Granada, Spain..

[randissimo]

I'm going to be there February 2nd through the 14th for a classic films festival actually starting Feb 5th - 13th and will be playing a tribute of 18 uniquely arranged tunes from films of the 30's and 40's along with cued scenes on a big screen above and behind us from Bogart films such as Night In Casablanca, Key Largo, African Queen, as well as other known classics like the Thief Of Baghdad. The band, "Retroback Sextet" (and all good jazz players) is guitar, mandolin, acoustic bass, cello, myself on drums & harmonica, and a killin' vocalist from Florence, Italy who's really into Johnny Hartman and Tom Waits..

If you live near Granada or have been there I'd like to get a beforehand idea of what it's like and what you think I should check out while I'm there. Food and restaurants? Climate in February? Places of interest?

[Chalupa]

Gotta be warmer than Michigan

[Big Wheel]

I'm going to be there February 2nd through the 14th for a classic films festival actually starting Feb 5th - 13th and will be playing a tribute of 18 uniquely arranged tunes from films of the 30's and 40's along with cued scenes on a big screen above and behind us from Bogart films such as Night In Casablanca, Key Largo, African Queen, as well as other known classics like the Thief Of Baghdad. The band, "Retroback Sextet" (and all good jazz players) is guitar, mandolin, acoustic bass, cello, myself on drums & harmonica, and a killin' vocalist from Florence, Italy who's really into Johnny Hartman and Tom Waits..

If you live near Granada or have been there I'd like to get a beforehand idea of what it's like and what you think I should check out while I'm there. Food and restaurants? Climate in February? Places of interest?

I was there last April. The city is a hell of a lot of fun but gets absurdly crowded with tourists. You may be lucky and have to deal with fewer crowds in winter.

Weather: I doubt it will be especially warm in February (looks like typical highs are in the upper 50s with lows around freezing). The highest mountains in Spain are on Granada's doorstep and so it can get colder than the coastal cities to the south.

Food: Hit as many tapas bars as you can. Granada is a city with a tradition of one free tapa plate with each drink you order. The tapas in Granada is often non-traditional. There is this Japanese-themed tapas bar as well as a good tapas bar with Brazilian dishes (run by an expat) and a North African one nearby. Granada is a big college town and you'll see a younger crowd at a lot of these places. Beer and wine are really cheap by US standards. Eating in a sit-down restaurant is more expensive.

Sights: everyone goes to the Alhambra. Walking around the Albaicin and Realejo neighborhoods is really pleasant.

If you aren't getting free lodging and need somewhere decent and inexpensive to stay, try the Pension Rodri. It was new last year and an incredible value. I also liked Malaga and Almeria, which are not too far away, but I don't know how much time you'll have to roam around in Spain.

[randissimo]

Thanks for all the info BW.. All expenses are covered by the festival..

[brownie]

You will HAVE to visit the Alhambra! Consider taking at least a full day to visit it. It is huge and one of the most beautiful place in the world.

Other places of interest (there are plenty) include the Capila Real, the Monasterio de San Jeronimo...

And don't skip a visit to the Albaysin area. Granada is not too crowded with tourists in February so it will be a very good time to walk around.

You may even be lucky with the weather!

As for restaurants, just be aware that Spaniards enjoy their meals late in the day. (3PM for lunches and 9PM for dinners). But there are enough very decent places for tapas that will keep you happy and very well fed. No need to try non-spanish places. The vast majority of spanish tapas places are delightful.

[Big Wheel]

No need to try non-spanish places. The vast majority of spanish tapas places are delightful.

Sorry for any confusion I may have caused. I didn't mean to imply that the traditional Spanish tapas bars are bad in Granada - I love those kinds of places (I still fantasize about moving down the street from Almeria's Casa Puga, possibly the best tapas bar on Earth). All I meant was: relative to most of the rest of Andalucia, Granada is an especially cosmopolitan place and there is a whole lot of experimentation going on in tapas there, much of which manages to be very tasty. So if you're going to Granada for two weeks, after you've taken a few days to familiarize yourself with the basic Spanish tapas, you really owe it to yourself to try some of the funkier stuff too to see how various people are putting a more modern twist on things.

Edited January 18, 2010 by Big Wheel

[Aggie87]

Where are you flying in to? Malaga probably is the closest decent sized airport. The drive up the coast from Malaga to Motril, then inland to Granada is a nice one. As mentioned, spend some time at the Alhambra, it's a beautiful mix of Islamic and Christian influences.

And try some paella somewhere - it's wonderful!

[A Lark Ascending]

You must visit the Alhambra, especially the gardens (not sure what will be there in February). Best to pre-book - you can do that online.

The area around the main square is full of reasonable restaurants; you should be spoilt for choice.

I got hooked on Gazpacho - cold tomato soup (with much more!). Might not be in season.

[Big Wheel]

A couple words of caution on the paella. Paella is eaten in southern Spain, but it is more of an eastern Spain (Valencia) thing. If you do see paella offered, ask if it is being made to order. A lot of places will just reheat old paella. The rule I heard is that if it takes less than 30-45 minutes for your paella to come, they aren't making it fresh.

To be honest I think many of the more informal eating places cut some corners on the cooked food - I made the mistake of ordering octopus in a bar with my glass of wine, and then watched the waiter pull it out of the microwave behind the bar 5 minutes later. It helps to have an idea beforehand of which places have good reputations.

[randissimo]

A couple words of caution on the paella. Paella is eaten in southern Spain, but it is more of an eastern Spain (Valencia) thing. If you do see paella offered, ask if it is being made to order. A lot of places will just reheat old paella. The rule I heard is that if it takes less than 30-45 minutes for your paella to come, they aren't making it fresh.

To be honest I think many of the more informal eating places cut some corners on the cooked food - I made the mistake of ordering octopus in a bar with my glass of wine, and then watched the waiter pull it out of the microwave behind the bar 5 minutes later. It helps to have an idea beforehand of which places have good reputations.

Most likely will be dining with the production folks and almost all locals and of course the band mates.. Plan to wander a little by myself.. What's the crime situation there? Pick pockets and scammers a problem?

[Big Wheel]

A couple words of caution on the paella. Paella is eaten in southern Spain, but it is more of an eastern Spain (Valencia) thing. If you do see paella offered, ask if it is being made to order. A lot of places will just reheat old paella. The rule I heard is that if it takes less than 30-45 minutes for your paella to come, they aren't making it fresh.

To be honest I think many of the more informal eating places cut some corners on the cooked food - I made the mistake of ordering octopus in a bar with my glass of wine, and then watched the waiter pull it out of the microwave behind the bar 5 minutes later. It helps to have an idea beforehand of which places have good reputations.

Most likely will be dining with the production folks and almost all locals and of course the band mates.. Plan to wander a little by myself.. What's the crime situation there? Pick pockets and scammers a problem?

The Lonely Planet guide did say that there have been some muggings of tourists in the Albaicin and also the Sacromonte neighborhood near the edge of town. I didn't really feel unsafe, but those narrow streets probably get a little spooky at night. I would keep an eye on your wallet as a general rule...my cousin once caught a pickpocket red-handed in Spain, but that was in Barcelona.

[A Lark Ascending]

And watch out for the Inquisition.

Remember, no-one expects...