Out and About

Here are some pictures of Granada as I am out and about when Alexis came over for the weekend from Lucena where she is teaching English this year.

So this picture is the clearest one I could get but this Burger King is giant and the line (all day long) is from the counter to the door. It's sad that these Spaniards are surrounded by all of this wonderful food and they choose to eat at the BK? Tragedy.

This was hands down one of my favorite things I ate while in Spain. For whatever reason I just am head over heels for this dish! It seems strange but trust me, it's amazing! It is fried eggplant (aubergine) slices with only a thin coating of seasoned flour to not overpower the eggplant taste with a molasses syrup over the top, though honey is often substituted. AMAZING!

This is an example of a tapa that came with the drinks we ordered. In Granada, home of the tapa, you get some tapas for free for with any drink you order. Each bar or restaurant have their own specialty and some places have different things you can choose from. I know Granada is known for the tapas here (it's even made into a verb tapar - to go and eat tapas) but overall I haven't really been overly impressed with it. Since I don't drink I don't go out to bars and have these much so maybe that's part of it, I don't know. They are always good, just nothing fantastic that I couldn't live without (like the eggplant above). This was a curried pork stew with potatoes and pork chunks with bread. Not bad!

Alexis and I went shopping and literally this is what every store looked like. No one here hangs up the things they look at or refold clothes like we do in the states. You look at it, and throw it in a pile or on the floor. Goodness. It just makes me incredibly thankful I don't work retail here...

Another close up of the Cristobal Colon statue with Queen Isabella. It's a giant statue with a fountain around the base.

I know I am short but this just shows you how big the statue is! The Europeans love my red coat and most of the Americans think it's something I bought here! Thanks again, AJ! I love it!

Here is a hostel in town which is decorated with tons of little painted plates. Pretty interesting!

Long view!

Fountains like this are found all over town and you actually can drink the water that is coming out!

A special treat Alexis and I shared - the tapa plate. There is a tortilla on top (the triangle shaped wedge), patatas con pimenton (steak fries with paprika! :)), jamon, sheep's cheese (really hard but super mild and yummy!), and croquetes (basically a battered and fried ball of mashed potatoes). It was a yummy lunch for us and pretty filling!

For ordering drinks we got ourselves the house tapa from this restaurant - migas. Migas are fried bread crumbs with seasoning and finely chopped onions. Sounds crazy but it's way good!

Everything here is lemonade so I had to order one!

Up one of the side streets in Granada!

The buildings in Plaza Nueva - one of the bigger, more well known plazas in Granada. Again, shops on the bottom and apartments on top. Just so beautifully European!