Postcards from Spain | Snippets from the Alhambra

Previous Postcards from Spain:
The Doors and Windows of Granada
The Streets and Alleys of Granada
People-Spotting in Granada
Markets and Signboards of Granada
The Street Artists and Buskers of Granada

I have thoroughly enjoyed sending out these postcards over the last week or so. Although this is not exactly a tourist-picture blog, I couldn't not share my view of the place with you. And what is the modern day tourist but an evolved avatar of the earliest French flâneur? I know that I was one, as I walked the streets of Granada for four days, quietly observing, recording and tying the threads together to weave the whole story. I think , and I hope you'll agree, that these postcards all stitch up the fragments of the picture into a rough whole - and that picture would be incomplete without this last set of images that showcase in pithy snippets the grand Alhambra, the Moorish icon of Granada - its seed, its raison de'être, its claim to fame. And you will perhaps see why, in these last set of postcards from Spain.

That's it from Spain! Like I said in my previous post, there's a whole lot of new stuff waiting to happen here - and an exciting announcement that I'll make next week!

Thank you all for the terrific response to these postcards - I have loved every moment of putting these together. And again, thanks to every one of you who has given me your very valuable feedback and encouragement since I first launched this blog six months back. It's come a long way since then and it has a very long way to go.

Postcards from Spain | The Street Artists and Buskers of Granada

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you'd know that I have a particular affinity for informal forms and purveyors of art, or in other words street art and artists - be it visual of performance based. I therefore had to document the street artists and performers of Granada for you, and today's set of postcards does just that.

In particular, I was struck by the number of musicians performing in Granada's streets and plazas, which, on second thought is no surprise given Spain's long and rich musical tradition. It shows... and buzzes and mesmerises you as you walk around town - and how!

This gentleman is usually found around the Plaza de la Romilla of Granada, busking his music to people sitting along the promenade with cafes on one side and the spactacular Alhambra on top of the hill on the other. He entertained us for two breakfasts and one glass of evening wine.










I have never heard or seen someone playing the didgeridoo before this (at least that is what I think that is) and this gentleman was doing an absolutely fantastic job of it! He was keeping rhythm with those two wooden pellets in his right hand and the combined effect made you want to tap your feet and sway your hips! He was busking his unique music outside the main Cathedral in Granada.
It was around the Cathedral area that most other buskers and artists would tend to ply their art as well.

















This gentleman is painting scrolls of Arabic poetry - something that the walls of the Alhambra are covered in. A common art in these parts, it seems, but incredibly beautiful. I only wish I knew how to read Arabic so that I could make an informed comment on what I was looking at!

I hope you liked this set of postcards as much I personally like it! This series of postcards is about to draw to a close soon, but beyond that I have some street photography related writing, and some London-based stories coming up... and also an important, very important announcement! Keep watching, and I hope you will not be disappointed with what comes up. :)

Postcards from Spain | The Markets and Signboards of Granada

Previous Postcards from Spain:
The Doors and Windows of Granada
The Streets and Alleys of Granada
People-Spotting in Granada

Hello Tuesday! I'm sending to you my view of the markets and signboards of Granada today.

I had quite an adventurous start to my visit when Iberia Airlines decided not to send our luggage on the same flight from Madrid as us, leaving us bereft of fresh clothes to change into. Iberia had assured us that we would get our bags delivered to us in Granada by that evening. But when our bags didn't arrive by 10PM, we rushed out in the rain to buy a few clothes to last us until the next day, at the least. We'd spotted the Albaicin markets earlier in the day, and we managed to find one last shop about to close. The shopkeeper did not know any English and our Spanish was limited to 'si' and 'gracias'. But we not only dealt with the guy in sign language, we even managed to get a nice bargain for the bunch of cheap hippy clothes we bought! Of course we were extremely chuffed and pleased with ourselves as we ran back to the hotel in the rain. Fresh, dry, cheap clothes had never seemed as precious and welcome as they did that day as we changed into them!

Our luggage arrived ten minutes later.


Enjoy your postcards for today!

Postcards from Spain | People-spotting in Granada

Previous Postcards from Spain:
The Doors and Windows of Granada
The Streets and Alleys of Granada

The third in the series of postcards comes to you today, since the postal department doesn't work on Sundays! (That is my excuse and I'm sticking to it).

I love to people-spot in interesting places. I met some of the sweetest people in Granada, and although all of the people in the pictures below are strangers, I'm sure they'd be as interesting in person as they were to spot:

These gypsy women from Sacromonte Hill accost women around the Cathedral, press rosemary into their hands and tell them their future - which is mostly about how much the guy standing next to you and wondering what's going on loves you, and how many kids you're going to have. They then demand money for their 'services'! I was accosted by one as well, who grabbed my hand but I managed to escape!

I'm not out of postcards yet, in case you were wondering. More coming your way tomorrow. Meanwhile, do let me know how you're liking the ones you already have!

Postcards from Spain | The Doors and Windows of Granada

Four days of flanerie in Granada in the Andalucian region of Spain could make anyone rapturous. It was my first visit to the beautiful country and I'm in love with the place, the people and the architecture.

And what does one do when one travels to another land? Send postcards to one's dear ones. I'll be sending you a bunch of postcards every day for the next few days, dear readers. I'd love to have you reply to them.

The Doors and Windows of Granada






































Can anyone help me translate that graffiti? What does it mean?















Hakuna Matata anyone?





Or Sleepy Pup perhaps?

My next set of postcards will reach you tomorrow. Meanwhile, I'll look forward to your replies!