Alhambra

Our group went to the visit the Alhambra Sunday February 13, and I have decided to blog about it today, Wednesday February 23.

Just a little background information:
The literal translation of the "Alhambra" is from the Arabic language meaning "Red". The significance of it being called the "Alhambra/ Red" is due to its walls actually being a dark red color. Basically the Alhambra is the most important and historical  palace  in Granada, Spain. It is what brings most tourists here and it's also  what brought Ferdinand and Isabel to Granada. Yes, this city is where Christopher Columbus asked for his permission from Ferdinand and Isabel to sail the ocean blue in 1492.  Here lived the Saltan, the Queen, their family, (like in Aladdin) and about 3,000 other people. This palace takes up A LOT of space considering it did take us about three hours to walk through. It contains three palaces inside it. The Private Palace, The Public Palace, and the Politica Palace. The Moors reined here in Granada  from 711 - 1492 until the Christians, under the leadership if King Charles V, came and destroyed some of the architecture and buildings. The Alhambra was never completely finished and the Christians tour down parts of it to recreate their own. You can tell  which parts of the palace were reconstructed by the Christians because of the marble they used. Also, something interesting, the Salton was allowed four wives. The wife who had the first son, who would then  become the next King, would become Queen. Therefore, it was a competition between these women. If one of these woman had a son after the first son had already been born, it didn't mean anything. However, if the first born son had an "accident" oh well...and the next woman would become Queen.

Hanging off the side of part of the Alhambra.

Where the other 3,000 unimportant lived and bathed, a couple times a year. ew. Handkerchiefs and perfume were invented because of the awful smell and they would not only drench themselves in perfume, but they would spray some in to the handkerchief and when someone smelled they would cover their nose with it.

Where they kept their catapults.

They would lock those who did wrong down here. Prison.

Public palace. The queen lived in this palace with the Salton, only she had the best view from her bedroom. That was until the Christians came and conquered and built right in front of the beautiful view.

They would pray here 5 times a day always east towards Meca.

The Salton's chair. Furniture was very simple. They would also use these chairs on top of camels.

The private door the Salton would enter through.

View of the city from inside the Alhambra.

Alhambra.

The chicas inside the garden in the Alhambra.

So touristy ;)

View of the Cathedral from the Alhambra.

Pretty view of the garden.

After our 4 hour tour of the Alhambra, me and a couple girls decided to go for tapas. Might I mention they were the best. tapas. ever. We ordered Alhambra beer as our beverage. I mean we did just visit the Alhambra, so why not drink it's beer right? :)