This picture is not of Spain. We ran into it while walking up to the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. There was a display of forests throughout the world. This is of New Caledonia. My birthplace. Are you ready to go Renee?

We took a day off to tour Rota. It sets on the ocean and is a joint naval station with the Spanish and Americans. Rota was given as a gift, by the father of the bride, to his daughter when she married Ponce de Leon.

We took a quiet ride to Granada.

We had lunch with these characters. They had a hard day battling windmills.

Granada is famous for Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand and the Catholic Monarchy. One of its most famous monuments is the Alhambra. In 1829, Washington Irving, visited the Alhambra. He was inspired to write The Tales of Alhambra. First, we visited the Granada Cathedral. Then, we went into the Royal Chapel. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand are buried there. They had numerous paintings and antiques belonging to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. The items included her crowns, his sword, and her royal clothing. No photos authorized.

Fresh spices anyone. It went on for half a block.

The Alhambra and the Generalife were started in 1237 AD. It was under Muslim control until 1492. At that time, it was surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs - Queen Isabella of Castile and Kind Ferdinand II of Aragon. In 1526, King Charles V started his Palace within the grounds of the Alhambra. The intricate wood and stone wall carvings are incredible. The Palace, fortress, and gardens spread out for miles. It was a 3 to 4 hour constant walk. The temperature reached 98 degrees. The original water system, viaducts catching mountain and rain water, is still in use

An overview of the Alhambra.

The gardens add to the tranquility.

King Charles the V's Palace.

The Sultan's Palace.

Some delicate stone work.

The main military fortress.

The old walls went on for miles.

We are off to Valencia and Barcelona. In Barcelona, we will catch a ferry for Genova, Italy.