Last night my Couchsurfing host from Singapore Abhi and I met up for a beer. He is coincidentally traveling Spain for 10 days and we were both in Granada at the same time. One beer turned into many and we ended up locked in a bar again with the bar tender, his mates, a bunch of locals and a couple of German girls from Abhi’s hostel until about 4am. So again I got a late start to the day in the siesta heat.
While attempting to walk off my hangover in the streets of Granada I bumped into two Melbourne Girls I couch surfed with in the countryside in Holland about 6 weeks before hand! I couldn’t believe it. I had no idea of their plans to come to spain at all, and they didn’t know I was around either. It really is a small world.
Anyways, I went back to check out the Gypsy Museum, Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte. It was really interesting to hear how the Gypsy’s came to Europe, how the developed the Flamenco dances and music, and how they lived in the cave dwellings. I had no Idea the Gypsy’s came from India before today, actually knew nothing about them at all before today.
Afterwards I was booked in for my visit to the Alhambra. The Alhambra is pretty much what every single tourist goes to Granada to see. It is listed as the number 1 must see attraction in all of spain and usually put in the top 3 in Europe!…. and I have no idea why!
Before going in I had no idea what the Alhambra was used for or any of its history. And now after visiting for 3 hours I still have no freaking idea. Sure parts of it were quite nice and pretty, and the views were great, but there was no information about the place anywhere to be seen! it is not even in the top 3 things I have seen/done in spain, let alone Europe. I actually think the Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte was more interesting and informative than the Alhambra. Im glad I went, but could have happily skipped it and wandered the Sacromonte streets some more.
Afterwards Abhi and I caught a Flamenco show. Abhi is from India and was as surprised as I was to learn that the Gypsys originated form India. He was particularly interested in the Indian Influences that had made their way into the Flamenco dances and the Music. I was surprised there was so much Tap dancing involved. A good (and long) day in Granada, Spain.
