March 29: Alhambra

I did the 3-hour guided tour of Alhambra, which is one of the best-preserved structures of the historic Islamic world. This picturesque palace and fortress sits atop Sabika Hill overlooking the city of Grenada with spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada. The highlight for me was the many beautifully manicured gardens that surround the impressive monuments.  According to Wikipedia, “Alhambra derives from the Arabic  الْقَلْعَةُ ٱلْحَمْرَاءُ (al-Qalʻat al-Ḥamrāʼ), which means the ‘red fortress.’"  It is believed that the fortress was given its name due to the red color of its walls. 

After a quick lunch back at the campsite, we made the trek towards Caminito del Rey, which is our next destination.  We stopped at a free campsite about twenty-five minutes outside of Caminito del Rey, where we will embark on a 3-hour trek in the morning.