Day 4: Friday, August 1, 2008
Tom and I had our guided trip to Grenada today and had to meet our bus at 7:25 am. The bus had to pick up passengers all along the coast between our resort and downtown Malaga, which took quite a while. Once we got through Malaga, though, it was clear sailing to Grenada. We took a 30 minute stop at a cafeteria for the bathroom and light breakfast items so that the driver could have his break and coffee.
All along the route to Grenada, our guide was giving us info about the sights we were driving past. He spoke many different languages, but today he had to translate for 4 languages: English, Italian, French, and German. We had some spectacular views of the Sierra Nevadas, including one of the highest points where they get lots of snow from November through April.
When we got to Grenada, we drove through many parts of the town to get an overview of this city of 250,000 built into the hillside. Tom & I are always amazed at how skinny the roads are that are stilled used for cars - and this town has the skinniest roads yet! Especially in the older part of town at the top of the hill where we stopped for a gorgeous panoramic view of the town, mountains, and their very large palace.
Next we drove through the various parts of downtown and were shown the Abicinian quarter (Jewish and Arab quarter) of old - there is a wall that distinguishes the area that was used as an outer castle wall hundreds of years ago. This area is from when the Moors ruled Grenada, and there is a HUGE palace for the Arabian Sultan kings and queens that is now a huge site to visit for many people - called Alhambra.
We were dropped off in the city center to shop for about 1 hour before going to lunch as a group. Tom and I had a nice time walking around the main downtown area before and after lunch. During lunch we sat with a very nice couple from Sweden and had a great conversation.
Our last stop in Grenada was the Alhambra palace and gardens. We first toured the sprawling gardens and got to see the very technically advanced aquaducts that run on gravity and feed fountains, pools, and water access within the palace buildings. The gardens are called Generalife, but it has a completely different meaning that how we read it in English, but I can't remember the translation. It has to do with beauty and heaven and living... There were 300 year old magnolia trees from America, which demonstrate the kings' expeditions. The buildings in the gardens are considered the summer palace even though they are huge and complex.
Next, we entered La Alhambra palace itself. It is a complex network of huge buildings with passageways, archways, and bridge balconies connecting it all. It is an amazing network of art and architecture with beautiful tilework, wood carved doors with brass studs, amazing marble and stone, and windows and archways that just make your jaw drop! We took LOTS of pictures. Once back to the condo, we just mellowed out and did laundry.
Tom and I had our guided trip to Grenada today and had to meet our bus at 7:25 am. The bus had to pick up passengers all along the coast between our resort and downtown Malaga, which took quite a while. Once we got through Malaga, though, it was clear sailing to Grenada. We took a 30 minute stop at a cafeteria for the bathroom and light breakfast items so that the driver could have his break and coffee.
All along the route to Grenada, our guide was giving us info about the sights we were driving past. He spoke many different languages, but today he had to translate for 4 languages: English, Italian, French, and German. We had some spectacular views of the Sierra Nevadas, including one of the highest points where they get lots of snow from November through April.
When we got to Grenada, we drove through many parts of the town to get an overview of this city of 250,000 built into the hillside. Tom & I are always amazed at how skinny the roads are that are stilled used for cars - and this town has the skinniest roads yet! Especially in the older part of town at the top of the hill where we stopped for a gorgeous panoramic view of the town, mountains, and their very large palace.
Next we drove through the various parts of downtown and were shown the Abicinian quarter (Jewish and Arab quarter) of old - there is a wall that distinguishes the area that was used as an outer castle wall hundreds of years ago. This area is from when the Moors ruled Grenada, and there is a HUGE palace for the Arabian Sultan kings and queens that is now a huge site to visit for many people - called Alhambra.
We were dropped off in the city center to shop for about 1 hour before going to lunch as a group. Tom and I had a nice time walking around the main downtown area before and after lunch. During lunch we sat with a very nice couple from Sweden and had a great conversation.
Our last stop in Grenada was the Alhambra palace and gardens. We first toured the sprawling gardens and got to see the very technically advanced aquaducts that run on gravity and feed fountains, pools, and water access within the palace buildings. The gardens are called Generalife, but it has a completely different meaning that how we read it in English, but I can't remember the translation. It has to do with beauty and heaven and living... There were 300 year old magnolia trees from America, which demonstrate the kings' expeditions. The buildings in the gardens are considered the summer palace even though they are huge and complex.
Next, we entered La Alhambra palace itself. It is a complex network of huge buildings with passageways, archways, and bridge balconies connecting it all. It is an amazing network of art and architecture with beautiful tilework, wood carved doors with brass studs, amazing marble and stone, and windows and archways that just make your jaw drop! We took LOTS of pictures. Once back to the condo, we just mellowed out and did laundry.
Day 5: Saturday, August 2, 2008
Per and I played more bad tennis this morning, then we bought groceries and served up a huge breakfast. Then Tom, Per, and I got ready to go to Gibraltar. We stopped for some cash and supplies before we left town for the 1 hour drive.
We parked just inside the border of Spain and walked across the border into Gibraltar, British Zone, which is a completely different country. We have now technically been in 4 countries since we had a connecting flight in Amsterdam. We stopped and hired the nearest tour taxi for our trip to the top of the Rock. The taxis are very resonably priced, and the drivers know lots of history about the sights they show you along the way.
Just a few hundred feet from passport control is an airstip that the main road into Gibralter crosses. Space is at such a premium on this spit of land that the airstip has been built out into the sea, and any time a plane needs to land or take off, the guards all have to shut down the road for the pedestrians and the cars. It's absolutley NUTS - but we got to see this crazy thing happen on our way out of Gibraltar. Crazy!
We started up the mountainside at a quick clip through skinny and winding one-way roads. Our first stop was a scenic overlook of the bay, marina, downtown Gibraltar, Spain, and the top of a mountain over in Africa that was shrouded in clouds. We also went into a beautiful cave with LOTS of stalagtites and stalagmites. It is a very accessible cave with lots of stairways built in as it was used during World War 2 as a hospital building for the troops. During World War 2, the little rock island was so crowded with troops that Brittain shipped all of the women and children to London for about 4-5 years while all the 18-50 year old men stayed behind to work and fight.
Once at the top of the rock, we had beautiful views of the clear blue sky and water, many ships coming and going, Africa, Spain, and the airstip. You could see for miles and miles into the Atlantic Ocean...it just sort of disappeared into the horizon... The wind was very fast that day and we took some short video of how fast the little clouds were moving. We also were thankful for the very cool temperature of the wind.
We took many pictures of the scenery as well as the Barbarry Apes. You're not supposed to touch the apes as they will bite if they feel threated, but the drivers are good at using bits of food and tricking the apes onto your shoulders. Tom and Per each had an ape on their shoulders - I opted out and just took pictures.
Our last stop with our driver was the Siege Tunnels, which were constructed around 1780 and have been used to defend Gibraltar for many years. The tunnels are built into the rock, but close enough to the side so that they could shoot guns and cannons out the holes in the sides of the rock. There are also many cross tunnels that are now shut off to tourists, but they were used during World War 2 for soldiers to sleep in since space was so scarce. The tunnels go downward a very long ways, so we didn't go all the way down once it got steeper.
We got dropped off near the town center and walked to a nice Brittish pub for dinner. Heidi had bangers & mash, Tom has chicken curry, and Per had fish and chips. Heidi also had a great cider called Scrumpy Jack. It was a yummy and fun British meal. We then hopped a taxi for a quick ride back to the border where we got to see the road closed for 2 planes to land and take off. Our driver talked with us quite a bit about the technicalities of making this happen safely. Once back at the condo we were all exhausted and went to bed early.
Per and I played more bad tennis this morning, then we bought groceries and served up a huge breakfast. Then Tom, Per, and I got ready to go to Gibraltar. We stopped for some cash and supplies before we left town for the 1 hour drive.
We parked just inside the border of Spain and walked across the border into Gibraltar, British Zone, which is a completely different country. We have now technically been in 4 countries since we had a connecting flight in Amsterdam. We stopped and hired the nearest tour taxi for our trip to the top of the Rock. The taxis are very resonably priced, and the drivers know lots of history about the sights they show you along the way.
Just a few hundred feet from passport control is an airstip that the main road into Gibralter crosses. Space is at such a premium on this spit of land that the airstip has been built out into the sea, and any time a plane needs to land or take off, the guards all have to shut down the road for the pedestrians and the cars. It's absolutley NUTS - but we got to see this crazy thing happen on our way out of Gibraltar. Crazy!
We started up the mountainside at a quick clip through skinny and winding one-way roads. Our first stop was a scenic overlook of the bay, marina, downtown Gibraltar, Spain, and the top of a mountain over in Africa that was shrouded in clouds. We also went into a beautiful cave with LOTS of stalagtites and stalagmites. It is a very accessible cave with lots of stairways built in as it was used during World War 2 as a hospital building for the troops. During World War 2, the little rock island was so crowded with troops that Brittain shipped all of the women and children to London for about 4-5 years while all the 18-50 year old men stayed behind to work and fight.
Once at the top of the rock, we had beautiful views of the clear blue sky and water, many ships coming and going, Africa, Spain, and the airstip. You could see for miles and miles into the Atlantic Ocean...it just sort of disappeared into the horizon... The wind was very fast that day and we took some short video of how fast the little clouds were moving. We also were thankful for the very cool temperature of the wind.
We took many pictures of the scenery as well as the Barbarry Apes. You're not supposed to touch the apes as they will bite if they feel threated, but the drivers are good at using bits of food and tricking the apes onto your shoulders. Tom and Per each had an ape on their shoulders - I opted out and just took pictures.
Our last stop with our driver was the Siege Tunnels, which were constructed around 1780 and have been used to defend Gibraltar for many years. The tunnels are built into the rock, but close enough to the side so that they could shoot guns and cannons out the holes in the sides of the rock. There are also many cross tunnels that are now shut off to tourists, but they were used during World War 2 for soldiers to sleep in since space was so scarce. The tunnels go downward a very long ways, so we didn't go all the way down once it got steeper.
We got dropped off near the town center and walked to a nice Brittish pub for dinner. Heidi had bangers & mash, Tom has chicken curry, and Per had fish and chips. Heidi also had a great cider called Scrumpy Jack. It was a yummy and fun British meal. We then hopped a taxi for a quick ride back to the border where we got to see the road closed for 2 planes to land and take off. Our driver talked with us quite a bit about the technicalities of making this happen safely. Once back at the condo we were all exhausted and went to bed early.
Day 5: Sunday, August 3, 2008
Per and I again played bad tennis in the morning (Sunday), took a swim, then woke up his mom and Tom for a nice brunch. After eating, we all took a rest before getting ready for the beach. We went to the beach this afternoon and had a great time. The breeze was cool, the sand was still a bit hot, and the waves were beautiful and cool. We stayed until 8pm after having dinner at the beach bar. We got lots of good sun. After showering off the sea and sand, we went to Puerto Banus, a big yachting marina with lots of nice stores, pubs, and clubs. This is the rich man's marina of Spain, and there are some HUGE yachts there. The stores were mostly upscale shopping near the marina, and smaller/cheaper stores near the square. It was fun to see all the very expensive cars and swanky people milling about. We had a small bite to eat at an Italian restaurant then went to Per's favorite piano bar for one drink before heading back home.
Per and I again played bad tennis in the morning (Sunday), took a swim, then woke up his mom and Tom for a nice brunch. After eating, we all took a rest before getting ready for the beach. We went to the beach this afternoon and had a great time. The breeze was cool, the sand was still a bit hot, and the waves were beautiful and cool. We stayed until 8pm after having dinner at the beach bar. We got lots of good sun. After showering off the sea and sand, we went to Puerto Banus, a big yachting marina with lots of nice stores, pubs, and clubs. This is the rich man's marina of Spain, and there are some HUGE yachts there. The stores were mostly upscale shopping near the marina, and smaller/cheaper stores near the square. It was fun to see all the very expensive cars and swanky people milling about. We had a small bite to eat at an Italian restaurant then went to Per's favorite piano bar for one drink before heading back home.
Day 6: Monday, August 4, 2008
Today was the last day for bad tennis. Tommy joined us today and took some pictures, coached Per on his serve, and hit around a little bit with Per. It was pretty funny to see Tommy hopping on one leg to try to play tennis without stepping on his bad leg, but it made me a little nervous. After eating a yummy lunch, Tom and Per went for a haircut and some supplies at the store area near hear while I finished this blog. We went to the beach again in the late afternoon and then got back to shower before dinner. We plan on going to a restaurant in Orange Square again in downtown Marbella.
Going Home:
Our flight back to Oslo is on Tuesday, August 5, where we will stay in a hotel near the airport that night and probably go out to eat for dinner somewhere. Our flight home from Oslo leaves Wednesday, August 6, and we will be home around 6pm that evening. We have had such a great vacation and are very thankful for the nice invitation to stay with Per and his mom, Mariann, at her condo in Spain and her apartment in Oslo. THANK YOU Thrane-Nielsens!!!
Our flight back to Oslo is on Tuesday, August 5, where we will stay in a hotel near the airport that night and probably go out to eat for dinner somewhere. Our flight home from Oslo leaves Wednesday, August 6, and we will be home around 6pm that evening. We have had such a great vacation and are very thankful for the nice invitation to stay with Per and his mom, Mariann, at her condo in Spain and her apartment in Oslo. THANK YOU Thrane-Nielsens!!!
Goodbye, Spain!!!
