Granada
In a palace of crystal waters, expansive sun-dappled landscapes, and countless exquisite details, our visit to the Alhambra today seemed a microcosm of our entire voyage through the western Mediterranean.
From Sicily through the island of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Balearic Islands and on to Iberia, we have visited many palaces of many different natures. Some, like the Neolithic standing stones and the Greek temples, now appear abandoned and austere, but a closer look finds them beautifully decorated with spring wildflowers caught in shafts of morning sunlight and hung with an ineluctable sense of the passage of many seasons.
Beneath the sea, at Sardinia and Menorca, we found the limestone shores carved with deep caves. These too were as colorful and detailed as the richest palaces of the Moors, festooned with bright corals, sponges and darting fish, and suffused with an aquamarine light found only in the finest of jewels.
Our lunch today, in the Alhambra Palace Hotel, also echoed earlier portions of our voyage. Beginning with a tangy sherry and tapas and moving on through several courses of unmistakably Mediterranean delights, we were reminded, as we enjoyed traditional music and conversation with new friends, of the many delightful culinary experiences that have been such an important part of our journey.
Tonight we exit the inland sea, passing between the Pillars of Hercules and through the Straits of Gibraltar. Looking back through this final pair of pillars, we can see the entire western Mediterranean region as a palace in its own right, rich with history and the priceless beauty of ancient cities, green forests and blue seas. As travelers we have been made welcome here, shown many treasures, feasted on the finest wines and delicacies, and entertained most royally.
