Granada Travel Forum

Hi
Between 7-9 Dec.I will be in Granada.I want to discover Granada by myself and go to the places (to watch flamenco,to eat paella etc.) where the inhabitants of Granada go, not only the turists.I mean I want to feel the real and original atmosphere of your city and culture.For example for flamenco show where can I watch original show performed by gypsies.Also any other tips ( what to eat,where to go,what to buy etc.) that can't be found in any web sites.Thanks.

I have a couple of tips in my pages on flamenco and paella that might be of help. i need to do more work on the rest!
but particularly spend time walking around the old town centre - the Albacin - Spains largest Moorish centre - its great to see so much that still looks Moroccan!- and up around the caves on the hill - not so noticeable from below but when you head on up to the church high up on the hill you will see theres a lot of homes built into the sides of the hill.

also have time at the Alhambra and the Generalife as well - both stunning esp of course the Alhambra.
i did lots of walking everywhere - lots of good info from my Rough Guide, Lonely Planet and DK eyewitness guidebooks. and try the lovely little very cheap cakes at the local patisseries.
also the moroccan tea houses - they have excellent kebab sandwiches and teas.

I've not been to Granada for ages, so I can't help much on this.... bus just to say I doubt the locals go anywhere to eat paella, unless there is any good Valencian restaurant in town (I don't know, maybe it is). Better stick to local specialties, paella is not typical from this area, even it's served in all tourist traps around all Spain (most times awful frozen stuff)

http://www.aboutgranada.com/granada/food-drink.asp

Hi,

I read your page on Grenada. I want to take my wife next Springtime. It would be lovely if it would coincide with the white blossom etc. What time would be best in Spring to witness that. What was the weather and temperature like?

Do you know if the place where you stayed had any en suite rooms?

Thansk for the tip on Flamenco as well. I hope they will be operating in Spring.

regards,

Peter

I went at the beginning of March last year and the blossoms were out then - the hillside up to the Alhambra from the old city below had a lot of white blossomed trees. pretty and I was pleased as I have several times tried to time trips to various parts of Spain and Portugal to see the spring time flowers and foliage.

such as what?

Hi well I was very happy to eat paella in Granada! Better than eating British! or pizza!

There is nothing wrong on eating paella in Granada, as far you're aware this dish is as typical of the area as the pizza.

I posted a link above describing what are the typical cuisine from this area. There are delicious specialties from the Alpujarras, and generally speaking is a kind of cuisine with a strong Moorish influence that makes it different then form others parts of Spain.

Great as that is the sort of experiences to get into the culture of the area and country that are part of the objectives I have when travelling - but that night i was wrecked - those very early departures which generally if im working back to back with trips often mean im up all night before i head off to the airport - arrived in Granada late at night - when about seeing the sights as much as I could fit in during the day and then when I got back to my hotel in time to catch a night trip to the caves for the tourist flamenco and dinner - my very handy manager on the information i could get from him the options were to yes go off on the 35 euro trip and probably not get back till 1130 pm but that often tourists/guests have thought it very touristy and not particularly good value for money - or loved it - but also that there was a place up the road that had a quieter less commercialised - and it was - the lineup of meals on offer i dont know how theyd compare with the full on touristy 35 euro caper but it was satisfactory and from memory as far as I could choose most Spanish was the paella! I really dont remember what the choices were - but for me it wasnt touristy and commercial - the flamencos were local and you can see them in my tip about them how they look they dont look touristy either - i gave them a tip for it as there was no request for donations even and i thought they made a lot of effort and played and danced quite a bit for not that many guests!

i would love to have had local dishes with moorish influence - i have had stong moroccan connections and thatd mean a lot - but i did spend a lot of time around the Albacin and i did visit a moorish tea place twice for tea and kebab sandwich thing and baklavary sort of things. so for the limited tiime i had as i really wanted to see the place i did fairly well.

so thats my input - i like to think i travel fairly intelligently and awarely - and what i pass on might be helpful but not particularly just an ignorant tourist i dont really think by getting in and having paella when its not an Andalucian dish!
but thanks a lot for your inputs too! Granada is great and its particularly great exploring and checking out as much as possible!

angiebabe.

Many thanks indeed for all your advice and info. I think we may well visit that place where you went for the Flamenco.