Alhambra PICTURES!!!

Monday night I stayed up until 0300 watching Bones.  An alarm went off early and I was thinking somebody needed to turn off their damn alarm.  That somebody was me.  I reset my phone for 20 minutes later and rolled over.  Ten minutes later my watch went off.  Then the phone went off again.  I would expect my roommates to hate my guts, but about three other alarms were going off at the same time.

Waiting in line....

I finally dragged myself to the shower and went downstairs to meet Louie and Joe for our Alhambra quest.  We walked over to Gran Via and caught the bus to the Alhambra, waited in line until the ticket office opened, then headed over to the Nasrid Palaces for the 0900 entrance.  You can only get into the Nasrid Palaces at your assigned time and if you miss it, too bad.

We grabbed sustenance from the vending machine (chicken and bacon sandwich for me, not tasty!) and wandered around the area between the Palacio de Carlos V, the Alcazaba, and the Nasrid Palaces.

Palacio de Carlos V

The Nasrid Palaces were intricate and exquisitely detailed.  From floor to ceiling, the palaces were simply incredible.

Plasterwork at the Nasrid Palaces

Sala de Dos Hermanas, Palacio de los Leones

Patio del Cuarto Dorado, Mexuar

Ceiling, Nasrid Palaces

Ceiling, Nasrid Palaces

Sala de los Abencerrajes, Palacio de los Leones

Courtyard, Nasrid Palaces 

Door, Nasrid Palaces

Pilar, Nasrid Palaces

After seeing the Nasrid Palaces, we went to the Alcazaba, the oldest part of the Alhambra and the original fort.

Alcazaba

Louie & Joe on top of Alcazaba

Looking at the Sierra Nevadas from the top of the Alcazaba

Spanish Sierra Nevadas

The Cathedral from the Alhambra

Casitas del Partal

The Generalife are the gardens of the Alhambra, including a palace filled with incredible fountains.  Behind the palace is a fountain stairway, will water running in the handrails and a fountains on each landing.

Patio de la Acequia, Generalife

Patio de la Acequia, Generalife

After seeing as much of the Alhambra that we could absorb in four hours, we headed back to the Plaza Nueva to hunt up some real food.  I was finally going to try the Pastel de Salmon that Sol had recommended when we went out for tapas after our tour.  And then the waiter said they were out.  I was devastated.  Starving, and devastated.  I rallied enough to try the Pastel de Carne.  It was the best thing I've ever tasted.  Probably because I was starving, but it was cheese and cream and ham served with bread. 

Louie & Joe

Best Tapas in Town!!!

Pastel de Carne

After stuffing myself, it was back to the hostel for a loooong siesta.