The Best Things In Life are Free
Buenos! We have arrived in Granada after much plane catching, taxi catching, street running and bus catching. What a day!
There´s one thing I´ve wanted to mention about Spain that I forget to mention. What is up with the Spanish mullet?!?! The haircut is way in. They shave it on the sides, let it grow long on the back and cut the top short and spike it up. Mulleto?
Last night, we were walking back to the hostel from a late dinner (late being normal of course) when we heard some loud singing. We came upon a random (maybe not-so random) outdoor performance (gratis means free!) where these four guys were playing some sort of Catalan folk music plus other stuff. They did everything from polka to flamenco to stuff I did not know. What was great was that Em and many other locals and tourists joined in to dance. And then we participated in what we think is the Sardana dance (according to Rick (Steves) our tour guide). It started with people in a large circle holding hands, doing a dance similar to the one Balki does in Perfect Strangers, and then shuffling to the side. As the dance progresses, the tail grows longer and the head weaves around. By the end we were this very long snake and we were laughingly bumping into one another.
Today, we had a reservation at a special part of the Alhambra called Palacios Nazarios. You have a 30 minute window to get in. Unfortunately, we made a reservation based on our departure time, not arrival time so we didn´t have much time to catch our reservation (once you´re in, you´re good). We jammed but could not make it in time. By the time we picked up our tickets we were already too late but the women told us to run. So we ran, about half a mile (in the end) in 85 degree weather. Not too fun. But they let us in! WOO!!
Tonight we ate dinner at a place Rick recommended. The food was decent and we were enjoying our Tinto de Veranos (like European sangria) when an old guitarrist guy (with buttoned-up shirt, tie, and hair slicked back) took out his guitar and started singing some awesome flamenco (?). He totally rocked the guitar and even did the Michael J Fox in Back to the Future where he plays the guitar behind his head.
Therefore, I have now determined that the best experiences while traveling are — yes, i´m going to say it — free. 
Time to sign out. Emily can´t figure out how to get into our new place. Ciao!
Pedro
May 12 2007 12:38 pm | >8]
May 13th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Can you please come back with a Spanish mullet? I want to feel like I’m in Bakersfield again.
Sounds like everything is going great over there. Glad you are having a great vacation. We await your return!
May 13th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Yup, the mullet is all the rage. i was quite disappointed to see so many spanish guys sporting the mullet. muy feo!