.Granada, Andalucia, Spain.

After Cordoba, it was about time I explored Granada, the reason why I visited Spain. The city had unique energy. When walking around one could listen to stories about people who have danced with passion, loved with passion, and fought about their passion. So, I took my book and made sure I visited all the places mentioned. For a while I felt like I was part of the story.

Here is a map to get you orientated--->

All I was listening to was...

As I got off the bus, I started looking for the old city where I was staying. On my way, I bumped into this beautiful girl who was wearing this traditional flamenco costume. With my poor Spanish, I told her she was pretty and that I wanted to take a picture. And that's what she gave me...

As I kept walking, it seemed I had found my way. I was in the "Paseo de los Tristes" ("The passage of the Sad") where I was lucky enough to stay.

As I dropped my stuff I couldn't wait to explore the Arabic neighborhood of "Albaicin".

    2 men playing the guitar while smoking weed and arguing.

 Albaicin's main square where the gypsies meet and play the guitar!

At night I went out to explore the city's nightlife.

And I asked these people you see sitting behind down the corner for a picture with the castle of Alhambra (that's a difficulty everyone has faced when traveling alone).They turned out to be a family with a strange consistency (2 fathers and a mother with a baby). 

And then I met my new friends for a few sangrias at a few bars.

And then we got a little bit tipsy.

Day 2

Next day I heard there was a tour in Sacromonte and decided to join. Sacromonte is a neighbourhood outside the city's walls, in between the mountains where gypsies live in caves. I was told not to take my camera but I did despite the odds.

The view of Alhambra and the city lying beyond.

And then took a break to enjoy a real Andalucian sangria and the view of Alhambra.

Later on, I went down the centre to find out more about 

the city's famous Cathedral.

And the night came along. I met two very special characters, Pepito and his dog Dolly. Pepito was an immigrant from Colombia and Dolly was a stray dog. Once I told him about my studies in Psychology he showed me a book he was reading about Gestalt psychology. He was trying to give me the gist of it with hand-gestures, and made my night so interesting.

And I went up the hill to see the Alhambra at night for the last time.

.Cordoba, Andalucia, Spain.

While staying in Granada I was sharing a room with Liz, a sweet lady from Yorkshire who had come to Spain to learn Spanish and live a little bit of its reality. Liz was expecting one of her friends to come and visit and had booked bus tickets for Cordoba. Unfortunately for Liz, fortunately for me, her friend didn't make it and we went together.

                                                            Orientation map---->

All I was listening to on our way.

Sunflowers chasing the sun!

As we got in Cordoba we went straight to its historical centre. To get there we had to pass by all the little shops.

 As I was walking I came across this bizarre shop with old musical instruments.

And then sneaked in a house's garden.

When around it's worth visiting "La Mezquita" an old Islamic Mosque, known now as a bell tower.

3 little Andalucians.

That's Liz standing at the bridge's entrance.

The bridge offered a variety of music shows. This lady was playing famous classical pieces on her violin while fighting against the wind.

And these 2 gentlemen were playing the song I had been listening to while traveling "Entre Dos Aguas". What a coincidence!

If you are around its definitely worth visiting especially around the evening when you might be lucky and catch the sunset.

.Seville, Andalucia, Spain.

A few days before my 20th birthday my best friends announced to me that they had to leave Oxford. Sooner or later I realized I was going to spend my birthday on my own, but I had a good feeling that even so it was going to be a very special day. 

Those days I was reading a book entitled "The Return" by Victoria Hislop, a love story of a guitar player and a flamenco dancer in Granada, during the civil war. So the decision was easy to make. I was going to Sevilla, Cordoba, and Granada.

Let me get you orientated--->

I arrived on the 7th of June, early in the morning. The sun was shining and I was ready to explore the city and potentially make new friends.

I went straight to the hostel. Got into my room opened the window and look what I saw.

I took my bag and started walking around the city. I was staying at Alameda de Hercules, a popular square full of bars and restaurants. 

African musicians performing in the street. You know a city is vibrant when it has rhythm.

I kept walking and I got into the city's Cathedral. Apparently it gets packed in their Catholic Easter around "Semana Santa" (Holly Week).

The view from the Cathedrals roof top.

Later on I made a good friend, Guillame from Belgium. We were walking around town when accidentally we passed by the very famous Plaza d' Espana. I couldn't stop saying "wow!".

And I decided to play with the water!

And then the night came along! My new friends and I decided to go out and explore the city's flamenco bars.

   On our way I stopped to stroke one of my favourite basset hounds.

This was one of the oldest and most famous flamenco bars in Seville. The vibe was incredible.

 And then the night went on. It only took 2 spanish guitars, a flute and a lot of alcohol to make the real Spanish party start. Our tour guides Ermano and Anyi invited us to theirs and look what happened.

Ermano

Anyi

I even took part!

And that's how I spent my 20th birthday!