Granada, Spain

Like something out of a fairytale, the Alhambra sits in her majestic gardens gazing out over the population of Granada. Even in the rain, with soggy ice blocks for feet, the palace compound is one of the most exquisite examples of Arab-Islamic architecture that I have ever seen. Although I must admit that I am quite the sucker for fountained courtyards, endless colourful gardens and intricate designs. And to think that it was abandoned and left for dead for centuries. Granada on the other hand, has a vibey, youthful heart and seems to be the world centre for raucous, costumed pre-wedding parties...? Far from being a tacky touristy destination though, the city maintains her elegance at her noble altitude (738m), framed by the striking, snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains.

 

Rabat, Morocco

Rabat is the colourful, mystical place I hoped it would be. The medina is big enough to get lost in, but small enough to explore in detail. And full of details it is. Getting caught in a storm and huddling under the ancient beams of a little store is more interesting than any movie. It gave me the time to truly experience the colours, designs and character of the place. It also afforded me the opportunity to watch the neighbourhood kids rush off to buy tiny painted chirping chicks for a dirham and cart them home in their pockets or shoeboxes as disposable pets...hmmm. What I really loved about the medina was its timelessness. It is a harmonious blend of traditionally dressed men buying fancy phones with the muezzin howling his call to prayer and motorbikes buzzing through the tiny back alleys. 

 

Gaudì's playground

I like Barcelona's open-mindedness. She doesn’t follow the dress code of other cities. Architectural expression (and indeed most forms of individuality, creativity and general mind-blowing interesting-ness, if you will) has been given a playground of opportunity to produce mud castles and fish scale buildings that defy characterization by any traditional definition. Gaudì must have been in his element.

Córdoba, Spain

Once upon a time I had an incredible history teacher called Mr. Ullman, who inspired his Islamic Studies students with his sheer fascination, knowledge and enthusiasm for the eccentricities left behind on the fluctuating frontlines of where east met west. I spent hours doodling the designs projected in that dark classroom including one particularly poignant image of red, striped double arches that haunted my notes for many months. So when I entered Córdoba’s Mezquita, I unexpectedly stepped back in time into Mr. Ullman’s classroom and saw the very real and mind-blowing interior of the Great Mosque with its misplaced cathedral emerging from the heart of that sacred place. And this strange overlap of cultures, religions and architectural styles is a theme that extends through the narrow curled streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. I floated around the ancient town and its charming Jewish quarter utterly enchanted by the strange mixture of listening to gypsy flamenco and eating ingredients once brought from the Americas in Arab courtyards filled with colourful geraniums, orange trees and Christian shrines.

I would like to acknowledge the patience of my friend, Alessio and thank him for leaving me to get swept up in the inspiration and magic of the city... and take 1000 photographs.