…Europe is intense. I like the cheese. I like the noisy little cars. I like the pastry, the architecture, the museums, the people, the fashion, the weather, the diversity, the pashing (it’s an Aussie word for what Parisians do), the colours, the countryside… I’m not so keen on the dog shit situation…
My time in Europe is getting short.
I have 27 hours before I fly to Australia, and I am determined to get to Granada and see Spain’s most famous Palace.
(Above: the eponymous fountain in the Palace of the Lions.)
Luckily, a pair of charming and well traveled Brits spot me on the roadside and drive me all the way to the edge of Granada. They even know which bus I have to catch to get to the city centre.
I arrive at the Alhambra just in time to get a ticket for the afternoon.
Known as the Palace of the Lions, the Alhambra epitomises the cultural conflict that formed modern Spain. Built gradually over more than 600 years, The Alhambra combines medieval Moorish architecture with renaissance European structures.
The Moorish preoccupation with the arts and gracious living is exemplified by the Palace of the Lions.
The place is huge, beautiful, and utterly overwhelming. I spend four hours walking through it, and it doesn’t seem like enough time.
(The Spanish added plenty of their own buildings and art to the citadel of the Alhambra.)
As night falls, I walk to the edge of town and find a quiet camp site in a field. Europe is cool like that. World heritage site – forty minute walk – camping under a tree in a plowed field.
Tomorrow afternoon I get on a plane, and head down under. But, like the world’s most famous Austrian said, countless times:
“I’ll be back!”
Europe is intense. I like the cheese. I like the noisy little cars. I like the pastry, the architecture, the museums, the people, the fashion, the weather, the diversity, the pashing (it’s an Aussie word for what Parisians do), the colours, the countryside. I love the beaches. Love the weirdness. Really, really love the sense of freedom.
I’m not so keen on the dog shit situation in the parks. Nobody in Europe seems to be picking up their dog’s shit.
A note to the dog owners: the trick is to carry plastic bags. Then you don’t have to step around it all the time. Also, some of us (like me) sleep in parks sometimes and we don’t want to be lying down on that crap. :-)
So many people to thank, and I can’t even remember all of your names! Everywhere I went in Europe I went by thumb, and I found friendly, generous, interesting people everywhere. You showed me your towns, told me your stories, invited me to share your lunch and sleep on your couch…
Gracias! Merci! Good on ya!
All that is great about our species is evident in Europe. Creativity, civility, democracy, compassion, artistry, tolerance, intellectuality, humility and ham.
Two months in Europa and although I fell in love with you, I hardly even feel like I have begun to know you. I will be back.
Next time I’m going to Albania, Slovenia, Romania, Italy, Turkey (I know, but it’s close), Greece, Prague, Warsaw, Berlin, Czech Republic, Tajikistan, Poland, Moscow, Belarus… and of course the home of the Governator, Austria… and that’s just for starters.
If you see me on the side of the road give me a ride! I’m the absurdly tall guy with the Aussie flag on his bag and dog poo on his back!
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