granadaforo

The cheapest places I can find are these:

Darro Apartments
http://www.granadainfo.com/darro/index.htm
There is a speacial offer in January and February of
1 free night for stays of over 2 nights plus a discount of 15%
3 nights costs 102 euros which is 34 euros per night.

Santiago Apartments
http://granadainfo.com/santiago/
There is a special offer in January and February of
1 free night for stays of over 2 nights plus a discount of 15%
The price for 2 people is OK but the price for 4 people is very low.
3 nights for 4 people costs 204 euros or 68 euros per night.

Clavel Apartment
http://granadainfo.com/clavel/
144 euros for 3 nights which is 48 euros per night.

The Tales of the Alhambra is a collection of essays and stories about Granada and the Alhambra.

Washington Irving, the author, visited the Alhambra in  the 1830s.

It was through Washington Irving that Granada became well known.

If you are very interested in Granada it is worth reading.

If you prefer you can read it online.

There is a copy here:
http://granadablog.net/tales_of_the_alhambra/index.php?chapter=0

I have noticed that all the souvenir shops sell Tales of the Alhambra by Washington Irving.
Is it worth buying?

Most people spend New Year's Eve having a meal with their family then go out after 12pm to bars and pubs.
You can tell that people have been with their family because many people wear suits. (this must be to keep the mothers happy)

New Year's Eve is quiet in the street until after 12.
Many restaurants are closed and if you want to go to a restaurant it is a good idea to find out beforehand if it is going to be open.

Many bars and restaurants have a Cotillon which has a fixed price and you can drink as much as you like and they also provide food.

The only cotillon I have ever been to was not very good. In my opinion a cotillon is only a good idea if you know lots of people in the bar and you really want to spend the whole evening in one place. It would  probably only be a good deal if you drink enough alcohol to need hospitalization.


At 12pm most people put the TV on and watch the clock in Madrid. In Spain a grape is eaten for each stroke of the clock at 12pm on December 31st. Each grape is supposed to represent one month of the new year)

In Granada several thousand people go to Plaza del Carmen which is the Ayuntamiento Square. (the town council) There are lots of fireworks, cava (Spanish champagne), corks flying, paper hats etc.

After 12pm many people will stay up most of the night partying and probably won't get up until 6pm the next day.

If you don't like heavy drinking and feeling obligated to be merry you may find it a good idea to go to bed at 10pm with a cup of cocoa and a good book.   


On 6th January there is a Christmas parade, the principal characters are the "magic kings" who drive around the city on a float and shower the children and people with sweets and other presents. Some enterprising adults use inverted umbrellas to catch more sweets.

On 2nd January there is celebration of the taking of Granada by the Christians in the Plaza del Carmen.
(Día de la Toma) After over 700 years of moorish rule the Arabs finally surrendered on the 2nd January 1492. If you read the history of the shameful ethnic cleansing, breaking of solemn pacts and general unchristian and barbaric behavior which happened afterwards it is difficult to know why it is a thing that should be celebrated in a triumphal way.

If you are single (especially a single girl)you can go up to the Torre de la Vela in the Alhambra on the 2nd of January and ring the big bell. Apparently it will considerably increase your chances of getting married during the year. If you are staying in the Albayzin I recommend that you go out for the day because the sound of the bell ringing all day can be annoying.

This page may help you understand the Spanish vocabulary of Christmas.
http://lingolex.com/christmas.htm

Greetings,

We are going to be in Granada from December 29 through January 8. 
What are the traditions for Celebrating the New Year ?
Does anyone have recommendations of Venues to be visited during New Years Eve?  Does one need reservations? 

Are there any other events that are going on during the first week of January that give a flavor of the cultural life in Granada?

We are very excited about our upcomming trip and look forward to your suggestions.


   

First of all if you are interested in Spanish and Christmas there is a list of vocabulary here which may help you to understand some of the things going on in Spain at this time of year.
http://lingolex.com/christmas.htm

Unfortunately the 24th of December is possibly the worst night of the whole year for going to a Spanish restaurant.
Spanish people eat together with their family on the evening of the 24th Dec.
Therefore almost all restaurants are closed.

You may find some Morrocan restaurants open but even they may close.
Here is a Morrocan (they don't serve alcohol here)
http://granadainfo.com/arrayanes/index.htm

Chinese restaurants are probably open.
A good chinese restaurant is the Leones
http://granadamap.com/leones_chino/

Make sure that you have bought enough food so that if you can't find
anything open at least you can eat.
Everything will be very quiet in the street between about 8pm and 12
pm on the 24th.

The 25th is different you will find most restaurants open.

To be really Spanish have a look at some of the Belens (bethlehem scenes)

Try some Spanish sweets such as polvorones mantecados and turron

Granadainfo have a page about San Luis apartments where Adelfa is located.

If you click here it will show you all places with 1000 metres of your accommodation
http://granadainfo.com/luis/nearest_places.php

We have booked the Adelfa apartment in the high Albayzin 23/29 December 2011.  We would like to have a Christmas meal on the night of the 24th December and are wondering if you have any suggestions where we could go?  We would like to have something as "Spanish" as possible - perhaps there is a restaurant that provides a Christmas meal?  Or do you have any other suggestions for us to experience a Christmas that is as "Spanish" as possible.  Thank you.

Lots of people ask me about Flamenco not for tourists  in Granada.

The Chien Andalou has a nightly performance.
It is right in the centre of Granada.
Here is the list of the performances until the end of the month.
I got it from granadazoom.com

I don't actually know much about Flamenco but for example Luis de Melchor is an absolutely amazing guitarist
If you like Flamenco don't go on a tourist bus to a lame overpriced Tablao go to the Chien Andalou.

Get location map from here
http://granadamap.com/chien/

November:

Domingo 20: Velada Flamenca con:
Cante: Isabel Benitez
Guitarra: El Nano de Marbella
Baile: Zarmari de Ubrique
Clarinete: Joaquin Sanchez
Entrada: 6€

Lunes 21: Recital Flamenco a cargo de:
El Niño de las Almendras
Cante: Jose Ferrer
Guitarra: Luis de Melchor
Baile: Almudena Romero
Entrada: 6€

Martes 22: Jorge “el pisao” y su Cuadro Flamenco
Cante: David Sorroche
Guitarra: Jorge el Pisao
Baile: Victor Castro
Entrada: 6€

Miercoles 23: KURTULUS FLAMENCO
Cante: El Charras
Guitarra: David Heredia
Percusión: El Puche
Baile: La Caro
Entrada: 6€

Jueves 24: Marcos Palometas y su Cuadro Flamenco
Cante: Fita Heredia
Guitarra: Marcos Palometas
Baile: María Bertos
Entrada: 6€

Viernes 25: Noche Flamenca con El Curro de la Chicuela
Al Cante: El Curro de la Chicuela
Guitarra: Luis de Melchor
Baile: Inma Alvarez
Entrada: 6€

Sabado 26: Recital Flamenco a cargo de:
El Niño de las Almendras
Cante: Jose Ferrer
Guitarra: Luis de Melchor
Baile: Almudena Romero
Entrada: 6€

Domingo 27: KURTULUS FLAMENCO
Cante: El Charras
Guitarra: David Heredia
Percusión: El Puche
Baile: La Caro
Entrada: 6€

Lunes 28: Recital Flamenco a cargo de:
El Niño de las Almendras
Cante: Jose Ferrer
Guitarra: Luis de Melchor
Baile: Almudena Romero
Entrada: 6€

Martes 29: Velada Flamenca a cargo de:
Cante: Cristobal Osorio
Guitarra: Luis de Melchor
Baile: Pilar Fajardo
Entrada: 6€

Miercoles 30: KURTULUS FLAMENCO
Cante: El Charras
Guitarra: David Heredia
Percusión: El Puche
Baile: La Caro
Entrada: 6€

TODAS LAS ACTUACIONES EMPIEZAN A LAS 21:30h aprox. Y LA ENTRADA NO TIENE CONSUMICIÓN.

MUCHAS GRACIAS,
ASOCIACIÓN CULTURAL LE CHIEN ANDALOU.

Info facilitada por: Paco Cruz

Read more: LE CHIEN ANDALOU MES DE NOVIEMBRE 2011 | Granadazoom, Ocio y Cultura en Granada
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

It is a good idea to combine some days in the city of Granada with some sking in the Sierra Nevada.

There are lots of hotels and apartments in the Ski Resort.

A good apartment is the Emir apartments.
They have several different types of apartments from 2 people studios up to big 6 people apartments for families or groups of friends.
There is heating wif and all mod cons

For more info click here

http://granadainfo.com/emir/

I would like to visit Granada in January but also spend some some days Sking in the mountains.

It is possible to rent apartments in the Ski resort itself?