redfiona99

The reason for our prompt departure from Antequera was that we had tickets to enter the Alhambra in the afternoon. Much like the Alcazar in Seville, it's the sort of place where you stick to your slot.

It didn't feel as busy, but I think that's because it's built over a much bigger area. A much, much bigger area. There's a reason it's described as the Alhambra complex in lots of books.

The Alhambra was the main reason we went on holiday to Spain. Mum had always wanted to go, and spurred on by her friend J's wise words of advice to "just go for it," I decided to take her.

It was totally worth it.

The route the guide took us in took us via the Palace of Charles V (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Charles_V).

Circular building, open to the sky, with regular pillars. Guide books describe it as renaissance-style.

We wandered through the Alhambra at quite a pace, so yes, this is also on the "to be revisited" list.

The Alhambra pays thanks to Washington Irving with a plaque.

Stone plaque dedicated to Washington Irving. It says "Washington Irving, escribo en estas habitaciones sus cuentos de la Alhambra en el ano de 1829." Which translates to something like "Washington Irving wrote his stories of the Alhambra here in the year 1829.

Fuller information about this courtyard can be found here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_the_Myrtles

Very mudejar-style building. There is a very plain tower in the background, the Comares tower. There are arches which separate the walkway around the courtyard from the courtyard. The stonework is intricately decorated. There are tiles on the wall to about midway, and the rest is white painted. There is a row of myrtle bushes in the foreground.

The plain tower in the background is the Comares tower, and those bushes are the titular myrtles.

Meet some lions

A fountain basin surrounded by stylised lions. The lions go all the way around, from this angle, you can see either of them. In the background are arches and a lot of tourists.

For further information on the Court of the Lions, please see here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_the_Lions

The ceiling of the Sala de los Abencerrajes was possible the most intricate thing we saw all trip.

Elaborately carved ceiling, a proper description is immediately below, written by someone who knows what they are talking about

Borrowing the description from Wikipedia - "It is covered by an elaborate muqarnas vault ceiling, featuring a 16-sided lantern cupola in the shape of an eight-pointed star, possibly symbolizing the celestial heaven."

My less technical take is "imagine beautiful inverted termite mounds".

There is an even prettier ceiling in the Sala de Dos Hermanas, but I was particular taken by the interplay of the muqarnas ceilings and the stained glass in the Mirador.