Pounding the Pavement in Córdoba

One of my all-time favorite things to do during my time in Spain was to just wander the streets of Córdoba at night. The town is filled to the brim with tapas bars and every single one of them offer some of the best dishes of food I've eaten in a while. Another highlight of the trip was the Festival that was going on while we were here.

We went to this festival two nights in a row and it was a whole new experience for me. The festival grounds were filled to the brim with people dancing, singing, and enjoying themselves. The night was lit by tons of different attractions that were at the festival and the sounds of the festival was never far from where you were.

The festival is something I'm so grateful to experience, as the food was great, the people were kind, and the town felt lively. There was no shortage of shops either, with many local merchants coming out and selling their products, which ranged from instruments to jewelry. If you are able to come to Spain during the festival, I would highly recommend it, as it's not something you want to miss out on.

Alhambra Palace

Spain is no stranger to beauty and the Alhambra Palace in Granada is not one to be left out. This incredible palace was built in the 9th century by the Romans. It was mostly forgotten until the Muslims took control of it during the 14th century, converting it into the beautiful palace that it is today.

The most impressive parts of the palace, in my opinion, had to be the gardens in Generalife. Attempting to create a paradise on earth, Muslims would plant a huge variety of flowers and fruit trees. Still being maintained to this day, the gardens of the Alhambra Palace are a sight to see, as they are filled with such color and life.

The Alhambra also offered an amazing view of Granada below, as you can see the town unfold in front of you. The skies were clear, the mountains in the background and the white buildings below all made for an amazing experience that I wouldn't trade for the world. 

The Medina Azahara

One of our first excursions, while we were in Spain, was our visit to the Medina Azahara. While we made our way through the ancient city, I listened to what our tour guide had to say about our trip and found that my interest had been piqued in the cities architecture and landscape.

While we were walking through this city, our tour guide explained that the Medina Azahara was set up in such a way so that each visitor would enter the city in a different way. The city was littered with hidden passageways, alternate routes, and checkpoint rooms, making an invasion of the city incredibly difficult. Along with the slew of different passages, the architecture was gorgeous.

The arches that were left in the city used the horseshoe design, which was a result of Muslim influences. These arches offered practical support, not to mention adding a sense of harmony to the design of the city. The view from the city was truly something incredible as well. Since the city was so high up you had a sprawling view of the Spanish landscape, which went on for miles. If you ever get the chance to visit Spain, I really recommend putting the Medina Azahra on your to-do list!