Unfortunately the rest of my photos from Barcelona are trapped on my computer. I will catch up on them when I get back and get my computer fixed. I want to keep treading on though and share my stories about the magic of Granada so I'll just continue on with some more present stuff and get back to BCN in two weeks when I get back home. Granada has been amazing. The hostel I am staying at is a little paradise with friendly people, really amazing little nooks to relax in, (which in necessary in the 100 degree weather), MUY BUENA ONDA aqui! There are so many rad things about this city, but possibly the most rad are the tapas! Every bar has FREE tapas when you order any drink, uiuiui que riiiiico! The biggest bang for your buck has become our favorite...a bar that serves entire ham and cheese sandwiches, hambugers, crab croquetes, and french fries!!! You have to stay for a few drinks if you want to see what comes with each round so you can imagine how much fun we have been having and how full we have been getting in the process! This, paired with the fantastic company I have here in Granada, and the beauty of old architecture, hand=layed cobblestone streets, gypsy caves in the hills, and the most incredible Moorish Palace structure you've ever seen, I could see myself getting stuck here for years.
I will get the Alhambra pictures posted soon. It is the most incredibly beautiful, tranquil, serene place. I had the best time exploring it and I took LOTS of pictures as the beauty is so immense I couldn't stop clicking the button.
This morning I treated my body like a queen at the local Hammam, a traditional Arabian Bath Spa. It was so rich and relaxing, just what I needed after a few days of travel. A complete sensory experience. The aroma of cinnamon, cardamom, and lavander are still on the tip of my nose, the taste of sweet mint tea in my mouth, and a body more relaxed than I've felt since my hot yoga sessions at corepower!. Calming mystic arabian melodies filled the small spaces of the spa. Combined with the soft sound of running water in the baths and fountains, I immediately found myself connecting with a deep part of my being, bringing awareness to my body and loving the sensations I was beginning to relax into. Tension just started to melt away from my body. As I soaked in the first bath with room temperature water I laid back and lost perspective of time and reality, putting my attention to the sensations in my body and my slow breaths, enjoying the sensation of bobbing up and down with every breathe. I opened my eyes and was fascinated with the visual sensation of the relfection of the moving water on the arched ceiling above. The yellow light in the spa was created my dim lights coming from star shaped holes carved out in the ceiling. This was magical. For additional visual pleasure the designs of the tiles on the walls were beautifully created, full of unique designs and color combinations. There were striking mandala drawings on the top of the beams that held up the arches making it easy to get swept away in the mystery and treasure of this ancient relaxation and healing ritual.
For the next two hours I moved from steam rooms, to hot, to cold, to room temperature pools to heal my ciculatory system, sipping mint tea, relaxing into the music and scents of Arabia. As I indulged in these sensory pleasures I felt overwhelmed with love and gratitude for the opportunity to treat my body with such peace and love. I spent a few moments of reflection admiring the Arabic culture and their fascination and respect for the healing power of water. They realised the importance of body rejuvination and they indulged in the healing properties of the most important life_giving force that exists on this planet...water.
I didn't get to take pictures of the spa so that will be up to you to see next time you're in Southern Spain! The below pictures are from a play_date with some amazing people in met in the hostel, a couple from Minneapolis, a couple from Melbourne, and this really amazing friend riding his bike from Southern France, all around Spain! We hiked up to a lookout where you can see the Alhambara lit up in the night and played with some slow shutter speed settings. That night was so much fun, laughing so hard, figuring out new ways to play with the camera, and of course, because people in their 20's are so mature, getting a kick out of all the silly penis jokes boys like to make. Some things just never get old.
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