When walking through the gardens especially it felt like we were in a different world. Trees towered overhead and we were enveloped by the smell of fresh oranges and jasmine that were planted from all over the world.
By Amiya, Abby, Makenna
Travel
As the group arrived at Heathrow Airport in London, England, we all chatted about the flight and shared our excitement for our eventual arrival in Spain. We waited for a bit for the connecting flight, and once the plane arrived we all got into our seats. After three hours, we arrived in Málaga, Spain. We had a smooth experience going through customs and baggage claim, and we met up with our tour guides for the trip right outside of the airport. We shared some snacks and completed a few stretches before getting on a bus to Granada. We then checked into our hotel, and shortly afterwards we met to discuss our goals and values for the rest of our trip.
Dinner was next on the agenda, so we walked to a local restaurant and enjoyed delicious food, such as crepes and spaghetti Bolognese. We were all stuffed after our meal, so we walked back to the hotel and settled into our rooms. The day was full of lots of activity, but we had such a good time and were filled with excitement for the days to come.
Alhambra
After meeting for a buffet style breakfast, which had everything from pineapple and kiwi to brie and croissants, the group got ready for our trip to Alhambra, here in Granada, Spain. On the bus we were still in awe of all the gorgeous scenery that Spain has to offer. Every minute you would see people quickly pulling out their phones or cameras to snap a photo or two. Initially it was a quiet ride as we were still waking up, but the mood was light with people cracking jokes and joining in on others’ conversations now and then.
Once at the Alhambra, we were met by our guide, who would show us around and explain the history of the area to us for the next two hours or so. We learned that the Alhambra was home to a thriving mixed-religion community, which is evident in all the gorgeous decorations that surrounded us. Everywhere we looked there was an intricate carved tile wall or elegant displays of cute flowers and orange trees. When walking through the gardens especially it felt like we were in a different world. Trees towered overhead and we were enveloped by the smell of fresh oranges and jasmine that were planted from all over the world. Safe to say that there were many photo stops. The whole experience was only made more surreal when we learned that these amazing palaces and gardens were built over 800 years ago. All the artistry that surrounded us was hand carved and lasted through the Napoleonic wars, the Spanish Inquisition, and so many more periods of history. Halfway through we stopped at a little souvenir shop, where we got gifts for friends back home, and ourselves — let’s be real, some of us also refilled our tanks with hot coffee from a vending machine; it was surprisingly delicious. The tour lasted just over two hours, and after all that walking, well, let’s just say we were ready to eat.
Lunch
After sightseeing we walked for around 20 minutes to Meknes Moroccan Restaurant. We split up into two big tables, and we were all given a delicious lime drink. Afterwards the appetizers started to roll out, and we were first given pita bread with dips like tzatziki, an eggplant dip, and hummus, and we were also given falafels, which are fried chickpea balls. It was really fun talking and laughing with the group. The main course was chicken kabobs with fries and rice pilaf with vegetables like zucchini on top. The restaurant was decorated with colorful tiles on the wall and had music playing in the background, making it a very lively atmosphere. Lastly for dessert we ate oranges covered with brown sugar and cinnamon on the top. After we were done eating we walked around the local shops for 15 minutes and then walked back to the hotel for siesta time!