2017 - Spain and Transatlantic - Day 3

Day 3 – December 5, 2017 – Spain

Our ship docks in the Spanish coastal town of Malaga. With Skip and Cheryl, Jerry and Michelle, we take an all-day tour up to Granada, 2 to 2 ½ hours away.  From our guide we learn …

Some of the many olive tree groves
along the way to Granada

Malaga – This is a modern city along the beautiful coast of the Mediterranean where the famous Pablo Picasso was born. Founded by the Phoenicians over 2,800 years ago, it is one of the oldest cities in the world.  It has a tropical climate with over 200 different types of palm trees. It doesn’t rain often, but when it does there are systems in place to collect that rain water. They also get water from the snow melt from the year-round snow-covered mountains surrounding this area.  Much of their energy is solar produced, and they are working toward the goal of being the first country in the world to use 100 percent alternative energy. During the long drive to Granada, we

Enjoying a break, checking out the local pastry with
Skip and Cheryl on ourway to Granada

see acres and acres of olive tree groves. This area produces 44 percent of the world’s olive oil, with some of their trees well over 2,500 years old.  Periodically the olive tree is severely pruned and new grafts placed on them. Other crops grown here are asparagus, artichokes, avocados and pomegranates. The very expensive spice of saffron is also grown here, as is tobacco, almonds and a fast-growing tree used for inlaid wood projects.

This is also an archaeologically rich area, where they have discovered the remains of a 

Typical small town with whitewashed
houses nestled on the side
of the mountain

70,000-year-old homo sapien on top of the Rock of Gibraltar, another 30-40,000-year-old child as well as many ancient rock paintings in these mountains. There’s a lot to be learned of man’s beginnings here! The countryside is very hilly; and as we get closer to Granada we can also see the snow on top of the mountains. Also, all of the houses scattered along the countryside and in the small villages nestled at the base of the various mountains are totally white … whitewashed to help with the extremely hot temperatures in the summer.  These houses are often whitewashed two to three times a year to keep them white!  

Wide tree-line walkways in Granada, very
similar to Barcelona

Granada … This city has a very rich history, but the most significant event is Its surrender of the Islamic empire of Granada to the Catholic Monarchs, in 1492 marking the end of the longest war in human history, La Reconquista, almost 800 years of Islamic domination over most of Spain. One of the main attractions in Granada is the palace and fortress of Alhambra, which was a citadel and palace for the Moors but then was converted to the royal court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella after the war.  It is in Granada that Christopher Columbus was given permission to sail west to the Indies, ultimately finding the Americas instead.  Unfortunately, for reasons of time and distance, we did not see this site … possibly something to come back to someday, right?  We did hike through portions of this lovely City to the center of the “old town” where Bob and I toured …

Above the entrance to the Royal Chapel of Granada

The Royal Chapel of Granada … It is a gorgeous chapel with deep historical, religious and artistic significance for the Spanish, Europeans and Americans. Queen Isabella was very religious and was concerned with both reforming the Church and evangelizing America. The very ornate Royal Tombs of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella as well as their daughter Joanna of Castile and her husband Philip I of Castile are in the center very close to the altar.  And their crypts, lead coffins, are under the tombs. All around the chapel are paintings and sculptures, but the main altarpiece is a masterpiece … The crucifix in the middle with the Father and Holy Spirit symbolized by the dove, as well as the Virgin Mary, St. Gabriel, the Incarnation, two passion scenes, Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Apostle and their martyrdoms, the birth of Jesus … plus much more are all depicted in the altarpiece.  It is magnificent.  All this is followed by a small sacristy museum of some of Queen Isabella’s things, paintings, etc.  This was an amazing chapel which was on Bob’s bucket list of “must see” items. Sorry … no pictures allowed.

Our dish of seafood paella

Afterwards we did some shopping in the bazaar areas with its many extremely narrow alleyways with dozens of little hole-in-the-wall shops that also spill their wares into the alley.  Fun.  By now we’re hungry, and we found a restaurant that serves paella, a rice dish that is “the” food to eat in this area.  I found it a bit salty and tasty, but not something I need to go back for!   Now we have the long bus ride back to the ship … and because of traffic and another glitch or two, we’re almost late getting there … the ship sails from port within minutes after we get back on board.

We’re all pretty tired, so this evening all of us ate in the Terrace, more of a casual, buffet-type venue with absolutely delicious food … sushi, various exotic-type salads, grilled lobster and shrimp, etc., etc., etc.  We eat too much and are off to bed … another great, but long day along the Mediterranean!!