Segovia at the Patio de los Arrayanes in the Alhambra

During our summer vacation we ventured over to Granada to see the Alhambra. When I walked into the Patio de los Arrayanes I immediately recognized it from this recording. For anyone who loves gardens, the Alambra is a must-see. The Arabs did an amazing job of integrating water into the environment in places like this. The grounds are stunning with the exception of the massive Carlos V block that was dropped into the middle. It's a real eyesore and doesn't blend into the graceful architecture of the site. The inside of the Moorish buildings reminded us of the mosques in Tunisia who had similar tiles and designs.

It was also on this patio that I discovered the amusing local fixation with posing for photos. To some degree everyone poses for photos but some Spaniards really put on a show like I have never seen before. Hips were held and hair was whipped over the shoulder in dramatic fashion for photos. I later saw the same routine countless times at other tourist destinations in the region. They probably thought our photos were a big bore.

Unlike a lot of tourist sites in other parts of the world, the people of Andalusia were about as friendly as could be. (Maybe I'm just too used to the ultra-reserved nature of the French.) Even in Córdoba, which is packed with tourists, people were shockingly friendly, open and helpful. People always had time to help answer a question or point people in the right direction. What a pleasant experience.