Granada

In this post I will talk about Granada and what to see in this beautiful city.

Alhambra  e Generalife

One of the most important symbols of Muslim rule over the city of Granada, isundoubtedly the Alhambra, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. is the stronghold built by the Moors to protect and guard the city. She was given the name of Al - Qal aal - Hmbra, which in Arabic means "red fortress"(the name probably inspired by the color of adobe which have been builtoutside the walls of the fort). It was originally a military town, but during the reign ofYusuf I became a building full of beautiful courtyards, fountains and gardens. It affectsthe strong contradiction: on the outside strict military construction and inside delicateand graceful structure. Right in front of the Alhambra is another independent building, the Generalife, a sort ofoasis of peace and relaxation of the king. The name originates from the wordsarabeYanat - al - Arif and means "garden of the architect, an architect, but not all, the best and most powerful of all: God.

The gardens date back to '300: arabesque, elegant and colorful especially in spring when all the bright colors tinged fiori.D 'summer, when the oppressive heat of Andalusia, it will be wonderful to get to the water scale and placing your hands in 'watersliding down the handrails

Albayzin

This is the Arab quarter, which allows you to make a trip to the cultural roots of the Moors, but also awaken your senses with the smells of flowers and flavors of Arabic sweets .. This neighborhood has been called the World Heritage by UNESCO, so you can see for yourself how  it can be beautiful and special. Its interior is a maze of alleys where the intense fragrance of bougainvillea and thebeauty of the gardens of cármenes (Albayzin typical homes) that will not surprise you.Also from the Albrayzin you can enjoy a spectacular view of the 'Alhambra, especially by the Church of St. Nicholas and especially at night when illuminated.

In the morning when we arrived at the hotel, they told us that if we wanted, we couldbook them tickets to go see a flamenco show and then do a small tour in the Arab quarter of the city. We would come to get a bus outside the hotel in the evening thatwould have led first to the show and then at the entrance of 'Albayzin for the guided tour.

So we have organized this way: we booked tickets for the flamenco show and the tour.In the evening we were wandering about the streets of downtown, we had dinner andwe bought some small gifts. The next morning we got up early and at 7:30 we lined upthe cash for tickets to the Alhambra and the Generalife and then 4 hours (from 8 up toabout 12), we visited these beautiful buildings and gardens.

Back at the hotel we had lunch at bufet (was not included in the price but it was a buffetall you can eat "with a good price), we rested a little room and swimming pool. After settling for the evening we had dinner again at the hotel buffet and we wait for the busthat was to bring the spectacle of flamenco and then to the starting point for the tour of the Arab quarter: it was a different way, but especially nice to see a characteristic partof the city.

The next morning we left the hotel to leave for Seville.

I put two videos below that we did at Granada: the first is the video of the show offlamenco and the second is a funny video of animated traffic light.

What I should carry in my suitcase?

When I leave for trips that last at least a week, the "bigger problem" is  just what to bring. I usually ask myself things like "What do I bring? "? "Then if the weather is cold?" "And if the weather is hot?". Well I'm always afraid of not having enough or having too many things, even though the end is almost always the latter case true and I always pack a lot of things that remain unused (and thus take up space that could instead be used for things like gifts for friends and family or for myself).

The first things that I would consider are:
1) In what season we are;
2) where I'm going (from Italy to London, surely the time will change for the worse);
3) baggage that I want / need to bring;

Now we begin to analyze these three points from the first: the season when we leave. If the city where we go is colder than the city where we live, we need to bring warmer clothes. I know that this reasoning is obvious to all of us,but it is an argument that we usually do only after putting the clothes in the suitcase and we see that we can't put all in the luggage.
We continue with the consideration of what will be our goal. For example, if you depart from Rome and go to London you know that there will definitely be cooler than in Rome and you know you should wear something that shelters from the cold.
What about the luggage to use? I usually have several options from which I can decide, even by mode of transport bywhich arrive at its destination: car, plane, bus, train, etc.. I always prefer the trolleys to travel, both in Italy and abroad, using any means of transport, the bags are best because very comfortable to carry. Of course, strictly soft trolley, as if I wanted to bring one more thing there is less risk that I bangs the bag. At this point we have to distinguish: if I'm in the car, I don't worry too much about the weight of the luggage I carry with me and maybe I carry a bag more with what I want to take with me but was not included in the main case. If, however, left by plane, then I do make a distinction between hand luggage and hold baggage and I have to pay close attention to the weight of luggage and each company sets a different weight.
Now we have "only" to put things in the suitcase: the first thing I pull out everything I want to take me and put it on the bed (or on your desktop) and I put everything sorted shirts, pants, sweaters, etc.. Now, since I certainly do not all come in bags, I start to do an initial screening by setting aside one to which I would not give up.At this point I put in the closet things that I don't carry with me and instead I put in the suitcase what I bring for the travel. It happens many times but fail to deliver good things and I have to start over at least a couple of times! I start from his trousers .. Above, then, put your shirts and sweaters. For shoes I leave a side room.The laundry of course above all in bags that hold it separate from the rest, or in the pockets of the suitcase.And the things for bathroom? If I use a carry-on baggage of those kits that are in different perfume bottles and have to be filled with shampoo conditioner and shower gel. To take the toothpaste tubes small (or buy it directly to your destination). For the face I carry the wipes that can be useful when I'm around and I want to freshen up a bit (there are all the brands) and cleansing wipes to remove makeup, or if I find some small pots, I carry a makeup remover . The hair dryer, put it in my suitcase if I'm not in a hotel or if the hotel does not have a hairdryer in the rooms (but I always found. Usually there is always one).
And for the things that I can carry in hand luggage (such things as hand nail scissors)?If I leave for a week, I take a couple of hours the day before departure when I can devote myself to the beauty and my body. Then placed the nails of hands and feet (cutting, silt, get your nails). I make a face mask, do the body scrub. If I go for several days I carry a nail file (not those of the nail kit that obviously can not bring), I do not get your nails done before you leave, but I carry a single enamel so that if I want to put, I put it when I'm out (everything else I do it anyway before you leave).

Let's start

Let's start with "bases" The first thing I do when I have to book a trip if you think about booking a hotel or an apartment. How do I set to choose? I estimate based on various things. A) I begin to run on the internet and to evaluate the differences in price between the various houses and hotels. B) I rate if the hotel offers me breakfast only  or maybe even lunch and dinner. A point in favor of renting a home is that there is more freedom of time: at the hotel there are fixed times for eating, while in the house if you want to raise a little later or you want to retain more around the evening you can eat whenever you want. C) The position of the various hotels you might like and the various houses. certainly, the more central and more expensive, but if they can not give away the rooms or a house hoteliers and owners of the houses are (Sperr and willingly) promotions (which do happen quet'ultimi promotions in relation to the length of your stay). Of course, in favor of the hotels is the fact that they come to change the sheets and clean the room, but at home, with good organization, you may be able to take care of cleaning by simply dividing the tasks among the various traveling companions. I personally prefer the flats because of the time giving more freedom, but also because they are found even for 10-12 people and you can start with a larger group
Usually I try to homelidays.com for homes and hotels on booking.com try (there are also special offers for serviced apartments). As an alternative to that expedia is where I've seen lots of offers at a discounted rate (usually valid only for bookings via internet).