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On the way to Granada we had out first encounter with the greatest local delicacy: ham. Every shop and restaurant that we visited had these hams hanging from the rafters.
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We passed through La Mancha, the setting for Don Quixote, and stopped for lunch at the "Inn of Good Counsel," named after a spot in the book. We also saw windmills on the hill. . .at least we think they were windmills. . .they might have been giants.
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That evening we went to a performance of gypsy dances. The gypsies live in caves hollowed out of the hills above Granada. Living in caves sounds primitive, but the homes are actually quite comfortable. |
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The next morning we visited the Alhambra Palace.
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The gardens were lovely and resembled a Roman villa with its peristyle garden.
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| Arches led to the main rooms; the small windows above were used by the women of the household to look out without being seen.
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The stonework was intricate and created beautiful patterns with letters and flowers.
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In the garden the trunk of a now-dead tree that dates from the original building in the 13th century has been preserved.
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The pathways included designs like this heraldic shield.
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There are ongoing excavations at the Alhambra that are helping to illuminate the lives of the poor people who lived within the complex, which also served as a center of commerce.
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The grounds afford excellent views of the surrounding city.
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Within the Alhambra complex are several buildings, including this palace.
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