Pomogranate

This weekend I ventured to Granada with my study abroad program (hence the title…Granada is a city in Spain, but it also means pomegranate).  It was a free trip.  By free, I mean I didn’t have to pay to go, but I’m pretty sure this fee was disguised in my original program fee, meaning I’d already technically paid to go…Anyway. I Love Granada! It is a world-famous city because of its beautiful Alhambra palace which many people around the globe have donated money to in the hope of preserving its beauty and rich cultural history.

*Quick Lesson Interruption:  Granada is important because it was the last city in Spain to house the Moors.  It completed the 800-year Muslim reign on the Iberian Peninsula, when it fell to the Catholic king and queen during the years of the Spanish Reconquest.  Before the fall of this civilization (in Spain), there were many internal territorial conflicts within the country.  After the reconquest, however, the nation became stronger and started what would be a period of great exploration and colonialism around the world…Alhambra, the palace of the Moorish king, was designed in Muslim style (the outside is plain, with all of the beauty within its walls), with intricate detailing on every inch of the walls in Arabic writing and in complex geometric patterns.  When the Christians took over the palace, they kept the original designs, but also contributed some of their own, making this site a truly unique mix of Muslim and Christian culture.  This mixed culture is experienced throughout the city.

But there is much more to Granada than the Alhambra!  I will give you a brief run-down of the things Granada has to offer. Then, I will tell you my thrilling story…      

Granada has:

1)      Cuter dogs

2)      Free tapas when you buy a drink

3)      Sierra Nevada Mountains

4)      A more chill vibe…the best way to describe this is that it feels more like a college town whereas Sevilla is bigger and feels more like a “big” city where a lot of different families live

5)      Cooler weather

6)      No poop in the streets

7)      Larger gypsy influence

8)      A  market with tons of small ethnic shops

Story Time:

While hanging out with the three Spanish students who accompanied us on the trip, a group of six of us opted not to go out to Granada’s famous discoteca, Granada 10, since we needed to wake up early the next day.  Due to the large Arab influence in the area, there are countless teterías (hookah bars).  Naturally, we decided that this would be the best place to experience this and enjoy a more relaxed and cultured evening.  While following our “expert” Spanish friend, who’s originally from Granada, a crazy Arab man came running out of his shop to greet us and lure us into the establishment.  This man was a fairly large fellow with a round Santa belly, a puffy beard that extended several inches from his face, large teeth, and distinct eyes.  His giant teeth-filled smile was accompanied by a piercing laugh.  The creep radar of any girl in the U.S would have been signaling at this moment.  Although he was overly friendly, his smile made us three Americans uncomfortable.  As he asked us where we were from, we could not think of an appropriate way to tell the Spaniards that we wanted to go somewhere else…It was too late. They were walking inside.  We followed, keeping in mind that we would leave at any time and that our new friends, two of whom were guys, felt comfortable there. 

When inside, the Spaniards continued to explain how friendly he was.  We laughed, looking at one another, all of us thinking the same thing (crazy!).  Speaking in Spanish all night was quite enjoyable and wonderful practice for us English-speakers.  We learned that Leo, the film buff, was at a party and chatted with Elijah Wood.  He showed us his photo with Frodo on his mobile. ¡Que guay!  (side note: my host family loves that I use this phrase) At random times throughout the evening, this crazy man would bring us Aladdin hats and beaded headbands to wear and take photos in.  He danced with Claire at one point.  And I would be ashamed not to mention his affinity for pretending to beat-up and/or choke Leo, who was seated in a rather unfortunate position.  We were certain that he would eventually strangle him for real, but he did not.  His assistant, who I have decided must be his nephew, began speaking to us, after he finished smoking like a chimney.  He knew English, Spanish, French, and Arabic, and apparently moved from Morocco to Granada 1 ½ years ago.  He told me he was from Jupiter. He took my sarcasm to mean that I believed him. Oh well.  For all I know, he could indeed be from another planet.  Words cannot express how crazy the owner of this place was, nor can they sufficiently detail the events of this evening; however, one phrase sums up the mentality fairly well: ¡Que experiencia! What an experience!