I arrived at 4 p.m. weary after three flights beginning from North Carolina at 3 a.m. Innkeeper Maria Crespo greeted me with a huge smile and warm hug. We had never met before. I entered into the sanctuary of a lovely, small B&B. I had stayed here before a few years ago when it was operated under a different name (Casa de los Sabores) by Chef Pilar Cabrera. I loved it then. I love it even more now. Here is why.
Courtyard kitchen and dining area
My room is the one in the corner with the open door. It is pristine and comfortable with a huge bed firm enough to guarantee a good night sleep for me (which I had, thankfully).
The rooms are filled with local art, textiles from Oaxaca, Chiapas and Guadalajara (where Maria’s mother lives), and a sense of comfort that you can only find from home.
There are only 4 sleeping rooms, so there is intimacy. And, this means that space is limited so booking in advance is important. Maria tells me she is now filled most of the time and recommends that people stay a block away at Casa de la Tia Tere that has 20 rooms. I would take a picture of my room, but I have already moved in and it’s not photo worthy at this moment.
I woke up this morning to discover the house cat snuggled at my feet. She had climbed in through the window that opens to the courtyard. Today, I’m meeting Eric, Janet and Dolores for lunch, prepare for our workshop that begins tomorrow night and love being in Oaxaca once more. Especially here, at EDyLS! Calle de Los Libres #205, Centro Historico. WiFi. Great coffee in the morning. A kitty at your feet. What more could one want? 6 blocks from the Zocalo. Good exercise!
Quick Look: The Alhambra, Granada, Spain
Rather than playing catch-up, I’m skipping over the Guggenheim museum and our visit with Brigitte Huet and Ivan in Bilbao for now and jumping into the present: Granada, Spain, where we arrived last night. Just in time for some stunning views of the Alhambra.
We are staying at the Casa Morisca which is in the old Arab quarter, the Albaicin, just beneath the Alhambra. This is what we saw as we emerged from the taxi from the airport.
It’s warm here and will reach over 80 degrees F. today. That’s about 20 degrees hotter than in Bilbao. This is hill country with cobblestone pavements, steep stairways and small curving roads cut into the mountains.
The snow capped Sierra Nevada mountains are within a half hour drive, as is the beach going in the other direction.
For now, we are concentrating on getting better sleep, good food — a la food and views from Mirador Morayma and seeing how my knee holds up!
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Posted in Cultural Commentary, Photography, Travel & Tourism
Tagged Alhambra, dining, Granada, Moors, photography, sleeping, Spain, where to stay