Been riding on the Chicken buses all day
Arrived in Granada hot and dry
Took to the streets
Looking for a hotel
Charming colonial colored buildings
Boldly painted in splashes
Of red, green and yellow
Line the narrow streets
The red tiled roofs
Overhang the streets
There is an air
Of excitement and energy
The chaotic open air market
Bustles with activity

 

A carved wooden door beckons
An attractive young lady
Greets and invites me in
Tis the Hotel Casa Del Consulado
Of old world charm and warmth
With a room secured
A refreshing shower
The afternoon wearing on
It is time to hit the street
I make my way
To the Granada Central Park

 

Strolling along the bustling street
With one way traffic
An overhanging balcony beckons
As I stood there gazing
I pictured a beautiful young woman
Dressed in her finery
Hair glistening in the evening light
A sparkle of a tear
As a young man below
Serenades with his guitar
Expressing his true love
The blast of a car’s horn
Disturbs my thoughts
I continued along cobblestone streets

The Parque Central materializes
The shady benches and green grass
Beckons a weary traveler
By night a haven for cuddling lovers
Vendors line the streets
Selling their wares and food
Carriages line Parque Central

A cafe beckons to the right
Tables on the terrace
Provide welcome shade
From the mid afternoon sun
Seated at a table
With a cup of cafe
Observing the busy street life
Going on before me

The luminous Cathedral of Granada
Looms to the east
A bright yellow church
Of neoclassical design
Three red roofed domes
Rise to the sky
As I sipped my café
Admiring the beautiful architecture
Of the Granada Cathedral
The sun is descending
The air is cooling

With the evening in full swing
It is time to enjoy
The nightlife of Calle La Calzada
A crowded cobbled street
Lined on both sides
With bars and restaurants

Sitting down to dinner
With the stars overhead
It is a joy to watch
The musicians and dancers
The street vendors hawking
Their various wares table side
A waiter approaches smiling
To offer me a menu
I order Gallopinto with fried plantains
To quench my thirst
While waiting for the meal
I ordered a Toña lager

As I sipped my beer
The sounds of the street
Flowed and ebbed around me
The meal soon arrived
Along with a young vendor
His wares on display
I inquired about a shark tooth necklace
To my delight he produced.
Haggling over the price
We both came to an agreement
I became a proud owner
Of a shark tooth necklace
To wear on my neck

The hour was getting late
It is time to retire
Making my way through
The less crowded streets
I slipped through the entrance
Of Hotel Casa Del Consulado