Posted: 2006-03-30 21:06:00
Sorry Kerry, I did not see your request earlier.
First, be advised that Andalucia is the most gorgeous, historical, joyful and also cheaper part of Spain, and you should try to spend most of your time there.
You can follow the route of the Caliphate (from Granada to Cordoba), or the Washington Irving route (W. Irving was the first USA Ambassador in Madrid, Spain, and wrote a book called Tales of the Alhambra, where he relates the stories and anecdotes that he heard during his long stay inside the Alhambra, where his room can still be visited today) from Granada to Sevilla stopping in charming villages along the way which are UNESCO Patrimony of the Humankind.
A terrific prospect, out of the tourist track, is to descend the mountains from Granada to Almeria or to the Mediterranean Sea crossing the strong personality region of the Alpujarras. There, among chestnuts trees, unique pines, fruits fields everywhere (try there the famous Malaga virgin sweet wine) you will go over walled small villages with muslim flavour such as Lanjaron, Orjiva (capital of Alpujarras), Travelez (the best jamon in the area), Ujigar, Pampaneira and Capileira. In the Alpujarras there was a rebellion in the XVI century, some decades after the re-conquest of Granada by the Catholic Kings, provoked by the muslims, but they were defeated and his recent nominated “king”, expelled to Africa.
Ronda is fantastic too (the whole Andalucia is a wonder) because of its dramatic geographical situation, which mountains and grottoes made the home of the bandits. In Ronda there is a Museum called Museo de los Bandidos, and the first arena for bullfighting in the world, where sometimes they play the corrida with elegant dresses of the epoch and nicely ornamented horses. Even people who hate the corrida admire that spectacle in Ronda.
Should you need further information, please, do not hesitate to contact me, it would be a pleasure to me.
Buen viaje!
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I was born in Argentina but live in Spain
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