Catch a glimpse into the culture of Granada, Spain, as our Language Spain program enjoys the city’s historical charm, and savors the local traditions and cuisine.
Saludos, friends and family!
We last left you before our arrival in the city of Granada, which rests at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and is known for its medieval architecture dating to the Moorish occupation.
Everyone started to fall in love with this beautiful mountain city as soon as we arrived. There is something about the fresh mountain air and the mix of cobblestone streets and white limestone carmenes (houses) that has felt more familiar than foreign. To get to know Granada like real Granadinos, or residents of Granada, we met with our guide, Jenny, for a walking tour of the Albaicín neighbourhood and Granada’s historic centre.
After our walking tour, it was time to quite literally immerse ourselves in the historic Arabic-inspired culture of the city with a visit to a hammam, or Arabic bath house. The vaulted ceilings and chambers led to various candle-lit swimming pools of different temperatures, with a cold room to start and a hot steam room to end with. It felt as though we had been transported back in time as the scents of lavender and red amber wafted through the air with the soft sounds of Arabic music.
The next morning we enjoyed a slower start to the day and took advantage of the cooler morning temperatures to go into different shops while some of our group decided to visit a perfume museum.
In the early afternoon, we made our way back up into the barrio of Albaicín where we met Christo, a professional flamenco dancer and our host for our language of rhythm experience. Instead of simply dancing for us or going straight into teaching us how to dance, Christo brought the group together to feel the rhythm of our hands clapping and feet tapping as he tied movements and rhythms together. The workshop culminated in learning two short sets of flamenco dances and discussing the origin of flamenco and what it means as a lifestyle.
Lastly, we topped off the afternoon with a ride around Granada on the open-air touristic train. It was the perfect way to check out the hillier parts of the city and see the newer areas around the University of Granada’s campus. After the train, we took our daily siesta time and then headed back out into the historic centre to share tapas and other traditional Andalucian cuisines.
Hasta la próxima…
Abrazos,
TK & Dallas
To learn more about our Language Spain program, click here.
