A (lengthy) post of images from our excursion to Granada and Torremolinos: Part 2
Another day, another Alhambra post! These images start out as we enter one of the two major palaces, and follow us on our three hour walk around the facility. At the end, you'll get a quick look at our time in Torremolinos, relaxing on the beach.
***
As soon as we got in, everyone lost themselves in their photography. To be fair, just about everything around us was worth photographing. I include some images of the Alhambra to help set the scene, but be sure to ask your students, when they return, to share their own photographs with you!
While everyone was busily taking pictures, Gerardo was talking in our ears, describing the age, design and history of the room.
All it takes is a guide raising his arms, and a dozen cameras are immediately focused in wait.
The Arabic script weaves into the wall design. This was apparently the hall of justice, and the script running around the room declares as much.
Juan, asking questions of Gerardo.
This was an amusing image. Amy, being photographed by Ryann, being photographed by Jacob, being photographed by me? I'm not sure if Jacob was actually taking a picture of that, or if more likely, he was taking a picture through the window. But either way, I was amused by all the cameras.
Everyone was posing for pictures here, with the backdrop of Granada sprawled out behind them through the window.
Unintentional photo-bombing?
A hallway, completely clear of students and other tourists for the moment. Lots of light got in, but despite the fact that temps were in the nineties, the shade kept things comfortably cool.
The carved wood blends almost seamlessly in with the stone.
I don't know exactly what these drippy beehive-like shapes symbolize, but they were everywhere.
This was a room to look up in. The ceiling was some forty or fifty feet up, with carving all along the walls, and stars of paint on the ceiling high above.
A detail shot of the wall carvings.
And then we were off again.
Surprised at being photographed, mid-photo.
How could you pass up the classic peer-through-the-pillars shot in a place like this?
Another beehive-like ceiling. Like I said -- plenty of light got in, but very little of the heat.
Not much seemed to live here, what with all the passing tourists -- except for the birds, which signs said are in the process of being relocated, since they apparently damage the centuries-old structure.
Two hats?
Reverse selfie?
A photo-op in the well-placed chair.
Someone was not appreciative of being caught on film, I guess?
Alas! The photographer has himself been photographed.
We finally moved out of the older palace and into the newer part, which as you can see had plastered walls and a more modern look.
There was also a stunning balcony, overlooking the greenery below, and the city beyond. It was time for another photo break. Everyone broke out the cameras.
Two of our lovely instructors.
***
As soon as we got in, everyone lost themselves in their photography. To be fair, just about everything around us was worth photographing. I include some images of the Alhambra to help set the scene, but be sure to ask your students, when they return, to share their own photographs with you!
While everyone was busily taking pictures, Gerardo was talking in our ears, describing the age, design and history of the room.
All it takes is a guide raising his arms, and a dozen cameras are immediately focused in wait.
The Arabic script weaves into the wall design. This was apparently the hall of justice, and the script running around the room declares as much.
Juan, asking questions of Gerardo.
This was an amusing image. Amy, being photographed by Ryann, being photographed by Jacob, being photographed by me? I'm not sure if Jacob was actually taking a picture of that, or if more likely, he was taking a picture through the window. But either way, I was amused by all the cameras.
Everyone was posing for pictures here, with the backdrop of Granada sprawled out behind them through the window.
Unintentional photo-bombing?
A hallway, completely clear of students and other tourists for the moment. Lots of light got in, but despite the fact that temps were in the nineties, the shade kept things comfortably cool.
The carved wood blends almost seamlessly in with the stone.
I don't know exactly what these drippy beehive-like shapes symbolize, but they were everywhere.
This was a room to look up in. The ceiling was some forty or fifty feet up, with carving all along the walls, and stars of paint on the ceiling high above.
A detail shot of the wall carvings.
And then we were off again.
Surprised at being photographed, mid-photo.
How could you pass up the classic peer-through-the-pillars shot in a place like this?
Another beehive-like ceiling. Like I said -- plenty of light got in, but very little of the heat.
Not much seemed to live here, what with all the passing tourists -- except for the birds, which signs said are in the process of being relocated, since they apparently damage the centuries-old structure.
Two hats?
Reverse selfie?
A photo-op in the well-placed chair.
Someone was not appreciative of being caught on film, I guess?
Alas! The photographer has himself been photographed.
We finally moved out of the older palace and into the newer part, which as you can see had plastered walls and a more modern look.
There was also a stunning balcony, overlooking the greenery below, and the city beyond. It was time for another photo break. Everyone broke out the cameras.
Two of our lovely instructors.
And then we were out of the first palace, headed toward the smaller second one.
Sneaking away from the photographer. As if that ever works.
A very loud frog. See if you can spot him.
We took a pause just outside of the gardens for a group shot.
Gerardo, our guide, even took the camera and got a shot with me in it!
Entering the gardens.
We finally passed through the gardens, and reached the second major palace.
While small, this palace had a lot of greenery and fountains.
And this time, a spectacular view of the rest of Alhambra on the other branch of the cliff/hilltop.
One final group photo, from a couple angles (since the rose bush in the middle kept covering up students' faces).
Someone (Ally!) borrowed my camera to take a look at photos, and snapped a picture of yours truly!
A stunning smile.
***
And with that, we headed out from the Alhambra and got on the road for another hour and a half southwest, headed for Torremolinos and the Mediterranean. After setting our things down in our rooms and getting on our bathing suits, everyone just about took off running for the beach. We had to rein them in (it was a little more than a half mile, and steeply downhill), but everyone was eager to get into the water.
What started, I think, as digging a hole back to Indiana transformed into one of burying someone in the sand. Admittedly, the sun was hot and the beach someone pebbly, but the hole was deep enough to hit water, and Elisabeth claimed she was quite cool and comfortable
We found a soccer ball and towels in one of the many small shops set up nearby, and then the games began.
***
We spent the evening and the following morning on the beach, then headed out after lunch on our four and a half hour trip back to Ciudad Real. By the end, a bit sandy and (luckily) not very sun-burnt, I think everyone was glad to get back into the familiar setting of their host families' houses.
Next up, this weekend: A brief update of tonight's (6/27) evening at the movies watching Jurassic World, followed by more pictures and information from our expedition to Toledo this Friday.