- A marmot!
Despite the crowds, there was a marmot running around the cottage. - Grandes Jorasses and Mont Blanc
One just cannot have enough of this view. So so majestic. - Grandes Jorasses
From Grandes Jorasses/Pointe Walker (4208 m) to Dent du Géant/Pointe Graham (4013 m). And Aiguille du Grépon (3482 m) on the far right. - Le Lac Blanc
Still quite a lot of snow around the lake. - Alpine chough
- Alpine chough
It is so dark, it almost looks like a crevasse in the ice. - Le Lac Blanc
I was hoping to see a reflection in the white lake... But there is a reason the lake is called white. Oh well. Le Lac Blanc (2352 m). - What a view!
The prominent mountains from the left: Aiguille Verte (4121 m), Grand Dru (3754 m), Grandes Jorasses (4208 m), Dent du Géant (4013 m), Aiguille du Grépon (3482 m), Aiguille de Blaitière (3522 m) and Aiguille du Plan (3673 m). Thanks to Peakvisor. - Flégère
We took the cable car up the Flégère (1877 m) and started our hike to Lac Blanc. With spectacular views: from Grandes Jorasses over to Mont Blanc. - Mont Blanc
What a great view of Mt Blanc (4809 m) and Dôme du Goûter (4304 m). - Aiguille du Midi
Aiguille (3,842 m)as seen from our campsite early in the morning. - Modern times
Modern times in campsites. - Chamonix
The town centre was crowded as the Marathon du Mont Blanc was taking place. And the white mountain was hiding in the clouds. - Grand Hôtel des Alpes, Chamonix
The Grand Hotel in the centre of Chamonix. - Dôme du Goûter
If Mont Blanc is hidden in the clouds, there is always Dôme du Goûter (4304 m) to admire. - The statue of Dr Paccard
The statue of Dr Michel Gabriel Paccard, a Chamonix doctor, who was one of the two mountaineers to first reach the top of Mont Blanc. - Chamonix
Well... it's got character. - Mont Blanc
Mt Blanc as seen from Chamonix. We stayed in Camping de la Mer de Glace and walked to the town centre. - Málaga Cathedral
The Renaissance Cathedral was built between 1528 and 1782. - Roman Theatre
Dating from the 1st and used until the 3rd century, the theatre was discovered in 1951! Parts of the theatre were used to build Alcazaba. - Alcazaba
What lovely patterns! - Patio de la Alberca
Patio de la Alberca (Pool courtyard) in the Nasrid palace. - Alcazaba
Cuartos de Granada - Alcazaba
Reconstructed Nasrid palaces. - Alcazaba
Interesting multifoil arches in the Taifa palace (11th century). - Alcazaba
The fortress was built on the slopes of Gibralfaro from the 11th to the 14th century. Puerta de los Cuartos de Granada. - Alcazaba
I just learned that Alcazaba comes from Al-qasbah. D'oh. - Calle Molina Lario
Now this I like. Although it was still insanely hot, we could walk in shadow. - My favouite statue!
An adorable 5 m tall statue by local artist Javier Calleja is called Heads V2. - Frangipani!
I just love frangipani (plumeria)! - Cathedral gardens
And some wonderful Hawaiian hibiscus. - Cathedral gardens
What a lovely gem, the cathedral gardens. - Málaga Cathedral
Another very heavily decorated church. - Málaga Cathedral
- Málaga Cathedral
The ceiling is interesting, but it gives me this heavy feeling. - Málaga Cathedral
- Málaga Cathedral
The Cathedral tower is 84 m high. The south tower is unfinished, though. - Málaga Cathedral
I like the Renaissance symmetry :-) - Plaza de la Merced
Mimosa trees are full of pink blossoms... ... and green parakeets. Look closely :-) - Spanish art
- Málaga Cathedral
Southern wall of the Cathedral. - Centro Cultural Fundación Unicaja de Málaga
A palace in the Plaza del Obispo in front of the Cathedral. - Iglesia de San Nicolás
Yes, an unusually trippy church ceiling indeed. - Iglesia de San Nicolás
This is one of the strangest churches I've been to. Built in 1525, but the roof was destroyed by fire. So this decoration might be temporary. - Alhambra palace
Alhambra palace from Mirador de San Nicolas. With Sierra Nevada in the background. - Palacio de Dar al-Horra
View from the Palace towards San Cristobal. - Palacio de Dar al-Horra
No, this is not an entrance, but a tiny niche (called a taqa). Probably used to store a vase or a jug of water. - Palacio de Dar al-Horra
View from the Palace towards San Cristobal. - Palacio de Dar al-Horra
Another lovely palace with very few tourists. It was the residence of the sultan's wife, later a convent. - Casa Horno de Oro
A small Nasrid house, with the second floor added in the 16th century. - Granada
View from the El Maristan. the first hospital in Granada. The hospital was built in the 14th and destroyed in the 19th century, now being renovated. These houses could also use a bit of renovation. - El Bañuelo
These 11th century Arab baths are a lovely place to chill on a warm day. - El Bañuelo
These baths are very similar to the Alhambra baths. - El Bañuelo
Lovely baths, but this reminds me of some Star Wars helmet... - Window shopping in Granada
Of course bold dresses need bold shoes... - Alhambra hammam
Every room you enter has more holes in the ceiling. The rooms follow a standard layout: changing room, cold room, hot room, boiler room. - Alhambra hammam
Ceiling in the Alhambra's public hammam, constructed under Muhammad III. - Puerta de la Justicia
This massive entrance surely kept all the enemies out. - Puerta de la Justicia
The southern entrance to Alhambra palace, built in 1348 by Yusuf I. - Beer spa?
Now maybe if you like beer, this is a place for you. But not for me. Nope. - Plaza de la Trinidad
- Window shopping in Granada
Window shopping in Granada is an experience! So many so beautiful and special dresses. I am not used to seeing dresses like that in shops. - Window shopping in Granada
- Granada
The streets look pretty even when the shops and restaurants are closed. - Alcaicería
Super lively during day, super lonely otherwise. This part has been a shopping centre since the 11th century. - Window shopping in Granada
Somehow I can see Louis XIV walking around in such shoes. Ok, maybe the heels are not high enough for him. - Palacio de los Cordova
We had dinner in the palace's gardens :-) With the view of Alhambra at sunset. - Window shopping in Granada
This are some superbly executed fruits, veggies, plants, flowers, birds ... - Window shopping in Granada
Take a look at these merengues! Below are some normal-sized cakes. They must be around 20 cm tall! - Traffic sign
Traffic sign for a campaign against domestic violence. - Palacio de la Madraza
The madrasa was founded in 1349 by Yusuf I, Most of the building (now part of University of Granada) was replaced with a baroque building. These (I think) are the doors of Saints Caecilius and Gregory of Elvira. With pomegranate underneath, the symbol of Granada. - Capilla Real
The Royal Chapel was built in the 16th century (1505-1521) as the burial site for Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand. - Capilla Real
Royal Chapel portal. - Window shopping in Granada
- Window shopping in Granada
This is a very bold dress. - Church of Santa María de la Alhambra
The only way to take pictures without the crowds it so hide them behind the bushes :-) - View from Alhambra
Wonderful view towards Albaicin and Sacromonte. - Patio de Lindaraja
16th century Renaissance-style addition. Originally an open garden, but closed when new buildings were added. - Stucco in Alhambra
Detail of stucco on the wall indicating that the decorations were indeed colourful. - Zellij in Alhambra
More wonderful zellij pattern in the palace. - Another ceiling
Ceiling in one of the side halls, covered in muqarnas. - Ornaments
- Court of the Lions
One of the pavillions in the Court. - Hall of the Abencerrajes
The ceiling in the Hall of Abencerrajes. The decorations are called muqarnas, and in the museum is a very instructive exhibition on how such a ceiling was made. Basically a lot A LOT of tiny pieces (alveoles) put together. - Court of the Lions
The Court was built by Muhammad V around 1380. - Court of the Lions
The wonderful Court was built by Muhammed V between 1362 and 1391. - Court of the Lions
The Lion Fountain that gives the name to the Court. On the rim of the fountain, there's a poem by Ibn Zamrak, describing the beauty of the fountain. - Court of the Myrtles
Court of the Myrtles with the Comares Tower in the background. The name of the Court comes from the myrtle hedges. Built in the 14th century. - More mosaic
Mosaic in Comares Palace, part of the Nasrid Palaces. Begun by Isma'il in the early 13th century and modified by Yusuf I and Muhammad V. - Hall of the Ambassadors
Detail on the Hall walls, part of a larger inscription in Kufic script. One can still see traces of blue colour, as these arabesque and geometric motifs were originally painted with bright colours. - Court of the Myrtles
Patio de los Arrayanes is the center of the Comares Palace. The reflective pool is 34 m long! - Hall of the Ambassadors
Wall decorations in the Salón de los Embajadores, which is the largest room in Alhambra. The inscriptions are Qur'anic verses and poems. - Hall of the Ambassadors
The Nasrid palaces are very crowded. Very crowded indeed. - Mosaic in Nasrid palace
- Zellij in Mexuar
This style of mosaic tilework is called zellij. Charles V was not only King of Spain, but also Holy Roman Emperor, Archduke of Austria, and Lord of the Netherlands. Maybe I missed some titles. Anyway, the double-headed eagle represents the Holy Roman Empire. - Mexuar
Tiles on the wall of the Mexuar Council Hall, which served as the entrance to the Nasrid palace. Plus Ultra was the motto of king Charles V. - Church of Santa María de la Alhambra
The church (1581-1618) was built on an older mosque. - A wolf!
What a wonderful art in Plaza de los Lobos. - Granada Cathedral
The interior of Granada Cathedral. Another very heavy church. - Granada Cathedral
The interior of the Renaissance cathedral. Built between 1523 and (officially) 1704. This place is big.