Granada in March Day 1 Arrival

Granada has been a symbol of something for so long that when I finally find myself on the flight from Milan Malpensa to Granada it feels slightly unreal. A place Grand as its name hints, beautiful undoubtedly, mysterious, a place I have almost been afraid of visiting so as not to lose a myth should it not live up to expectations. I'll be 52 this year and one wonders why it took me 35 years to get around to visiting a place I've always wanted to see.

I nap on the plane and then finish off some raisin bread and before long we are landing. We've only got hand luggage and Granada airport is so small that it takes probably six minutes to walk down the steps of the plane, into arrivals and out on the right to where the bus for Granada is waiting. We then wait on the bus for forty-five minutes until the last dawdlers have collected luggage, provisions for the journey into Granada, stray family members who have inexplicably disappeared in an airport smaller than an average supermarket, smoked cigarettes, settled luggage to their satisfaction, discussed with the driver on the ten cent increase in price compared to that on Internet and finally get onto the bus. Buses from Granada to the airport leave at fixed times but from the airport to Granada depart 'after flights arrive', there is a timetable, but it seems to be a little er.... approximate. Apart from that it's an excellent service, it costs just 3€ per person to the centre of Granada and there is a luggage man who checks your luggage is stowed in the correct place according to when you are getting off and helps people at each stop. 

I can't wait to get off at the Cathedral stop and walk and get some fresh air. It's just a short walk to our Airbnb apartment near the Santo Domingo church. 

Here we receive a splendid welcome from Jesus, our host, who is kind, friendly and full of enthusiasm for the task in hand. 

We take advantage of some provisions for merienda and then head for the nearest Mercadona supermarket which is about ten minutes away, near Paseo del Salón. Our first impression of Granada is positive, a clean, light and bright city which is busy but not chaotic in the main streets and quiet but unthreatening in the side streets. It's already spring, with oranges still on the trees but other trees are blossoming.  

As usual, Mercadona provides some basics including baby squid which I fry for supper. It's just getting dusk and is rather cool as we arrive back at the apartment which is warm and snug and we settle in for the night.