Tonight we visited the Alhambra in Granada, one of Andalusia’s two most famous “monuments.”  Built sometime from 1350 to 1390, towards the end of Muslim rule in Spain, Alhambra means “red fortress.” The Alhambra is a place of incredible serenity and celebrates context over content.  It is a palace and fortress composed of dozens of rooms, each one decorated with texture, tracery and stone carvings, and not a single discernible image. I saw it years ago, as do most tourists, in the heat of the day.  This time, we visited at night, and the place was full of mystery.  It is partly dark, partly lit; a play between black and light.  Hidden corners and walls washed by lamp-light.

On our way out (we were sorry to leave, but the kids were totally tired) we passed a wall on a newer part of the palace that was washed in light, and displaying a great play of shadow puppets.  Not often  you see them this large.  And rarely this public.  The show went on for ten minutes.