The Alhambra

April 6. So today was the long awaited day.  The day we visited The Alhambra.   The Alhambra was first built as a small fortress in 889 on the remains of Roman fortifications.  It was then mostly ignored until the 13th century when the Moorish emir Mohammed Ben Al-Ahmar of the Emirates of Granada built its current palace and walls.  It was converted into a royal palace in 1333 by Yusuf I Sultan of Granada.  After the Christian Reconquesta in 1492, Ferninand and Isabella made it their Royal Court.  It was here that Christopher Columbus allegedly received royal endorsement for his expedition.  In 1526, Charles V then commissioned a new Renaissance palace.  After centuries of disrepair, Napoleon further destroyed parts of it in retaliation.  Following Napoleon's defeat,  the Alhambra was rediscovered, restored and protected.

It is grand. Spectacular.  So much detail.  While we saw a lot, there is much more for us to explore.  Last night as it got dark and the lights shined on the Alhambra, the kids and I noticed people on the top of the tower near us.  How did they get up there?!  Hmmm.  Perhaps we'll venture back tomorrow.  Or perhaps we'll save it for another time.  We shall see.

Oh, and we concluded the day with a fruit smoothie and Return of the Jedi.  I had seen it once - when I was 11.  I can't believe I forgot [spoiler alert] that Darth Vader died!