*The* Alhambra

If you ever go to the Alhambra - and you should - I have a few tips:

1. Stay at Hotel America.  It's one of two hotels in the Alhambra complex, and the other is the parador which is expensive and, if our dinner is anything to go by, a bit snobby.  Also, the Hotel America has Angelos, our waiter with a great sense of humour, and a very lovely woman at reception.  The advantages of being in the complex are mainly obvious, but also include being able to drive right inside (authorized vehicles only) and play chicken with the tourist hoards.

2. Part of the complex is free to visit including the two museums, the baths, and the church - all but the baths are closed Monday.  Leave these till last, or better yet early the next day when no one else is around.  The museum of Fine Arts has some nice paintings of the complex in the late 1800s and early 1900s,  the museum is worth a quick walk through.  I'd started relatively early with very few people about so when I came out about an hour later, the hoards were a bit of a shock.

3. Book well ahead for the Nasrid Palace and book for after 11.30.  We saw many tourists miss out on Nasrid.  The after 11.30 tickets allow you entry to other parts all day (for the most part unless you meet a grumpy staff member like mum did).  I enjoyed all of the complex but the Nasrid really is the highlight. 

4. Take your time.  Sit down and watch the world go by for a while in various parts.  We did this as we weren't in a hurry.  There is a lot to see and this allowed us to enjoy it rather than rush round and end up tired, grumpy and with sore feet.

5 Take a packed lunch or take a bit of dosh. There are vending machines or two restaurants for lunch.  We, of course, had lunch at one restaurant  (hotel America) and dinner at the other (the parador).