After Morocco, Bridget and I flew back to Madird where she left from the next day.  Later that morning, I skyped with my parents.  I told them about the food poisoning and how I was too weak to do anything.  My parents said “Theresa!  The best cure for not feeling well is to hit the pavement and start walking around.  Drink lots of water and go explore the city.”  That sounded like the last thing I wanted to do, but I was in Madrid, Spain.  I felt as if I owed it to myself to seize the day, gosh darnit.  Hmm. . What can I do that requires little to no energy on my part?  Then inspiration hit.  I went out and booked a seat on a mega double decker bus that tour the city.  I walked to the bus stop and climbed abroad. There was a section of the bus in the very back that was most likely reserved for elderly patrons.  The seats were a bit more comfortable and the last few rows were shaded under a canopy overhang.  The bus was fairly empty, so with my classic “I have no shame because no one knows me in this city” mentality, I trudged to the back of the double decker bus towards the senior center with my gallon size water bottle and dark shades.  I must have looked like a poor soul.  Slumped in my shaded seat, gingerly sipping water and nibbling on generic Ritz crackers I had picked up along the way.   And you know what?  I did feel a bit better.  I was able to see much of the city with not much exertion.

The next day I left and traveled by bus to Granada Spain.  A friend was going to be in Granada after attending a wedding in southern Spain.  We figured we could meet up for a night or two.  On a whim, I decided to book an apartment through the website Airbnb.  I had never used it before but found a cute little apartment with excellent reviews.  I contacted the owner, we negotiated a price, I paid it through the website, and we determine a place to meet when I arrived.  She told me to meet her at 4:30 at square in the Andalucia neighborhood of Granada.   I arrived to the square at 4:25.  I hauled my bags to a tiny, little square and started looking for my host.  I had her name as well as a small picture from her Airbnb profile.  I waited and waited.

4:45-No sign of her
5:00-Still nothing
5:10-Okay I was starting to get a bit worried
5:15-I told myself  I’m not going to really start panicking until 5:30.  That’s when I will really start to worry.
5:20-Oh my gosh. I have been totally taken advantage of. I don’t even know this person. This profile and picture could be fake.  I already paid and it is a total scam. I can’t believe I did this.  Where am I a going to stay tonight? Okay, I will get a cab and ask the driver to go the center of town. I will be able to find a hotel even if I need to pay more than I want to.  My dad’s word rang in my ears “Never let money make you stay in an uncomfortable situation.”
5:30-I  walked to the nearest café with wifi (my phone is essentially useless unless I am connected to a network and wifi can be hard to find.)  I signed onto Airbnb and fired off a very direct email to my “host,” who by that time I was convinced was a scammer in some far away land, “Esther: I’ve been waiting for you in the square for over an hour.  Are you planning on showing up?  Please let me know ASAP.  Theresa.”

After five minutes and no answer, I walked back to the square trying to console myself like I would a student I work with at school.  Take a deep breath. This isn’t a huge problem. We’ll  contact Airbnb and maybe they’ll give me a refund.  The most important thing is to be safe.   As I walk back into the square I hear someone shout “TERESA!” I look up and wouldn’t you know it, there is Esther looking just like her profile picture.  “I have been looking for you,” she tells me “Where have you been?” Um, here in the square with my huge backpack and suitcase looking like a tourist. . where have YOU been,  I thought to myself.  “Ah dios mio! We were just having lunch at that café and I have been looking for you” she explains.  In all honestly, I don’t know how we missed each other. Maybe she was too concerned with her tapas/wine, maybe I was lost in my own thoughts and not looking as hard as I  should have been.  Either way it was a huge relief when we finally connected.  We walked to the apartment and all my worries immediately disappeared.  It was a beautiful little place in a great location. It was located on top of a hill surrounded by restaurants and cafes with all the streets winding around the center of town.

The rest of the weekend was exactly what I needed.  I wasn’t feeling up to doing much other than walk around the city, Skype with friends, catch up on emails and nurse myself back to good health.   This was a perfect place to bunker down and feel at home.

The main attraction in Granada is the Alhambra.  The Alhambra is a huge palace and fortress built in the 11th century.  As with many things in southern Spain it has influences of Christianity and Muslim.  This place is really quite amazing and I am so glad I was able to see it.  A word to the wise: If you are going to Granada Spain and you want to see the Alhambra book your tickets well in advance. The city only let’s a certain amount of visitors in each day.  There are advance sales and also “day of” tickets.   Did I know this?  Nope.  Did I buy a ticket in advance? Of course not.  I didn’t even really know I was going to Granada until a couple of days before I got there.  Why would I think to book tickets to the Alhambra two weeks in advance.  Not having tickets gave me two options.  Option 1: Wake up at 6am, get into line at the Alhambra by 7, wait for the ticket office to open at 8, hope to get a ticket by 9, and return for entrance on the time printed on the ticket (anywhere from 9am-5pm.)  The idea of waking up at 6 when I already felt a bit sick sounded less than ideal.  Option 2: Buy the Granada City Pass, which was more expensive than a solo Alhambra ticket and have access to a guaranteed afternoon pass to visit the palace as well as other museums and cathedrals in the city. Yes, sounds perfect.  Sign me up.  The Alhambra is a feast to the senses, encompassing gardens, a fortified city and palace.  I’m told it is the most visited monument in Spain.

The last night in Granada I met up with my friend Kelsey. I would have loved to have seen her longer,  but unfortunately I was leaving for Sicily the next day.  We had a wonderful time eating, drinking and sharing stories about our travels in Spain.  I was also starting to feel a bit better so it was a nice night to eat some of Granada’s world famous tapas.  If you are ever in Spain, make Granada a stop along your way.  I really loved this town’s energy and eclectic vibe.