Job Discussion Forums

[Marcoregano]

I'd be interested to see what people who work/worked there have to say about Granada. I won't be living there but it will be my nearest big city. I've done a few shopping day trips there - mostly just to mega-stores - over the last couple of years. I know it has a lot of history, but my immediate impressions haven't been hugely positive - it seems sprawling and incredibly dusty, and I imagine it must be very hot and 'airless' in summer. Fair or not? How about nightlife, bars and restaurants, etc? Is it a pleasant city for wandering about? Is there an expat community, and if so, where from? Tks.

And here's the song...best sung in a robust baritone

Granada, I'm falling under your spell,
And if you could speak, what a fascinating tale you would tell.
Of an age the world has long forgotten,
Of an age that weaves a silent magic in Granada today.
The dawn in the sky greets the day with a sigh for Granada.
For she can remember the splendor that once was Granada.
It still can be found in the hills all around as I wander along,
Entranced by the beauty before me,
Entranced by a land full of flowers and song.
When day is done and the sun touch the sea in Granada,
I envy the blush of the snow-clad Sierra Nevada,
Soon it will welcome the stars
While a thousand guitars play a soft Carbinera.
Then moonlit Granada will live again,
The glory of yesterday, romantic and gay.
(musical interlude)
And soon it will welcome the stars
While a thousand guitars play a soft Carbinera.
Then moonlit Granada will live again,
The glory of yesterday, romantic, gay Granada.

[Underpantgnome]

I never worked in Granada, but I spent 6 months there in 06 and I'll try to answer your questions as best as possible.

The city is a bit sprawling, but to be honest, I never found much need to go beyond the Corte Ingles/Neptuno area. Between those two areas, there are plenty of bars, restaurants, hole in the wall stores, and tea/hookah shops to entertain. Of course, the Alhambra is right there which is always great place to see. Or you can go past along that road that goes up into the hills/mountains. Found an amazing picnic spot where you can see the entire city with the Alhambra just on your left.

I never thought Granada was very dusty, but then again, I grew up on a farm, so we might have different frames of reference. Although I might take your point if you mean around the Carrefour area. But like I said, I never really went around there.

As for the weather, it was pretty cold in the winter, then got nice, and then by the time I left in June, it was pretty damn hot. But that is going to be the case with virtually any city in the Andalucian desert.

There is a rather large expat community. It's very popular as a student destination for study (the reason I was there), but perhaps the best for older folk. I thought the nightlife was awesome. Mae West and Granada 10 are usually very popular nightclubs in area that I was talking about. Camborio (sp?) is an amazing club on the hill directly across the gap from the Alhambra, which looks absolutely incredible at night. And of course, they are all open very late. On a number of occasions I stumbled out of Mae West at 8 AM. If clubs aren't your thing, there are enough bars (with free tapas!) to keep you busy. There was a nice little wine bar called Moribito (or something to that effect) which had amazing tapas and some good wine. There is at least one Irish bar where a lot of the expats go. I believe it was called Henry's, but I could be wrong. It is very close to the entrance to the Alhambra.

I had a blast in Granada. It was my first experience abroad in Spain, and I really could not have asked for a more positive one. I hope this all helps.

[Marcoregano]

Thanks UPG. Reading your description makes me wish I'd spent time there 20 years ago. When you say "better for older folk" do you mean the city in general? (I'm a rapidly aging 45!) Did you spend time at the university? I'd be interested to learn more about it, as a possible source of work or more likely, a course of some sort.

[Underpantgnome]

Hmm, I think I should have proofread my post better. I actually meant to say its probably "not the best for older folk". With that said, I wasn't exactly looking to hang out with an older crowd at the time, so I could very well be mistaken. However, it seemed to me that most of the expats were students and thus looking to party hard. I'm not sure what your interests are, but if you're looking for a calmer experience, I'd imagine you are better off befriending the locals.

As for the university, I technically never went to the main campus. I studied at the "Centro de Lenguas Modernas", which is a seperate mini-campus of the University of Granada. It was designed specifically for students to learn foreign languages, generally Spanish. They offered a fair range of courses, from modern and medieval literature, to translation and advanced grammar.

I have absolutely no idea about the work situation though. All of my teachers were Spanish, althought most of them had a strong command of English.

I hope I've helped. I realize I left a number of ambiguities in there. The problem is you are going there for different reasons than I did.

[BigGuy]

Dale limosnas, mujer;
Porque en la vida, no hay nada como la pena de ser ciega en Granada.

Give him alms, woman;
because in life there is nothing like the pity of being blind in Granada.