Buckle up, this time we will travel to the heart of Andalusia…

Year ago as an Erasmus student I had a great opportunity to live in this beautiful region for a while. And although it was not my first visit in Spain, Andalusia will always be the most significant for me. What makes it so special? Someone might say that I am biased by the fact that I was living there, and to be fair – they are right. But the truth is that Andalusia is like an image of Spain. It is a land of the sun and home of genuine Spanish culture: flamenco, corrida, pueblos blancos and paella. It is unique connection of Arabic and European influences, perfect climate for relaxation and many breath-taking views.

But first we have to get there, which is neither difficult nor expensive. There are many connecting flights with Andalusia, with Malaga as the cheapest and most available destination. It is a perfect city to start, the capitol of Costa del Sol, birthplace and home of Pablo Ruiz Picasso and a nice warm–up before next surprises. I remember amazing view of the city from Alcazaba, the muslim palace that stands on hill within the city –the harbour with port, the beautiful historical centre with cathedral. I also remember uncommon atmosphere of the Old Town – especially by night…

Andalusia is a lot more than Malaga, so we have to continue the journey. Spain has great communication between cities with the cheaper but comfortable alternative (buses) and more expensive but lightning-quick and luxurious(trains, RENFE). Every choice you made will be good, it really depends only on how much you can spend.

The next obvious stop could be Granada, because it is closest to Malaga. The city has a lot to offer, with magnificent Alhambra to begin with. I can find a way to describe it – it has to be seen with one’s own eyes. All I can say that it is huge and it takes at least five hours to explore it, but it surely lives up to everyone’s expectations. When visiting Granada, you could not miss Albaicín and Sacromonte - districts of city with rare, Arabian-influenced atmosphere. And when you wake up, you can taste a classic andalusian breakfast – baguette with jamón Serrano and tomatoes with juice and coffee.

Next destination will be Sevilla, the capitol of Andalusia. It is a little bit different from other places–people are moving a little bit faster there, you can also feel the atmosphere of the bigger city there. But you also can find traditional andalusian culture there, with monumental architecture like The Cathedral of St. Mary with towering La Giralda, Alcazar with beautiful gardens and Plaza de España, with history of Spain written all over the walls. You could also see La Maestranza, one of the most important bullrings in the world. Wandering around Sevilla, between beautifully decorated tenements is truly magical.

This is the first part of my story about Andalusia, there are so many places to visit… Next time I will write about city that has special place in my heart, Córdoba.