Couchsurfing and gypsy's in Granada, South Spain

The bus from Torviscon in the Alpujarra mountains to Granada's city center took 3 hours. When I hopped of the citybus I stood directly in front of the first historical building. It was magnificently shining in the evening sun.. From there I entered deeper into the narrow little cobbled streets of Granada. I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and beauty of the streets. I saw townhouses with balconies, nicely decorated with flowers. Many young people in summer clothes were on their ways through the streets or sitting in the tapaz bars. Little shops were everywhere, like cafés, restaurants, many hair dressers and many more historical buildings, small and big ones. It was half past 8 and still nicely warm and full of life!

I crossed a little square park between two main streets. In the center was a splashy fountain, surrounded by big, lush green trees which had thousands of little birds singing loudly on their branches. They sang so loudly that their singing merged with the noise of the city, transforming it into the sound of a rain forest.
Iagos home was right in the middle of the city center. He had accepted my Couchsurfing request for a full week and I was excited to meet him in person. As he had told me before, two other Couchsurfers from Argentina were staying at his place, too. They were backpackers travelling the world, as well. We had planned to go out for Tapaz at night in a bar, but when I arrived Iago told me that we'd rather cook and eat at home. That suited me well, because I was quite tired from my bus ride.
Piero made a delicious rice dish with onions, salad and salmon. Iago served red wine and home made tomato sauce made by his mom. Everything was really delicious.

After dinner we tried Pieros new water pipe with melon tobacco. All the detoxing effect of one month healthy diet and Yoga practise was gone now, in just one night smoking and drinking alcohol. We had a great evening together and laughed a lot! We talked a mix of Spanish and English and even a little bit French and everyone gave me helpful advice for what to do in Granada. I just love Couchsurfing. It is such a wonderful community that makes the world one caring and sharing family!

The next morning we got up early at 7am to have a Yoga session on the rooftop of the flat. When we started it was still dark night and we were all half asleep. When we finished, it was bright, early morning light and we all smiled at each other happily when we opened our eyes.

 

I left the flat as the last one, because Iago had to go straight to work after our Yoga session and Piero and Meli hat to catch their bus shortly after. I used the time to look up some places in google maps before I left to Albacin. It is located in the northern east of Granada. From there you can see the beginning of the Sierra Nevada mountains and the famous Alhambra castle, a very stunning Muslim building on a hill further east.

The pathway was lovely, along a stream and many little Arabic souvenir shops. I proceeded very slowly because I stopped constantly for photos and shops.

I bought a few little things and realized afterwards that it were all things that I didn't really need. I actually have everything I need! In the last month in the Yoga Teacher Training we had no shops and I never had the feeling that something was missing. But here in this surrounding all the offers gave me the illusion that I needed them. Never mind.

A little bit later I saw a beautiful top of a hill which looked so inviting to climb. So I spontaneously changed my way and decided to climb it. What I didn't know was that I entered the gypsy district of the city.

Soon I noticed the little hollows everywhere, covered with tarps and cloths. Old and ruined furniture was all around, like waste, between steep dry footpaths and cactus plants. Behind one of the tarps a dog heard my steps and started to bark at me. He came out of the hollow towards me. A man shouted at the dog and came out as well. He looked like a homeless person with his ripped clothes, hairy chest, long hair and beard. I said hello, he answered and asked how I was. I replied and asked him the same. A minute later we had introduced ourselves. He was a gypsy and he spoke German because he had once lived in Germany. He was really friendly and communicative and explained to me the easiest way to get to the top of the hill. Then he told me that he had been living in this gypsy village for 7 years already. Since 1,5 years he hasn't left this place and hasn't been to the city anymore. He said he didn't like the city anymore. That made me think. I found it impressive. This guy was much smarter than the most people who are victims of society. Most people, like me when I saw the souvenir shops, believe that they need so many things. This gypsy man had decided to live his life here isolated from society.  That he doesn't need much possession. That he lives happily up here in his hollow in his gypsy village. He might appear poor to most people in his ripped clothes and his improvised home, but maybe it is the opposite. Maybe most people appear poor to him because he has everything he needs, he doesn't have to chase money, success and fancy food and trendy clothes. He knows that he has everything he needs and he is happy with that.
The track up the hill that he pointed out to me was really easy to find, so that I reached the top soon and enjoyed the great view.

For my way back home I chose a different way through the historical and touristic part of Albacin.

In the evening Iago taught me how to make Samorejo. It is similar to Gazpacho, a typical Spanish cold summer soup.

For Gazpacho you blend tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and water with cucumber, red pepper and onion. For Samorejo you blend tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and water with bread! That makes the soup thicker and smooth like a smoothie. :-)

 It was delicious! With boiled organic egg as topping. Yummy!