Granada’s most famous street artist is Raúl Ruiz (better known as El Niño de las Pinturas). I took a walking tour to see some the work in the Realejo quarter near his home.
In 2013 Granada named a small plaza just outside his house after Joe Strummer of The Clash, a long-time admirer of the city and a regular visitor in the 1980s and ’90s. Ruiz spray-painted a mural.
The high resolution versions of all my photos are on Flickr.
related – Granada’s street art
I read about 70 pages of a book in this oasis on a Sunday afternoon in October. 🙂
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
The Buen Retiro Park is a large and popular 1.4 km2 (350 acres) park at the edge of the city center, very close to thePuerta de Alcalá and not far from the Prado Museum.
🙂
Oasis hostel Granada US$6
Loved it.
HUGE. Sprawling. Impressive.
There are millions of tiny details to notice. Like this one.
Click PLAY or watch a 1-minute overview.
Alhambra (lit. “the red one”) … is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain. …
Alhambra’s Islamic palaces, as we know them today, were built for the last Muslim emirs in Spain …
After the conquest of Granada by the Reyes Católicos (“Catholic Monarchs”) in 1492, some portions were used by Christian rulers. …
After being allowed to fall into disrepair for centuries, the buildings being occupied by squatters, Alhambra was rediscovered in the 19th century by European scholars and travelers, with restorations commencing. It is now one of Spain’s major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country’s most significant and well known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and garden interventions. Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the inspiration for many songs and stories. …
Washington Irving’s Tales of the Alhambra … is a collection of essays, verbal sketches, and stories. Irving lived in the palace while writing the book and was instrumental in reintroducing the site to Western audiences. …
Click PLAY or watch The Guardian’s lyrical edit on YouTube.
Seville is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville, Spain. …
municipal population of about 703,000 …
Its Old Town, the third largest in Europe with an area of 4 square kilometres (2 sq mi), contains three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Alcázar palace complex, the Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies. …
Seville is approximately 2,200 years old. …
Following the 1492 Christopher Columbus expedition to the New World … all goods imported from the New World had to pass through the Casa de Contratacion before being distributed throughout the rest of Spain. …
Click PLAY or watch highlights on YouTube.
Very popular in southern Spain are free (by donation) walking tours. Here’s my excellent guide – Honey Bee.
The modern (2011) Metropol Parasol project impressed me too. It’s the the world’s largest wooden structure.
The Plaza de España is gorgeous.
I spent a few days catching up with my long time friend. Staying with his family.
Mike and I hadn’t seen each other in over 20 years.
Having lived and taught in many nations, Mike has settled down. An artist, they live not far from the Prado.
This kid – Mike’s newphew – has been thrashing me at various games over the weekend. 🙂
From Madrid I’ll travel southern Spain for a couple of weeks before flying out to Scotland October 18th.
To: Commissioner Delhi Police
Dear sir,
I write to commend your officers at the IGI Airport.
Arriving Delhi September 11th, 2015 (jetlagged after many hours) I accidentally dropped my money belt outside Terminal 3.
It was recovered by Police.
Head Constable Hanuman Sahib Meena used the documents within to track me down to a hotel in Leh, Ladakh where I was on holiday. He telephoned to arrange for me to collect the pouch on my return to Delhi, 3 weeks later.
I did check in at the Terminal 2 IGI Police Station on September 30th, 2015. Your officers were courteous, efficient and friendly.
I collected my money belt from lost property. Everything was there, including over $1000 cash.
I’m not sure the Canadian Police would have done better.
My sincere thanks.
Richard McCharles
Canada
Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist white-domed stupa (chorten) on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh district,Ladakh, in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
It was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu, Gyomyo Nakamura and part of the Peace Pagoda mission. …
The stupa has become a tourist attraction not only due to its religious significance but also due to its location which provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
One of my favourite spots at sunset in Ley, Ladakh.
I’ve been in and out of Leh, Ladakh, northern India for the past 3 weeks.
Leh town for tourists is a disaster, actually.
I doubt the current beautification scheme will help much.
Very few local people have much concern for cleanliness or sanitation.
Many streets look like war zone slums.
I was passing this construction site when a shopkeep yanked me into his store. Workers dropped a metal sheet – by accident – close to where I would have been walking.
The biggest churches and mosques are clean, however.
If you walk long enough on side streets, you can find tidy buildings. Nice homes. The rich are very rich. And educated. India has good schools.
Banks machines work well. That’s one example of things getting better.
Internet goes out for DAYS at a time, however. 😦
They need the SPCA. Sick and starving dogs are pitiful.
Holy cows are a different problem. Hindus like having them wandering the streets.
One sheep hangs out near the mosque. I assume it’s waiting on the next Muslim feast.
Very few examples of quality can be found in Leh in 2015.
I was happy with my $30 Hotel Chube. One of the top rated on Trip Advisor. It’s at the bottom of the Fort stairs.
The best restaurant in town is OK – Chopsticks Noodle Bar. Many of the other top ranked choices I found lacking.
The best bookstore in town is excellent – Leh Linkg Cafe. Likely the best Ladaki bookstore in the world. I spent a lot of time in the used bookstore – The Book Worm– as well. All winter, when tourists are scarce, the owner opens the shop each day and reads his own books on a chair in front.
The Good-For-All shop is a plus. They’ll take your used batteries.
The tourist attractions are impressive: Castle Tsemo, Palace and Shanti Stupa. I’ll post photos of those over the next few days.
My favourite image is that of the peace Stupa lit up at night.
Rick McCharles 