“Granada, tranquil and refined, girded by her sierras, riding eternally at anchor, sets her own horizons, takes pleasure in her small jewels, and offers her bland diminutive: a diminutive without rhythm, almost without grace and charm when one compares it with the phonetic dance of Malaga and Sevilla, but cordial, domestic, affectionate. A diminutive frightened as a bird, one which opens secret chambers of feeling and reveals the subtlest, best-defined nuances of the city.”
– Federico García Lorca, 1926

Granada grabs your attention with its beauty. The Alhambra is stunning and the whitewashed buildings sparkle in the sun. But spend a few days exploring this small city, and you’ll start to understand what Lorca means. It’s the little things that make this a very special place, like the unique pastries sold in family owned bakeries or the exquisite tiny architectural details that surround you. Granada is a city you dream about, but it exists in real-time. Step into a bar and order a sherry, and they’ll bring you complimentary food. It’s a long tradition of serving free tapas that continues even in this day and age of money over matter. Wander the alley ways of El Albaicín in the middle of the night, and you’ll hear the sound of an ancient city. Sit in a public park for awhile and a group might come to play guitar and sing the night away. In the hidden corners, the city comes alive, and you’ll find its small, subtle beauty if you keep an open mind and keep your eyes open.

If you can’t make it to Granada any time soon, head over to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx for  “Gardens of Alhambra.” It runs until August 21st.

C. Nelson, 2010.

P. Glowinski, 2010.

P. Glowinski, 2010.

C. Nelson, 2010.

C. Nelson, 2010.

C. Nelson, 2010.

C. Nelson, 2010.

C. Nelson, 2010.

C. Nelson, 2010.

P. Glowinski, 2010.

C. Nelson, 2010.

C. Nelson, 2010.