Day 33. Thursday 10 April.

It was a slow start, with legs not so bad after yesterday’s workout. Caught up with some essential housework, learning some new skills, which included not dropping pegs or clothing, and not falling from the 7th floor window.

Eventually we ventured out to visit Albaicín, which is situated just beneath the Alhambra, and is the oldest neighborhood of Granada.   Googled public transport and were able to catch a big bus from just near our apartment into the area. Wandered the cobblestones & tourist/souvenir shops for a while then caught a little bus – smaller local units (about twenty people, although our bus was often more!) that travelled to the Alhambra and back. We stayed on, just to do the full circuit, noting where we might alight at the next go-around and for 1.60 euro each, was a good ‘tour’. Ended up more or less where we’d started – and being in Spain had Argentinian empanadas for lunch (chorizo for D, spinach for T and an artichoke and shiitake mushrooms to share). 

A short break at the apartment then, having sorted out public transport, we bussed to the theatre – a main line bus, then a little bus again, all on one ticket. Worked beautifully.

The oranges…they are everywhere & fruit just beyond reach…Veronika had explained that they are ornamental really & very bitter (T had tried one last week) & are maintained by councils, mostly for perfume of blossoms & aesthetics. T dreamt of marmalade, but so much sugar would be needed.

We met June, who had been so helpful yesterday in sorting out our booking mix up, thanked her profusely, and were shown to our front row table and seats – starting with the inclusive drink.

The show started, and it was one hour of utter enjoyment, and admiration at the physicality, emotion, dress and grooming of the performers. Two women and one man danced, supported by a guitarist, who also did a solo, and two chanters. Whatever the storyline was, it had drama, passion, joy, despair… and didn’t they sweat it!

Walked home in a balmy evening, marveling at the number of folk out & about (and some probably on their way home) with a relaxed, safe feeling. T had remarked earlier on the absence of any loud or offensive behaviour – that has been the case right from the start. And dogs are a constant feature, (often announcing themselves in undesirable ways). And a little reminder of the real (unreal?) world out there.

Fish bar that Miguel had recommended (free tapas if you buy a drink!) was closed so, ‘we’ve got enough in the fridge’, said T… & so we had! Tapas at home, where we also had enough wine.