The day isn’t really just Granada, but it’s the goal and the focus of the day.
From somewhere after Antequera I ride up and down quiet mountain roads. I the village of Alfarnate I pick up some water and continue onwards on gravel. The day is already getting hot and my legs feel tired. Suddenly as I ride ofer the crest of a hill, the white top of the Sierra Nevada start shining in the distance. I realise how much snow still lies there and that my original plan of going over the top might not work. Later, a quick look at some webcams confirm that there’s just too much snow up there.
In Alhama de Granada I briefly stop and wonder how many places with moorish heritage remain: Alcazaba, Alhama, Alhambra. From here on my legs start to feel better and after the Reservoir of Los Bermejales there’s just one last uphill before the long decent town to Granada. After a late lunch in Agrón, I decide to continue and empty roads bring me to the city quickly. Unexpectedly, I’ve already made it 105 km today. I go shopping and have another break in a park on the city outskirts.
Then I ride in to see the sights. The old city is busy as to be expexted with tourists, shoppers and people just out on a Saturday afternoon. Always a bit stressful with a packed bike, but then things turn for the worse.
As I start making my way towards the Alhambra, the first police barricade blocks my way and I’m channeled into the narrow alleys along with others. Up we go, up some stairs and then the next street is blocked, too. After a series of this, I realise that of all days, I’ve managed to come to Granada on Marathon day. And since this is Spain and the day is hot, the marathon is in the evening.
I spend the next three hours getting out of the maze of one way streets and tiny alleys, half of which are blocked for the event. At least I end up on the hill opposite the Alhambra and get a nice view on the city. As I get onto bigger roads, I ride into traffic chaos. Probably the worst way to see a city. Well, at least the ride here was nice.