Reconquest

June 21 Thursday



In Granada, I experienced a long journey looking for a lavanderia, washateria. It was not a question of if I should wash, it was a must. So we set off at first in a large group of about eight and we walked and walked but found nothing. Krystal, Paul, and I did not give up that easy. we kept walking and asked everyone and anyone who came across us for advise. For about 45 minutes, we circled around the small centro of Granada and decided to go back to the hotel and ask Gary, our tour guide, for directions again on how to get to the lavanderia. So here we go again. The only difference was that was Krystal and I who were navigating the way. We finally arrived to the place, and it was the most expensive washateria I have ever seen even though we were desperate. Some of the other guys from the beginning of the group had found the place and washed with us. We finally finished, even though we missed dinner with the rest of the EF group. We had clean, fresh clothes and ate Pizza Hut in Granada. How great was that!

Chapters 4 and 5 in The Story of Spain explain about the reconquest between the Moors and Christians, and how the Moors had the greatest influence on Andalucia.

Today we had a tour around the Alhambra in Granada before we arrived here in the Costa Del Sol. It really changed my way of thinking about the Moors and who they were as people and about their creativity. The palace was so peaceful and simple. At the same time, it told a story about its history with the distinctive poetry all over the walls that was in Arabic, a beautiful language, yet difficult th understand.