GRANADA - PART 3: EMBRACING THE WINTER SUN IN SIERRA NEVADA
07:50:00
We had planned to go up to Sierra Nevada today, but hadn't bought any bus tickets in advance. So we had to go the Granada Bus Station early to catch the 10:00am bus. (Bare in mind, buses to Sierra Nevada from Granada only operates on these times: 8:00am, 10:00am and 16:00pm). When we reached the bus station, there was a long (and slowww) queue in front of the counter to buy ticket. We queued anxiously as I constantly stared at my watch, showing 10:45am, 10:50am, 10:55am when we finally reached the counter. After we mentioned that we wanted to buy 5 return tickets to Sierra Nevada, she looked at her watch and told us to go to the bus and buy tickets there because we literally have less than 5 minutes before the bus departs. The worse thing is, if we miss this bus, we'll never be able to go and our plan for the day will be totally ruined.
We rushed as fast as we could to the bus platform and thankfully, they have some (not many) spaces left for people like us who haven't got tickets and wanting to buy in the bus. So off we went, winding up the mountainous road. The view got better as we are further up. It was simply amazing, SubhanAllah.
We reached Sierra Nevada after 1-hour bus ride. This is the second time Fizal and I had been to a ski village (the first was in Chamonix, France). It was pretty, but when we arrived, the sky was filled with grey clouds. It was a busy time as skiers were all trying to get on the slopes in the morning. We walked up the mini slopes where children were sledding and beginner skiers and snowboarders were learning. There were so many people! So colorful against the white snow. We hadn't booked any activities, although we were contemplating whether to (attempt to) ski or rent sleds and have fun sledding down the slopes, but in the end decided to just walk around and enjoy the view. Even walking around there and enjoying the view was satisfying enough. We kept on walking uphill until we see less and less people as the slopes ascend steeper. We really just took our time and lots of photos. When everyone couldn't feel their toes anymore, we started to make our way back down, hehe.
Photos can never do justice to the actual view and feeling of when we were actually there, but for memory and keepsake, this'll do. :)
After that, we went around the village to see what was on offer in the town, bought souvenirs and ate our packed kebab that we had brought with us. Unfortunately (or fortunately, maybe?), when we were at the bottom of the slope (around the village area), they clouds started to clear, giving us the perfect blue sky. So the scenery was enhanced with the contrasting bright blue sky against the white mountain, it was surreal. We spent sometime just admiring the town and the view under the winter sun (and bearing the chill breeze). Our bus back into Granada was at 16:00pm, so we waited at the bus stop at 3:30pm.
We had a short rest while in the bus. When we reached Granada, Fizal and I went strolling around Granada city. It is indeed such a beautiful city! A perfect place to get lost! There were beautiful courtyards with fountains in the middle of nowhere, the buildings were very aesthetically pleasing and my favourite would be the small alleys selling souvenir & spices, and there were small cafes and ice cream shops.
Later that night, we explored the night markets where they sell lots of souvenirs of many kinds. It was very pretty and colourful, and not to mention the souvenirs were cheap too!
The next day was our last day in Granada. We spent the morning walking around the neighbourhood / town (our Airbnb was literally in the city centre) and just enjoyed some leisurely walk in a foreign land on a beautiful sunny day. We took the bus to the airport later that afternoon to catch our 17:00pm flight back to London.
Such colourful morning stroll! :)
All in all, I truly did enjoyed our short trip to Spain. Not only because Granada is such a beautiful city historically and culturally, but the fact that I went with my family was another kind of joy and happiness. Alhamdulillah for this blessings and opportunity that we've been given, hopefully there will be more to come in the future, InsyaAllah.
Until then!
We rushed as fast as we could to the bus platform and thankfully, they have some (not many) spaces left for people like us who haven't got tickets and wanting to buy in the bus. So off we went, winding up the mountainous road. The view got better as we are further up. It was simply amazing, SubhanAllah.
We reached Sierra Nevada after 1-hour bus ride. This is the second time Fizal and I had been to a ski village (the first was in Chamonix, France). It was pretty, but when we arrived, the sky was filled with grey clouds. It was a busy time as skiers were all trying to get on the slopes in the morning. We walked up the mini slopes where children were sledding and beginner skiers and snowboarders were learning. There were so many people! So colorful against the white snow. We hadn't booked any activities, although we were contemplating whether to (attempt to) ski or rent sleds and have fun sledding down the slopes, but in the end decided to just walk around and enjoy the view. Even walking around there and enjoying the view was satisfying enough. We kept on walking uphill until we see less and less people as the slopes ascend steeper. We really just took our time and lots of photos. When everyone couldn't feel their toes anymore, we started to make our way back down, hehe.
After that, we went around the village to see what was on offer in the town, bought souvenirs and ate our packed kebab that we had brought with us. Unfortunately (or fortunately, maybe?), when we were at the bottom of the slope (around the village area), they clouds started to clear, giving us the perfect blue sky. So the scenery was enhanced with the contrasting bright blue sky against the white mountain, it was surreal. We spent sometime just admiring the town and the view under the winter sun (and bearing the chill breeze). Our bus back into Granada was at 16:00pm, so we waited at the bus stop at 3:30pm.
We had a short rest while in the bus. When we reached Granada, Fizal and I went strolling around Granada city. It is indeed such a beautiful city! A perfect place to get lost! There were beautiful courtyards with fountains in the middle of nowhere, the buildings were very aesthetically pleasing and my favourite would be the small alleys selling souvenir & spices, and there were small cafes and ice cream shops.
Later that night, we explored the night markets where they sell lots of souvenirs of many kinds. It was very pretty and colourful, and not to mention the souvenirs were cheap too!
The next day was our last day in Granada. We spent the morning walking around the neighbourhood / town (our Airbnb was literally in the city centre) and just enjoyed some leisurely walk in a foreign land on a beautiful sunny day. We took the bus to the airport later that afternoon to catch our 17:00pm flight back to London.
Such colourful morning stroll! :)
All in all, I truly did enjoyed our short trip to Spain. Not only because Granada is such a beautiful city historically and culturally, but the fact that I went with my family was another kind of joy and happiness. Alhamdulillah for this blessings and opportunity that we've been given, hopefully there will be more to come in the future, InsyaAllah.
Until then!
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