The Alhambra of Granada, Spain

The Alhambra of Granada, Spain, is a palatial ensemble and one of the major monuments of Islamic architecture (Nasrid period). Al-Hamra, in Arabic, means red, the color that the walls take at sunset. Located on a hill, we find the Moorish palace and the Renaissance palace of Charles V and a church built in the place of a mosque. The Alcazaba (primitive citadel) housed the men of war. The ensemble of the Nasrid palaces is organized in multiple rectangular rooms connected to each other by vestibules arranged around two courtyards: the Patio de los Arrayanes (Myrtle Court) and the Patio de los leones (Court of lions). There are white marble columns with rich filigree ornamentation as well as blue and yellow azulejos. Its gardens, Partal Gardens, are in successive stages separated by stairs and pergolas.

Tips

You will have the best view of Granada from the Alcazaba, fantastic!

Wear comfortable shoes as there is plenty to walk, bring your sunglasses and sun protection.

Ask for tours that pick you up and return you to the hotel every day. It’s worth it because you will be accompanied by a guide who will tell you the rich history of the place.

If you like Arabic handicrafts, you will find shops nearby that will offer you a wide range of items: ottomans, carpets, lamps, frames, teapots, etc.

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, Paris, France

The Galeries Lafayette Haussmann department store are in Paris on the Boulevard Haussmann in the ninth district and belongs to the branch of Galeries Lafayette / Nouvelles Galeries Galeries Lafayette Group. In 1894, the cousins Théophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn opened Galeries Lafayette as a novelty shop and attracted quickly employees offices and small and medium bourgeoisie and after two years time, trade begun to enlarge quietly. In 1912 the new store was inaugurated with the Art Nouveau dome, glass and crowned by ten concrete pillars with its climax located 43 meters above the ground. He counted with 5 floors with balconies, 96 sections of sale, a tea room, a hairdressing salon and a library. It consists of bundles of ten stained glass, enclosed in a metal frame richly carved with floral motifs and it has a terrace where you can see Paris and the Eiffel Tower. The windows are all important to create the urge to buy in customers. Since 1958, the store launches ‘the 3j’ which is a sale at exceptionally low prices for three days that persists to this day. Currently, we find a lot of prestige brands, an area of 3,000 square meters dedicated to the sale of shoes, a large area dedicated to fragrances and beauty products, a large cellar and a whole store that attracts customers from everywhere being Chinese, the first buyers of the world, that’s why there is specialized staff who speaks Cantonese and Mandarin and there’s a section that receives the other Asian visitors with personnel speaking different languages (Thai, Japanese, etc. ). In total there are 5 other stores in the world: Casablanca, Dubai, Berlin, Jakarta and Japan.

Tips

Several tube stations are nearby the galleries: Chaussee d’Antin-Lafayette, Auber and Havre-Caumartin.
Even if you do not like much shopping, a visit is worthwhile to look at the beautiful structure of the building

 

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La Grotta Azzurra restaurant, Taormina, Sicily, Italy

La Grotta Azzurra is a Sicilian restaurant in Taormina specializing in fresh fish and seafood. The restaurant has several tables and an indoor bar and a terrace with tables placed on the stairs (very typical in Taormina). Inside you can see the chef and kitchen staff working in front of you as the kitchen is set back from the counter; you will also find the self service entrees but be careful, ask the prices before not to be surprise as this is paid extra with the plates requested, it is not included with the menu. The restaurant is a bit hidden from the central tourist area because it is on a small alley and it gives it a charming atmosphere. From time to time, you will have a presentation of the musicians who make the tour by the different restaurants of the tourist streets.

Tips

If you want to sit on the terrace it is better to make a reservation as it is always full. If you are with a group, a reservation is also preferable.

If you like pasta and seafood, enjoy it, you are in the ideal place.

Via Bagnoli Croce 2, Taormina, Me, Sicily