Granada and Güéjar Sierra, Spain by Tania Kelley

Granada, some say named by invading Arabs in the 8th century, is a university town in Andalusia. It is also the birthplace of the beautiful Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca, who was shot here by the Nationalist Militia in 1936.

Perched above the old town, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, stands the Alhambra. The Alhambra is a series of Palaces, fountains and gardens, built in the 14th century. It’s truly beautiful. The views from here, looking out over Granada, are spectacular.

Food was one of the highlights of my trip to Granada and a day here was never complete without a visit to the local cafeteria for a café con leche and a serve of churros (fried dough). Although the best churros I’ve ever had were after a 20-minute bus ride up into the Sierra Nevada, in a town called Güéjar Sierra. Behind a curtain covering a doorway, to the right of the town square, there is a Churreria. The churros here are amazing. They are made in large coils and are thick and deliciously fresh. Apparently this is an Adalusian variation called porras.

Everything else in Güéjar Sierra was equally amazing. I had the best pureed tomato on a crunchy roll, a typical breakfast, at the local coffee house across the square and an amazing lunch at a restaurant, La Fabriquilla, along the river. A great thing about Spain is the further you get out of the city the better the food gets.

There is a small bar next to the Churraria where you can sit in the afternoon and watch the old men who occupy the square day after day and keep watch over the town. You can head off in any direction for long walks through the mountains and villages. In summer this is beautiful. Chamomile, fennel and other herbs grow wild along the roadside, and you will often pass locals with baskets full of apples or figs that they have collected along the way. You can also swim in the reservoir here in summer, or ski in winter. Güéjar is just a local 1.5 euro bus ride from Granada.

A popular drink in this part of Spain is red wine combined with a particular type of Spanish lemonade. It may not sound appealing but I definitely recommend it. There is no better way to spend a hot summers’ evening in Granada than sitting outdoors at one of the many café’s, sipping this drink and sampling the accompanying food. With every drink you order you also get a plate of tapas! A tradition still kept alive in this part of Andalusia