Spring Break 2024/Andalusia, Spain (Granada)/April 4

Again, an up and out day (aren't you supposed to be able to sleep in on vacations?).  I got up 15 minutes earlier today to give me time to finish packing (I was too tired last night).  Right on time I left the hostel and walked the half hour to the bus station.   I went to information and showed him what I had for my trip--just a reference number on my app with the details of the bus trip and he said that it was fine, go to area 20.  The bus just pulled in as I got there (only about 15 minutes early) but the driver went off for his break. Finally he returned and started checking people's tickets.  Most had paper tickets (the app told you to print them out, but I don't have a printer at home and forgot to print it out at work), but some had electronic tickets which he checked against a list  he had of names.  It was a mob, not an orderly line.  Well, I got in there and he couldn't find my name and pointed to me to move aside and wait.  Well, I was the last one.  He still couldn't find me, but finally just told me to get on.  There were three seats left, so I sat with the short old woman (outside I had noticed that she only came up to my chest--and I'm short!  Well, uneventful ride.  I started to get tired, but forced myself to stay awake.  I'm going to run out of books.  I only brought two and I'm halfway through the second one!  And it's a fast read.  I knew I should've packed that third book, but I was running out of room.   And I don't do e-books.

We arrived in Granada about quarter to 12 (noon), but I couldn't check in until 3:00.  So I decided to go to the bus stop near my stay and find a bag storage locker for a few hours.  I found one, but there was another couple waiting for me to finish, so I hurried through the request (all automated through a screen) and only put one hour instead of two.  I spent my hour walking around the labyrinth of little streets (I love those areas!) and finding a place for lunch.  Then I went back to get my bags and accidentally shut the locker (which locks automatically) with my one bag still inside!  I called the number on the website and she told me to press the call button on the wall of the locker room (it's a huge chain).  From that she could remotely unlock my locker so that I could get it out!  That was stressful!

Now there's a fountain!

I was tired and didn't want to go see sights with my two bags so I found a plaza and sat there and read for about 45 minutes until it was time for me to check in.  I arrived at 3:01!  She filled out the paperwork and I showed my passport.  Then I was left alone.  I decided to take a short rest and drifted off a few times.  I have a balcony that opens above a square below with a cafe and a lot of foot traffic, so there was a lot of noise.  Eventually I got up feeling better.  I noticed that I had developed a blister on the bottom of one foot, so I applied moleskin to hopefully help.  Then I walked over by the cathedral.  I saw a line and joined it, thinking it was for the cathedral.  Nope it was the Royal Chapel.  Not very exciting and no photos allowed!

Checking into my air bnb

near the cathedral

waiting for what turned out to be the royal chapel

Outside of the royal chapel

Next I thought I found the cathedral again, but it was just some small church (at least that was free).

But I can see the cathedral!

In the "small" church

Then I saw the Silk Market, La Alcaicería, which is Granada's Big Bazaar and the original Moorish silk market.  It is in another warren of streets and is mostly a lot of tourist stuff, but more interesting than other tourist shops.  They have bins of teas and spices, soaps and lotions in addition to all of the other stuff.  

Then I found the Cathedral!  Lots of little altars.  No pictures in the sacristy or in what I call the "trophy room" of all of the fancy stuff.  The rest was fine.  Although some cranky woman told me that I wasn't supposed to be taking pictures, it says so when you come in.  I told her that you can take pictures, just not in the first room or the sacristy.  And I then looked around to see several people taking pictures and staff members only 10 feet away.  The alter is odd in that it is round and three dimensional instead of flat.  It seems mostly silver, but  tourists are not allowed up close to it.  It is still in use for services. 

The top of the cathedral

The cathedral

a very ornate side altar

Illuminated music

The main altar

There's a walkway up there!

Beautiful dome!

The main altar from the back

The front of the church

The nave

The organ!

Then I needed to find a place for dinner and nothing sounded good, so I shamefacedly went to McDonalds.  <sigh>  Then I walked up the hill through the labyrinth to St. Nicholas plaza--a big place for watching the sunset.  Although I realized when I got there that you can't actually get a view of the setting sun, just one edge of it.  The place was mobbed when I arrived and hour before sunset. I waited for half an hour, then got bored and started toward where I figured my hostel was.  I was going west and eventually found a park that afforded one peep of the setting sun over a house.  Then I headed down through the labyrinth in the gathering darkness and got back just fine.  Going up was more difficult that going down.  Lots of steps and inclines to get up there. Luckily I had dropped my inhaler into my bag this morning just in case I might need it--I did.  It wasn't a long walk, only about 20 minutes, but all of it uphill.  

A doorway along the way

The Alhambra

The snow covered mountains

The sunset

Tomorrow is the Alhambra, I already have my tickets for that.  In the morning I'll check the guidebook to see if there is anything else I want to see.  And I can sleep in a little tomorrow--maybe 9 or 10:00.  Although if the baby downstairs keeps crying I may not get a lot of sleep! And since I closed the balcony door it is getting warm in here, so I may crack that open again which will allow the sounds below to enter as well.