Massage? Yes please!

Since las Fallas I’ve once again been busy traveling. Nothing TOO exciting…at least nothing with explosions or fire…but it’s been great for me. After getting back to Madrid after a packed weekend in Valencia, I made my way down to my beloved Andalusia. A few days in Cordoba, another couple in Granada and the remaining in Lucena. I’m extremely fortunate to have friends in so many places in Spain, allowing me to enjoy their company as well as enjoy lots of different surroundings.

Most of this last week plus has been pretty mellow, lying around in the sun on a Spanish terrace, taking part in siestas (which I ADORE), and catching up with friends from last year. There were a few “new” items on my plate such as the Arab baths. I had never been nor had my girlfriends so we made a spa night out of it. Since I’ve never seen anything like Arab baths in the US I’m not quite sure what to compare them too but let’s see if I can explain them…

Google pic, not actually our place

Since Spain had some much influence from the Moors (Muslims) there is still a ton of history that you can see all over Spain and especially in Granada (or most of Andalusia for that matter). These Arab baths are (as I’m told) all from years ago when they were constructed and have been maintained since. When you go inside it’s almost cave like, but not in a cold and dingy way, just that there’s no lighting and the walls are made of rock/stucco material. There are (in the one we went to) 7 different baths you can dip into all varying from hot to cold. The idea is that you’re supposed to start in a one and move to one of a different temp…which is quite shocking to your body when you have just been in hot tub like water and decide to get into what then feels like ice water. Included in the price for chillin in the baths for over an hour you also receive a 15 minute massage. THAT is what I really wanted. And it was well worth it. I’ve been waiting months and months to get a massage and, although I would have preferred more than a 15minutes, I was super grateful I finally got one!

 I think most people use the Arab baths for a romantic evening. In fact I’m sure of it judging from how many couples we “interrupted” when switching pools every 10 minutes. We had a blast though and even got to drink some herbal tea while we were there. It was definitely a great evening activity and we all left relaxed… and ready for another round. But instead we headed to tapas down the street.

Ok so hopefully I’ve done an ok job of explaining the Arab baths to you.

The rest of the weekend was pretty chill although we did fit in a trip to the Alhambra. Here are a few pics from this visit (you can also check out my visit from last year with my parents and Carlos).

And that night was filled with even more fun…wine and Girl Scout cookies! I figured my American friends had been missing out on them so I brought as many as I could with me for a fun surprise. So we indulged…in ALL the cookies (Samoas, thin mints, tagalongs, the shortbread ones AND the lemon ones). And before all that cookie and wine time??? We had a METER of pizza (We underestimated how big a meter of pizza would be and we got exactly what we asked for).

Left one is ours...we joined w/ some other friends

The weekend in Granada with friends was by far my most “adventurous” weekend of the last week and a half but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed ALL of my time in Andalusia with my friends. How much fun you ask? Let me SHOW you...

This was IN the Alhambra...we definitely had the MOST fun

We are the BEST!

 If your curious about Lucena (my pueblo from last year), all is well there. Some of the construction has finished (and moved to different areas), some shops have changed out but other than the hard hit of the economy in Andalusia, everything is as it was when I left. I’ll be spending a few more weeks there towards the end of my travels in Spain, leaving me plenty of time to spend with my Spanish families (who are doing well).