace

Generalife palace room

Generalife palace

Lucas and Isabella in the Generalife palace

Lucas taking Isabella's picture in the Generalife palace

The weather was beautiful. Not hot in the sun nor cold in the shade. Perfect. After the Generalife we went to the palace of Carlos V. Not much to see there.

Sergio, Isabella, and Lucas in the palace of Carlos V

We then crossed over to the Alcazaba, the military barracks for the sultan.

Isabella and Lucas at the doorway to the Alcazaba

Alcazaba tower

Sherrie and the kids on the top of the Alcazaba

Sherrie and Lucas walking the old road below the Alcazaba

Lucas attempting to scale the walls. Again we had to intervene to keep Lucas from going to prison 🙂

After the Alcazaba we waited in line for the Nazrid palace, the main attraction. The kids did a great job waiting and making new friends. A particular Korean couple really loved Isabella and loved spending time with her.

Lucas, Aurelia, Isabella, and another kid making friends and waiting in line for the Nazrid palaces

Isabella with the Korean couple and Lucas, who felt left out, on the shoulders of another guy who felt bad for him

We then, finally, got into the Nazrid palace. Having tickets for the end of the day was nice as it was almost empty of people.

It was stunning.

Nazrid palace geometric wall design

Nazrid palace geometric wall design

Nazrid palace interior room

Nazrid palace ceiling

Nazrid palace geometric wall design

Nazrid palace geometric wall design

Nazrid palace windows

Nazrid palace water jug shelf

Nazrid palace courtyard

Nazrid palace seven lions fountain

After the palace we took a taxi to plaza nueva for dinner and finished it off with some ice cream. Not a bad day. Everyone was in a great mood. And best of all, no sunburns!

Sergio and the kids at dinner on the plaza nuevo

Isabella, Lucas, and Aurelia enjoying ice cream after dinner

Isabella’s travel journal

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isabella, journal

Isabella began a travel journal on this trip. Her first extended writing project. We are very proud of her.

Isabella journals her travels at the end of the day

Journal entry for 29 may 2013

(excerpt)

29 of May

We had to wake up early to go to the airport. We landed in two hours. We rented a car. We drove to Granada. We ate dinner and brot sweeties. We told stories on the roof. Top.

Hello Spain!

Tags

food, Granada, Spain, tapas

It felt like a crime to wake the kids up at 0400 this morning.

Aurelia still sleeping at 0400

Lucas and Isabella still sleeping

We got ourselves together and after a short taxi from the hotel we caught the Gatwick express from Victoria station. Luckily, the hotel provided breakfast boxes.

On the train to Gatwick airport

After the rigors of navigating the airport we were on the plane and on our way to the next adventure.

Lucas and Aurelia strapped in and ready to fly!

Aurelia catching up on her beauty rest during the flight

Once at the airport we waited an hour to get the rental car and another hour installing car seats. Not a great start.

While a trip to the beach before Granada sounded nice the kids were tired and took a nap during the two hour drive from Malaga to Granada. In the end well rested kids equal happy kids and a better trip.

The trip to Granada was beautiful. We headed away from the beach inland towards the snow capped Sierra Nevada mountains. The road was lined with olive groves and, of course, the sun was out. In some ways the architecture and landscape reminded me of central California.

The Alhambra and Sierra Nevada mountains

When we arrived in Granada it took some time to find the meeting spot to get the keys for our holiday let. It took even longer to find a parking garage. I’m sure I broke some traffic laws along the way.

We then trekked thorough the old Islamic district to the apartment.

Street in old Islamic district of Granada

Isabella and Lucas in the apartment courtyard

The view of the Alhambra from our apartment

Once we got settled we headed out for tapas. We still needed to move the car to the correct parking spot and hit a tapas bar on the way.

Fries with eight sauces, seafood salad, and croquettes

Enjoying tapas!

Jamon Iberico Plata with some of the best Spanish meats

We finally moved the rental car and walked our luggage through the labyrinthine streets of the old Islamic district, the sounds of our wheeled luggage on the cobblestones echoing in the narrow passages.

The Granada old Islamic district from above

Tuesday Finds Rain and London Sites

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Kensington, London, museum

We awoke to a normal British day, grey and rainy.  Boy are we glad we did the outdoor itinerary earlier to take advantage of the sun.  This makes us all the more excited for Spain.

After a hearty breakfast we were off on the tube and arrived eleven stops later at Holborn and a short misty walk to the British museum.

Lucas and Isabella with a random other child in the entrance to the British museum

Sherrie and the kids in the British museum entry way

After a potty break and a bit of orienteering we headed to the rosetta stone. It was pretty cool to see up close and in person.

Lucas and Isabella with the rosetta stone in the British museum.

Luckily, the Assyrian exhibit was near the rosetta stone. This is what Sergio really wanted to see.

Sergio, Lucas and Isabella with Assyrian relics

Assyrian king killing a lion with a sword. This relief from his palace says he was a bad a$$.

We then walk through the Greek and Roman areas which Isabella liked most. Particularly the vases.

Sherrie taking to the kids about Greek culture

Heading upstairs to the Egyptian exhibits the kids saw an Easter island moi. They remember this from the film Night at the Museum and loved “dum dum.”

Isabella and Lucas with Dum Dum

On our way to the mummies we stopped to admire the last remnants from a seventh wonder of the ancient world: the original mausoleum. We meet a nice couple from Long Island on their way through Europe.

Lucas and Mausoleum statutes. Impressive.

Finally to the mummies. But not before admiring all the Egyptian artifacts.

Sherrie and the kids with the famous Egyptian cat.

And mummies! Lucas says thus was his favourite part.

Isabella and Lucas with Egyptian mummies in the British museum

When we left the museum the sky had opened up and we found refuge in the nearest Thai restaurant for lunch 🙂

Unfortunately the rain did not let up and we had to buy some umbrellas from a souvenir vendor. I did haggle for a good deal however. When we packed we bet on nice weather to save baggage space for the warm Spanish coast. Ooh well.

Walking back to the tube after lunch with our newest rain gear

It was a short tube ride to Notting Hill which brought us to Kensington palace.

Isabella and Lucas waking through Kensington gardens to the palace

While stopping for a photo opportunity we meet a group of three ladies on a world tour who had just arrived from a thirteen hour flight from Tokyo. One even had an older son named Lucas.

Sherrie and the kids with the Victoria monument outside Kensington palace

Kensington was part of our royal historic palace membership and a great place to visit which doesn’t take much time.

There are really only three parts: king’s apartment, the queen’s apartments, and Victoria’s apartments.

Sherrie, Aurelia, and Isabella in the king's cupola room

King's drawing room ceiling

Isabella in the King's drawing room

King's gallery

Lucas doing a Kensington palace childrens activity book

The Victorian apartments were very cool to see which included many personal letters, her nursery, the room Albert died, and many of her dresses.

Isabella loved one of Victoria’s dollhouses. She said it was her favouriteand wanted one just like it.

Isabella and Victoria's dollhouse

Victoria's wedding dress and Isabella in mid-fall

The day was great and we all walked many miles with no complaints. Tomorrow morning we leave early for the sunny Spanish coast.

We copped out and picked up McDonalds for dinner so we could do bath time and an early bed.

Goodnight from London!

Monday in London

We awoke unexpectedly this morning with Sherrie’s school morning alarm which got us off to an early start.  The hotel breakfast was nice, although the kid had hot chocolate which they found a nice surprise.

We were then off on the tube to Tower Hill.

We spent about three hours at the Tower of London and thanks to a nice suggestion by the gift store lady avoided hours of queue time for the crown jewels.

The jewels were our favourite part and the lack of any significant crowd meant we spent a lot of time with them.

After the Tower it was lunchtime and we discovered a Starbucks nearby with a tremendous view.  The Starbucks was also nearby the girl and dolphin statue which the kids enjoyed.

Then off to Kew Gardens. We headed strait to Queen Charlotte’s cottage where King George III spent time.  It is only open weekends and bank holidays and was a great opportunity.

We then went to the tree top walk.  It was a bit windy and the structure was swaying making it interesting.  The view was beautiful.

Once down from the tree top walk we visited the glass houses.  The flora variety was amazing from all around the world and in such an setting.

After a few hours looking around we decided out favourite spot was the water lily house.

After a full day of adventures we were famished and looked for a nearby restaurant.  After looking at the menus of a few we decided on Lebanese.  We were not disappointed.

We finished the day tired, a bit pink from the sun and Sherrie with pigeon poop on her shoulder.  She well be a but more careful of pigeons roosting in the beams of tube stations 🙂

Sunday to London

Hello from London. We had a nice train ride this morning and spent the afternoon in Covent gardens.  We had ice cream and walked about.

The weather was beautiful.  We then went to Trafalgar square and to dinner in China
town where we ate Szechwan.  It was very good.

The kids are doing great. A bit tired after walking so much.

Serg and Sherrie