Granada 20th June

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I slept in quite late and decided then to skip cordoba after all. I felt tired so I spent the day wandering around Granada and discovering a whole lot of interesting places. There are narrow lanes of shops like in a middle eastern souk, and lots of lovely shoe shops. 

The less normal shops(not touristy) were closed after siesta because it was a celebration week for Corpus Christi. I visited a palace that had been a Muslim school back in the the time of the Muslim rule and it was the only one in Muslim Spain. It has the original colours still on its walls and ceilings which the Alhambra doesn't have any more.  

It also has an amazing wooden ceiling that was built in the 16 th century without nails. It is like a jigsaw puzzle. The building later became the town hall and now is used for lectures for the university of Granada. I wandered into the uni precinct where there are many historic buildings, such as a hospital with green and white tiles on the tower and roof, elaborate dados around the wall and an impressive courtyard. It is being restored so its past glory is only hinted at but it must have been magnificent once. Next door I stumbled on the St John Hospital where the patients were being entertained by a flamenco guitarist and a nurse and another dancer doing Flamenco in the courtyard. Everyone was so happy and clapping in time.  

I stumbled on a photographer who did some passport photos for me which will be handy for my visa application for Italy. 

There are lots of book shops in Granada I have noticed and I found one selling English books. I succumbed to a memoir called Driving over lemons about a couple who moved to a farm in Andalucia near Granada to start a new life. I'd heard about it before and after walking through so many little towns I was curious about how they had found the life.

I visited a gallery showing work by José Guerrero. He was born here and made a successful career in New York and was part of the New York Art  Movement and contemporary of Jackson Pollock.  I finally got to the cathedral, St Jeronimo and then also went into the church opposite my pension which is a beautiful, elaborate baroque style inside. 

I ended up at PlayGranada to use the wifi. I managed to update the blog and send some emails etc. I read a bit and then ventured out for dinner at about 9:00 pm. I found a little noodle place and had that for dinner for a change. It was a very generous serving which would have done for two. I had seen all these women and girls dressed in flamenco style costumes throughout the day and after dinner I found a concert happening in one of the squares. It must have been the local flamenco school and this was its annual concert. The performers were mostly chidren and I had to giggle. They were all quite good but they were still funny. One young girl was chewing gum throughout. Some of the others were so serious. But you can see how they learn the hand movements and the hip moves.there was a huge crowd watching ( all the mums and dads and aunts of course but general public too). I was impressed to see some of the grandmothers up performing alsoIt was nearly midnight again when I left and the concert was still going strong.

I am off to Malaga tomorrow and quite looking forward to it now.