Let’s talk about the tourists. After I complain about the weather. Again. My weather app says it’s going to snow. I sound like a whiner: Oh, it’s cold here. Oh, it’s raining here. Oh, there are too many tourists here. So yes I am. Some of our friends will tell you that. Ok, maybe all of our friends will tell you that. Whatever. My POINT is, I wanted desperately to p**s off the people back home with great photos of sitting on a terrace, eating and drinking, feet up with a backdrop of endless sunny blue sky. Not. Happening. In. Granada. Enough about the weather for a paragraph or two.
Now let’s talk about the hordes. Quelle horreur as they would say in France. Have no idea what they’d say in Spain, but I should probably look that up. And I’m not really going complain about them either. There are a LOT of people here, wandering around or gathered (outside) the tapas joints eating and drinking. We’ve struck up some interesting conversations with few. There is quite a bit of history to see in this part of Spain, and it attracts tourists, just like us I suppose. It brings in a lot of coin for the city of Granada. It’s amusing at times to stand back and watch. The locals are wearing heavy wool pants and parkas while the tourist have backpacks and wear shorts with layers of green, orange, or clear garbage bags for water repellant. They move in large groups of 20 or 30, often with a pack leader, and here in the narrow streets we frequently have to stand inside someone’s doorway to let them pass. I bet more than a few of them wished they’d gone to the Algarve this year. Damn, didn’t even make it one paragraph.
Both of us were a little surprised though at how busy the city is considering that it is (at least so we thought) low season. Everyone wants to visit the Alhambra, at any time of the year, even in winter. Lots of Americans here, Aussies, many Europeans of course, and I think some of the mall-rats followed us. So, the hordes have the Alhambra entrance tickets (‘cause you gotta plan this like a year ahead) and… we don’t. They only have about 6000 tickets available per day and yes, they are booked months and months in advance. Major bummer!
But wait….let’s talk about the weather. Did I hear a collective groan? Have I mentioned how much we LIKE the cold and wet? After a little perseverance and digging, it turns out the Alhambra sometimes releases unsold or cancelled tickets to try and maintain the 6000 person quota. Checked the website a few times, crossed the fingers, and voilá. Score! Tickets available for several days this week. I guess some of those touristos decided to go to the Algarve after all. Thank you, weather gods!
So, we’ll be off to the Alhambra in the next day or two. Oh, the horr(ordes)!
Thx, appreciate the feedback.
-gary