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Aug. 5, 2005 In l997, I took a trip around Spain: to Toledo, Cordoba, Madrid, and Granada, going down towards the Sierra Nevada which overlooks Granada; and I traveled beyond down to the Coast de Sole. Farther down I went to the Rock of Gibraltar, where I stayed for a day, ate at one of the pubs there, and climbed to the top of the big rock, and played with the monkeys on the way; and took a boat across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco, Tanger: in Tanger, what an experience, I’ll save that for another day. Broadly speaking, this was perhaps the way the Moors went when they conquered Spain and ruled it for nearly 800-years, but backwards: that is, across the strait and onward to Granada and Cordoba, and every other city in its pathway. But where I want to bring you is to the Alhambra in Granada, which replaced the Capital in Cordoba, by the Moors: 1236 AD. In this fairyland, or Disney Land type ancient atmosphere, you see some of the finest Islamic art in Europe. It symbolizes Islam’s five requirements: prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, almsgivings and belief in the oneness of God. Everywhere, I mean everywhere within this huge fortress type palace, (which covers 35-acres) there are plaster stalactites resembling enormous kaleidoscopic images, exploding outward. There are many towers also. At first you don’t, or I could not picture its hugeness, but once inside you can. Or if you are looking up at it from a distance, you can see its towers and walls. When you walk about one can help but think of water, it is symbolized everywhere, with fountains and rivulets, a large pool as I said before, columns standing like palm trees. In one area 4,400 tiny plaster cells honeycomb the celestial ceiling of the Hall of two sisters; I looked at it for the longest time, until my neck got sore. To be quite frank, I would not have went to Spain just to see the Alhambra, but it was a pleasant surprise being able to walk its halls, and see its architect, its pool, and all its grandeur. ------------ About the author: Mr. Siluk is a world traveler, a lover of the mysteries around the world, and has visit many World Heritage Sites, his most recent being Easter Island, the Galapagos and Mesa Verde. His books can be seen on/at Barns and Noble.com, Amazon.com, Wal-Mart, Abe.com Alibis, Boarders and several other sites and book stores. Many of his books can be purchased through the English Bookdealers. He spends his time between Lima, Peru and St. Paul, Minnesota, and has just finished working on two new books: "The Macabre Poems,” and “Perhaps it’s Love,” and continues to work on "Curse of the Abyss Worm,” a suspenseful mystery, and “Cold Kindness,” a tragic love affair. Visit http://dennissiluk.tripod.com Email: dlsiluk@msn.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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