A Little Adventure in the City of Granada, Spain

Granada City is the capital of Granada province in Spain located at the foot of Sierra Nevada 738 m above sea level. The city is famous for the Alhambra, a great Moorish fortress built in 1238. The Islamic influence is still giving exciting vibes to a fascinating old town that sometimes feels more like Morocco than Spain.  But, that was not the reason why my husband and I visited the place. We went there because we needed to deliver a document in person at the main branch of the Foreigners’ Office, and my husband needed a haircut.

That was our initial plan but the city is so amazing that we stayed for three days in a low-budget improvised manner and lots of walking around. We booked the cheapest place we could find on Airbnb, 10 euros a night for a double room with a shared bathroom in a large old flat.

I was at first not too fond of the improvised idea of testing out the cheapest lodging we could find, but it was clean and perfectly located in the city center within walking distance from everything. The only thing that made me a little nervous was the old electrical installation with switches that did not work properly.

Normally, the bus from La Herradura (where we live) to Granada takes one and a half hours. But the earliest morning buses do not go via motorway. It snails upward on a narrow and curvy road to the mountains and it takes almost three hours.  It was fascinating to see the sunrise in the mountains where a shepherd and his goats blocked the way for a while.

With the daylight arriving, we could see small villages clawed stuck in the mountainsides, and now and then, a deer or two elegantly climbs the steep terrain.  It was one of the best bus rides of my life with those breathtaking views, but if you have fear of heights, take the motorway.

We arrived and took a taxi to the government office with a document needed for my residency application. Our experience at the Oficina de Extranjeria was very good. It didn’t take long for us to finish what we came for and the staff was very nice.  One of them could speak a little English and he was brought in to translate for us so that we clearly understood what to do next. So far, I only have good things to say about the Spanish bureaucracy.

We stumbled by accident the Bodegas Espadafor, a traditional Granadine bar that opened in 1910. It is located just around the corner of our flat and my husband said that we did not have to explore more of the city haha.  It has a rustic feel and is frequented mostly by the locals, but tourists like us are starting to discover it so this charming local tapas bar can be very full in the peak hours of lunch and dinner.

We walked a lot and got more and more thrilled by the wonderful old-town architecture.  We were surrounded by parks and outdoor cafes. We passed through alleys and narrow streets buzzing of life.

We gave up entering Alhambra due to many people so we just explored the outer part of it.

Then, my husband found a hairdresser so that our official itinerary could be finished. We continued exploring the more gastronomic sides of life in the Moorish city at the foot of Sierra Nevada.  I want to return, soon.