We’ve been to the US too often since 2001, really; there is a world out there. So despite the favourable dollar-sterling exchange rate and although we haven’t had much time to plan this one, we’re off to Southern Spain shortly.
I’ve been to Spain before once - to Barcelona and on to a Northern tour, visiting Pamplona and Zaragoza and Bilbao. This time we’ll be deep into the old Moorish provinces.
Of course, we’ll see the Alhambra. I don’t want to build my hopes up about that because I don’t want to be disappointed but I have reason to believe it will be beautiful.
I don’t know enough of the history of the Caliphates of al-Andalus yet and I hardly know any Spanish (a few podcasts are taking me through basic stuff on the drive to work every morning).
I’m not sure I’ll manage to cope with the strange pace of the Spanish day. A long, long siesta, restaurants not open until 9pm at the earliest and bar-hopping continuing into the early hours. Even worse than Italy, a friend who knows Italy well tells me. Worse or better, I suppose it’s a question of perspective.
