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Visiting The Alhambra in Granada, Spain: Royal palace & gardens of the Moors. Cover of Where Magazine.

where magazine cover, vancouver travel

Where in the world is La Carmina? Before I take you inside Spain’s Alhambra palace, let me share with you a recent milestone. I’m currently the cover girl for Where Magazine Vancouver, Oct/Nov edition!

This travel magazine is found all over British Columbia (such as in hotel lobbies), and contains guides to the best dining, shopping, entertainment and culture in Vancouver.

mister zimi print dress

Where Magazine interviewed me about my work in travel TV and writing. Love what they said in the lead: “Never judge a book by its cover – or a travel blogger by her hair color.” 

(I’m posing in a dress by Mister Zimi, a Bali-based label known for its vivacious prints.)

vancouver travel magazines, blogger

It’s an honor to be profiled by a magazine based in Vancouver, my hometown. In the cover story, I talk about my favorite Goth fashion boutiques, sushi restaurants, and places to relax in the city.

(Hair by Stephanie Hoy of Stratosphere Vancouver, and leggings by Kill Star.)

vancouver fashion blogger, magazine

This blog tends to focus on far-off destinations, at the expense of my own backyard — but there’s so much to see in Vancouver. I should do more shoots and stories here.

Above is an image by Kristin Thorogood, taken in Stanley Park.

granada alhambra tickets, tours

But for the time being, let’s fly away to the Alhambra, the famous fortress of Granada, Spain. 

I wore my Mister Zimi dress here because I knew the pattern would complement the colorful zelig tiles. 

alhambra castle, fortress

Visit Spain sent my film team and me to discover their beautiful country. We started in Barcelona, and used Eurail passes to take the train south to Granada.

As you can see, Granada has a very different vibe. This was the palace city of the Moors, the Medieval Muslims who came into Spain from North Africa. (Or, if you’re a Seinfeld fan as we are, you might call them the Moops!)

exterior moors palace, granada alhambra

The Alhambra was the Moors’ fortress and royal palace. It is a UNESCO world heritage site, and a gem of Islamic architecture. 

If you want to visit the Alhambra, you can’t merely show up and get in. Tickets sell out well in advance, especially if you want to go inside the palace (and not just the gardens). I recommend making a booking at least several weeks in advance. Alhambra tickets are available through Ticketmaster Spain; you must choose an exact date and time slot, and if you miss it, chances are you won’t get to see “the Moops.”

l'alhambra palace gardens

We lined up under the sun (thankfully, I had my floppy hat and sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen). At our appointed time, the staff let us through the main entryway…

spanish moors architecture, tiles

… and into this “pearl set in emeralds,” as the Alhambra was described by Moorish poets. When you see the painted tiles on the walls of the palace, it’s obvious why.

alhambra courtyard, pool

The Alhambra’s design is a mix of Islamic and Western. In one of the many courtyards, I admired the twisting arabesques reliefs and intricate mosaics. 

granada tiles, alhambra walls

We moved from room to room, taking in all the design details.

Court of the Lions alhambra fountain

For me, one of the highlights was the “Court of the Lions.” The long outdoor pavilion has a fountain with twelve lions in a circle, each with a stream of water coming out of his mouth!

muslim islamic architecture spain

Much like a lion, the Alhambra has a calm, grand majesty. I let my imagination run free as I walked through the columns and arches.

arabic carved wall, writing

A close-up on the carved Arabic words, set amidst swirling arabesques.

(My nail art has similar patterns — each stroke is drawn by hand, by Glam Nail Studio in Richmond, BC.)

fortress of moors, spain history

When you leave the fortress, you end up in a labyrinth of gardens. The crisp hedges and flowers reminded me of the Red Queen’s garden in Alice in Wonderland.

I’m very glad my team and I went to see the Alhambra, an enthralling palace rich in history and beauty.

albayzin granada streets

Granada, Andalusia has a very different feeling from Madrid and Barcelona. My team and I stayed in the ancient Albayzin district, which still looks like a scene from a bygone era.

Be prepared to do a lot of uphill walking, on cobblestone streets and steps that are closed off to cars.

El Albayzín, granada spain

Look for charming elements in the streets, such as tiny doors that seem to be made for cute mice! (Designer iPhone case from iPhoria.)

granada spain airbnb, rental house

We always try to stay in unique accommodations, and were overjoyed to find Casa Alef — a 16th century Moorish house. Our host, Rob, lived several doors down and is fluent in English and Spanish. He went out of his way to help us, and gave plenty of local suggestions such as where to eat delicious tapas. 

screen printed shift dress, blue white

It was incredible to stay in a historic house that dates back to the era of the Moors. The owners preserved the traditional design, while renovating the amenities and putting in WiFi.

I looked over the inner courtyard, in my blue and white print dress by Mister Zimi.

moors era house for rent

With three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen and living areas, we had plenty of space to share. One room has a staircase that leads to a roof terrace, with glorious views of the Alhambra.

spanish moors vase, painting

The Moorish vases and paintings added to the atmosphere.

Instead of staying in a generic hotel, I encourage you to rent unique houses such as Casa Alef for a more immersive experience. If you’re looking for accommodations in Granada, I encourage you to contact Rob for a stay!

Restaurante Las Tomasas, Granada

Rob recommended that we have dinner at Restaurante Las Tomasas, rated one the top restaurants in Granada. The view of the Alhambra fortress alone gets 5 stars.

(Address: Carril de San Agustín, 4, 18010 Granada, Spain)

best granada spain restaurant, tapas

We started with wine, and unique tapas. I was all over the sardines, served with soft cheese and tomatoes on bread.

Food is so fresh in Europe… I always eat my fill while I’m on the continent, knowing that it simply isn’t the same anywhere else.

octopus spanish food, fine dining

Las Tomasas restaurant serves the highest quality seafood, lightly prepared with local flavors. We chewed on an octopus tentacle, and I ate every bite of my squid-ink blackened rice. 

granada historic neighborhood

What else is there to see in Granada? Tourists often go to the markets and city center. I preferred wandering around the historic Albaicin neighborhood and looking at all the architectural details.

dream catcher tank top

I can never resist taking a photo with an epic door. I’m wearing a backless halter tank top, from Pretty Attitude Clothing.

 Do you like this look? Shop for dream catcher tees and tanks below:

carmen restaurant, spain

As I walked around, I noticed that my name was everywhere. Why are there so many Carmens in Granada? 

granada spain architecture

I found out that “Carmen” refers to a house with a lush garden. There were plenty of these in Granada…

spanish gardens, flowers

The warm climate encourages cascades of leaves and flowers.

tile balconies, granada spain

Details, details: tiled roofs, shuttered windows, and even star-shaped tiles beneath the balcony ledges.

granada Sacromonte District, caves

Rob suggested that we visit the Sacramonte district, about a 15 minute walk from Casa Alef and the Albayzin.

“There are Roma gypsies living in caves here. It gets weirder, the further you go up,” he said. That was enough to convince us.

Museum of Sacromonte in Granada, gypsy caves

We passed a flamenco dance center, and some sketchy-looking individuals who made their home in the caves.

At the Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte, we learned the history of the people who made these natural caves into homes. 

cave homes, Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte

The Sacramonte Cave Museum had various displays that we could enter, to see how the Roma lived. Can’t believe that entire families could fit into these low-ceiling dwellings.

open back tank top, dream catcher print

Have you heard of Granada, or the Alhambra palace? I hope this travel diary encourages you to visit this lesser-known region of Spain.

(PS: If you like my dream-catcher tank top, shop by clicking below.)

SHARE & COMMENT

31 Comments

  1. Ian
    Posted October 22, 2015 at 9:46 pm | Permalink

    Hah! So you’ll be in every hotel room in Vcvr this month!

  2. K. Lau
    Posted October 22, 2015 at 9:47 pm | Permalink

    The design of the hotel and the patterns are so beautiful!
    It’s nice to see your introduction to Granada, that really make me want to go visit the place!

  3. Princeps
    Posted October 22, 2015 at 9:47 pm | Permalink

    Come to Barcelona ^^

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 24, 2015 at 8:36 pm | Permalink

      I diddd… did you you see the last posts about it?

  4. Ana c
    Posted October 22, 2015 at 9:48 pm | Permalink

    So nice shoot

  5. Will
    Posted October 22, 2015 at 9:48 pm | Permalink

    <3 <3 CONGRATS

  6. Benjamin
    Posted October 22, 2015 at 10:21 pm | Permalink

    I like how you wear different styles and this matches the country in a cool way!

  7. Pilar
    Posted October 22, 2015 at 10:23 pm | Permalink

    bueno
    oxoxox

  8. Queen
    Posted October 22, 2015 at 10:39 pm | Permalink

    Super

  9. Lindworm
    Posted October 24, 2015 at 12:43 am | Permalink

    the print in your dress is most beautiful <3

  10. MileX
    Posted October 24, 2015 at 12:44 am | Permalink

    ♥♥

  11. Elisa
    Posted October 24, 2015 at 12:44 am | Permalink

    Super lovely top

  12. Eurail
    Posted October 24, 2015 at 12:44 am | Permalink

    You Are Top Influencers this week! Have a great weekend :)

  13. Where
    Posted October 24, 2015 at 12:44 am | Permalink

    Great read! Thanks again for being our cover model, @lacarmina.

  14. ACC
    Posted October 24, 2015 at 12:45 am | Permalink

    Super fun

  15. Jaa
    Posted October 26, 2015 at 12:43 am | Permalink

    I think the Dreamcatcher is cool

  16. Lauea
    Posted October 26, 2015 at 12:44 am | Permalink

    Beautiful photos and the food looks delicious.

  17. Joe Misfit
    Posted October 26, 2015 at 9:50 pm | Permalink

    Love the Alhambra, didn’t know about the caves though, very cool :)

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 27, 2015 at 4:57 am | Permalink

      Yes we had no idea either! Was quite the experience.

  18. David
    Posted October 27, 2015 at 4:57 am | Permalink

    Thank You For Sharing That place… Angel.

  19. Cycil
    Posted October 27, 2015 at 4:57 am | Permalink

    I love the black one with the dream catcher ♡♡♡♡

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