Wednesday May 1, 2019

Royal Chapel of Granada

Our hotel is right across from the train station. We have a 0753 train or so we thought. This journey was supposed to be a train ride to a place called Antequerra and then a bus from there to Granada, because they are working on a high speed train line to Granada from Antequerra so the tracks are closed. I had confirmed this before we left, train than bus. When we get to the station, I look on the board and it says bus+bus. I ask the ticket office lady and she points to a green bus outside s aging no train it is bus to Antequerra, than change to another bus. Buses are fine but require a different kind of planning due to the lack of facilities. Hopefully, not being prepared for two buses works out for us. We start out on a highway than turn off onto a narrower country road. The train was supposed to get to Antequerra at 0856 but I can see we will not do so well on the bus. I know they will have a connecting bus there but figure the times were changed and we will get to Granada later than expected. We stop at two or three very small towns at the train stations, only one of which has people get on. We arrive in Antequerra thirty minutes late, switch buses and depart right away. No break time if you know what I mean . This bus has stops also except they must have changed things when the Ronda train changed. The bus is an express and we arrive in Granada 10 minutes early. It is not a long walk to our hotel and we stay on track route wise. Our room is not ready but they have a baggage room to lock our packs in. Packs stowed and a map from the hotel in hand, we head out to explore.

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel Tomb

First stop is the Royal Chapel. This sight is important as it holds the tombs of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand. The most important Spanish monarchs, not for Columbus, but for their uniting Aragon and Castile by marriage. This led to an acceleration of the Reconquista and the removal of the Moors from Spain. The culmination was here in Granada in 1492 when Boabdil surrendered and the Christian Reconquest was complete in Spain. Isabel was originally buried in the Alhambra but King Ferdinand had this Chapel built and she was moved here at his bequest. Their grandson Charles V added touches to make it a more elaborate resting place such as the iron screen in front of the chapel. The included audioguide helped to point out some of the interesting features of the chapel.

The Cone of Fish

Before visiting the nearby cathedral, we look for a place to eat. We find one on our list nearby, La Freiduria de Tere which has just opened. There is one plastic table outside so we sit there. They specialize in fried fish, calamari, shrimp salads, paella, and other seafood. We order a small paper come of fried fish, a medium paella, and a shrimp salad, plus a beer. The cone has Boquerones, shrimp, calamari, and we think some zucchini. The paella has tuna and squid. The shrimp salad is like a potato salad with shrimp. All very good .

Cathedral Entrance

Lunch taken care of, we walk two blocks to the cathedral. An audioguide is included here. The Cathedral was built over 200 years from the early 1500’s to the 1700’s. It has artwork from the Granada artist Alonso Cano and emphasizes Mary, rather than Jesus. It has a rare pipe organ with trumpets and is connected as one building with the Royal Chapel and the Sagrada Church.

Door to My Chapel

The side chapels are ornate and descriptive and there is also a Bishops throne as this was the seat of the local,Bishop. The patron Saint of Granada, San Cecilio, is also entombed here in his chapel. Our room is ready when we return and it is very nice, up on the third floor. For dinner tonight, Carol is in the mood for pizza, so we look on google maps to see what is near us.

Ready to Eat

We settle on La Tuttoria which doesn’t open until 2000. We head out around 0740 to try and find our way there. We get most of the way alright but than miss the street it is on. The map does not have all the streets so sometimes it is a guess as to how far it is once you are on the cross street. We see a city information map and it is not on that either. We think maybe it is on the other side of the main drag we are walking so cross the street and it is the first one we come to. When we sit, we are the only ones inside. When we leave after 2130, the place is full. We get eggplant parmigiana, a cheese pizza, and a nice salad. The salad is large enough for the two of us and the pizza and eggplant are both good size for the money. We also get a brownie a la mode for dessert.

Mine

Two free shots of a limoncello sorbet finish things off. The place fills as they show the soccer game here. When we leave, we notice that we may be the oldest people here by about three to four decades. No problem, we enjoyed our meal. Tomorrow, more of Granada to explore.

Expenses
Train/Bus to Granada. 41.60E
Hotel Granada Centro 44.11E
Royal Chapel 10E
Lunch at La Freiduria de Tere 17E Cash
Cathedral 10E
Dinner at La Tuttoria 30.50E
Walked 4 Miles