The main reason for posting more pictures of Spain is to get to these most amazing photos of The Alahambra Palace in Grenada. We spent most of an entire day visiting this place, and found it so fascinating and beautiful. The oldest parts were built in the 9th century, and a grand palace was built in the 13th century as a home for the king and his family. It was the last stronghold of the Moorish people before the Spaniards conquered the region. The photos don't even begin to capture the intricate detail and creative architecture. Here are some highlights...
Brian is standing underneath a huge door, intricately carved in wood.
The whole palace complex had pools, fountains and streams running throughout. It all operated on a complex hydrolics system, bringing water to the entire royal family and the many servants. They've restored it as it was when the palace was in operation. None of the streams or ponds makes noise... designed to be silent, while constantly running.
For the picture below, we waited and waited for the people around this archway to move out so Brian could take one of
just us (Sam's fast asleep under my coat in her stroller) and the cool engravings. Well, neither turned out very clear, so I'm not sure it was worth the wait. But let me tell ya, in person it was spectacular to see... orange trees out the window and everything.
A veiw of the city of Grenada, from one of the palace balconies.
If I look cold, it's because I was. They don't heat these old palaces from the 1300s, if you can imagine!?!? Ah, but look at the details on the wall!! Most of the palace had carvings that would have been painted like this way back when. It was gorgeous, the parts they've restored.
Sam was a very happy girl after taking a two hour nap in her stroller. She loved walking along the paths holding our hands. It was hard to take her stroller up the stairs in the towers, so with most of them we took turns going up to see the view, one of us staying on the ground with Samantha.
Views from the top...
Quite the watch tower, no?
The main reason for posting more pictures of Spain is to get to these most amazing photos of The Alahambra Palace in Grenada. We spent most of an entire day visiting this place, and found it so fascinating and beautiful. The oldest parts were built in the 9th century, and a grand palace was built in the 13th century as a home for the king and his family. It was the last stronghold of the Moorish people before the Spaniards conquered the region. The photos don't even begin to capture the intricate detail and creative architecture. Here are some highlights...
Brian is standing underneath a huge door, intricately carved in wood.
The whole palace complex had pools, fountains and streams running throughout. It all operated on a complex hydrolics system, bringing water to the entire royal family and the many servants. They've restored it as it was when the palace was in operation. None of the streams or ponds makes noise... designed to be silent, while constantly running.
For the picture below, we waited and waited for the people around this archway to move out so Brian could take one of just us (Sam's fast asleep under my coat in her stroller) and the cool engravings. Well, neither turned out very clear, so I'm not sure it was worth the wait. But let me tell ya, in person it was spectacular to see... orange trees out the window and everything.
A veiw of the city of Grenada, from one of the palace balconies.
If I look cold, it's because I was. They don't heat these old palaces from the 1300s, if you can imagine!?!? Ah, but look at the details on the wall!! Most of the palace had carvings that would have been painted like this way back when. It was gorgeous, the parts they've restored.
Sam was a very happy girl after taking a two hour nap in her stroller. She loved walking along the paths holding our hands. It was hard to take her stroller up the stairs in the towers, so with most of them we took turns going up to see the view, one of us staying on the ground with Samantha.
Views from the top...
Quite the watch tower, no?
2 comments:
Kam--I'm glad you took the time to put these pictures in here, as well as the write-ups about this trip you took---even though it WAS a while back. It's good for you to have this information all in one spot like this.
And after you've beem to Egypt (in the next three days), all this "Spain Stuff" will be OLD NEWS indeed!! At least to YOU, it will be, but to us readers, it's ALL interesting!! Your Grandma Hone just LOVES it!! She gets out the encyclopedia and the Atlas and Globe and checks out all the facts on where you are as you travel. Dad and I love hearing and reading about it, too. So keep 'clueing us in', k? Love, Mom
What great pictures of a beautiful country! Can't wait to see photos from Egypt, you world travelers.
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