By Sama Elmahdy
On our trip, we visited three cities in Southern Spain: Cordoba, Sevilla, and Granada. The cities were all so full of history and culture, that I have decided that I want to return. I hope to spend my semester abroad in Seville or Granada. Those cities were just absolutely splendid, with something new around every corner. However, I was most surprised by Granada.
While all the cities were at one time ruled by the Moors, present-day Granada has the most visible Arab influences in public areas. The city has a prominent old Arab quarter called Albayzin, which is best viewed from above in the Alhambra. The Albayzin is made up of narrow dwindling streets and mostly white houses and walls. It was exciting to see this area, and imagine the Arabs that roamed the streets, going about their daily lives.
I didn’t have to stretch my imagination too far. Present-day Granada has a large Muslim population. I was shocked to find that shawarma shops and Moroccan restaurants were common and prevalent throughout the city. On our first night in Granada, we ate at a Moroccan restaurant, where I ordered Harira soup and a beef tagine, which are both typical (and delicious) Moroccan dishes.
I studied abroad in Morocco last summer, and so the Arab influences were a welcome surprise. I saw Arabic on signs around town and heard it in the streets. The Alcaiceria, a large street full of Arab-style shops, was maybe the greatest thing that reminded me of Morocco. The shops reminded me of the souks that I used to walk through on my way home from my Arabic classes in Morocco’s capital of Rabat.
However, it wasn’t just the aesthetics that brought Morocco to mind. It was the general atmosphere that surrounded me. Inside the shops, I was greeted by welcoming Moroccan shopkeepers. When they realized I spoke Arabic, they would get excited and ask me where I was from. I was able to practice my Arabic, especially the Moroccan dialect (which is quite unique), and befriend the shopkeepers while I was at it. They even gave me discounted prices, which I gladly accepted.
I think I loved Granada so much because of the instant familiarity and nostalgia it enticed. However, it wasn’t exactly like Morocco. The presence of cathedrals, chapels and bars throughout the city reminded me I was in an exciting new place–One I can’t wait to return to one day!
