This must be one of the most popular WHS in Europe. Even on an early Monday morning in March there were long lines of visitors when I arrived at 8.30. I had to queue with about 300 other people that had been so foolish not to pre-book a ticket. Announcements told us that only 150 tickets were left for the morning, and 750 for the afternoon. When I finally, at 10.10, got my ticket it was for an afternoon visit and with a 16.00-16.30 time slot to enter the Palaces of the Nazarenes.

In hindsight, I was quite happy starting my visit in the afternoon. The sun had warmed up the earth and I could walk around in a short-sleeve shirt and sit outside. The Alhambra complex (castle, palaces) and the Generalife occupy a large area. I had been here before (1991), but I do not remember a thing about that visit. This time I started my tour at the gardens of the Generalife, with its Mediterranean plants and trees and pools.

At the entrance gates for the Nazarene Palaces, we had to queue again, and I found myself just behind the same Austrian couple as this morning when we were buying our tickets. Getting inside is pretty organized though: they let in small groups about every five minutes, so it doesn't feel too crowded. In about every room there are elaborate carvings and mosaics to be admired. Unfortunately, the Court of the Lions is under construction at the moment and its celebrated Fountain of Lions has been taken away for restoration.

After the palaces I strolled around the Alhambra complex once more, visiting the Alcazaba, enjoying the sun, and finally walking back to Granada's city center for dinner in the Albayzin quarter.