February – Favourite Moments

churros

Deliciously crispy and salty churros drowned in cups of silky smooth chocolate at Café Fútbol. So good it happened twice, two Sundays in a row.

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Walks in Granada right after the rain, when the city smells like wood chips and spiced fruit.

orange-juice

Mercadona trips for orange juice. Something that never loses its magic; the fragrant aroma of freshly squeezed oranges that produce the most succulent juice you’ll ever taste.

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A Sunday afternoon at the Parque de las Ciencias (The Granada Science Park) enjoying all the exhibitions, particularly Journey into the Human Body.

cathedral

The cathedral. The sheer size of it still stops me in my tracks for a few moments each time I pass it. I will never feel accustomed to its intensity.

arriaga2

Dining in the sky, high above the city on the top floor of the Centro Cultural CajaGRANADA.

fontanafontana2A Saturday afternoon at La Fontana, sitting on the terraces in the warm (February!) sunshine, listening to some fantastic performance artists. They drew a huge crowd, all along the Darro river. We ordered hummus, a food that ended up being extra popular this month. I never seemed to get enough of it.

spicesspices-2Spices, teas and other peculiarities perfuming the city streets; adding to Granada’s exceptional ability to awaken every sense.

morningsQuiet moments of early morning coffee and magazine reading at one of my favourite cafes, where the waitress knows my order and I don’t have to say a thing in my sleepy haze.

musselsWhen I made mussels at home, with white wine, garlic, onions and butter, and the challenge of getting through an entire kilo for one person. I did it in three helpings. No ragrets!

bib-ramblaGranada and its beauty, which is everywhere. You can’t take more than a few steps before you happen on something else that makes you stop and admire. And then you wonder why you’re always late. This fountain is at Plaza Bib-Rambla.

valentinesMy beautiful Valentine’s Day roses, that came as a total (and unforgettable) surprise. Picture perfect, especially in the striking morning light.

federicogarcialorcaA tour of Federico Garcia Lorca’s summer home. A truly amazing experience. The house is simply beautiful inside and out. Seeing doodles by Picasso, Dalí and the very desk where Lorca wrote many of his famous works was a surreal moment. Patti Smith has also been there, and has played his piano.

emma-homeFriday night pre-dinner celebrations and champagne. Wearing red accents to complement my roses.

IMG_6039February was definitely the month where I reawakened my croissant addiction. Plenty of Thursday and Friday mornings began in a crescent shaped heaven. The smell of freshly baked croissants was too hard to resist, and I began to seek it out across the city, a new bakery each time. Buttery, flakey chewy croissants – the most decadent way to start the day.

albayzinQuiet, peaceful moments in the Albaicín neighbourhood. Moments from the countless teterías and wall to wall Moorish shops filled with brightly coloured wares and plenty of characters.

arriaga

Crisp white shirts and tablecloths.

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The interior of Granada’s Cathedral, with a beautifully ornate altar and Corinthian columns throughout. My sister, our lovely pal Molly and I did the tour on a Saturday afternoon. A must visit in the city. €5 entry, €3.50 for students.

30sanmatiasmojitomatias30-2An unplanned and very enjoyable Sunday afternoon of mojitos at SanMatías30, a fast favourite in the city. Generously sized and perfectly presented mojitos, 2 for €6 every day until 10pm. Delicious and dangerous. Excellent music too.

atahualpa

The parrilla mixta at Atahualpa. Provolone cheese, a plate of grilled meats, red wine and the best company. Need I say more?

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Reading a few chapters of my book with chirping birds for company at Plaza de la Trinidad.
unnamedTartufo e funghi at La Tagliatella. It doesn’t look like much, but this thin crust, creamy truffle and mushroom delight will change your life. A monthly fix keeps me straight.

coffeelafinca3lafinca2Long film discussions in La Finca over flat whites, sipped cosily in the corner with Karen Dalton on the speakers.

morningviewsMorning strolls and these views for company.

hummus

Iñaki’s excitement when we go for Arabic food. His favourite. We followed this hummus and Arabic bread with tagines. One was deliciously tender lamb, the other beef with dates and walnuts.

bronx-mojitosFullSizeRenderAnother cocktail find. A wonderful night at Bronx, a speakeasy in Realejo-San Matías. We sipped on Sicilian mojitos, infused with basil and martini. Life-changing! Another gem with amazing music to match the mojitos, quirky décor and nods to classic film and film soundtracks.

eveingsgranada

All of a sudden, Granada days and evenings feel very Spring-like.

torobar torobar1

A free tapa at El Patio del Toro that reminded me of the adage, ‘never judge a book by its cover.’ Fried bread toasted with ham, cheese, mustard and a little pesto. I still dream about it every now and then. One of the very best.

tapas2FullSizeRender-2On the subject of tapas – they will never get old. Little surprise delights on every corner. Prawns, mini burgers, tostas,  slivers of jamón. Little bowls of clams fresh from the coast, gazpacho or oozing breaded brie. The list goes on and they’re never boring! There’s always something and somewhere new to try.

teteriaRelaxed Saturday afternoons spent in an Albaicín tetería. The Tetería Nazari offers chachimbas with lots of different flavours and an impressive selection of coffees, teas, milkshakes and Arabic pastries.

alhambraviewsThe most amazing panoramic views of the Alhambra from Mirador de San Nicolas. There always seems to be someone playing Spanish guitar up there which always makes the atmosphere even more magical.  A quiet reflective place above the Albaicín neighbourhood.

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