1994-1997 Athens

 Highlights:

• Hiking Mt. Athos with Costas Abatzidis and Don Booth.

• Road Trip to Peloponese and towns of Corinth, Epidaurus, Sparta and Monemvasia    

• Basketball tournaments and playing with Aires (Greek God of War).

• Poker group trip to Kefalonia July 6-9, 1995.

• CODELS Kennedy and Rogers in August 

• Walking the original route of the Marathon 26 miles in six hours and 15 minutes November 5, 1995.

• Attended the Indian Wells ATP/WTA Tennis Tournament March 8-17 including some tennis lessons from a pro.  Michael Chang won the men's singles and Steffi Graff the women's.  I remember driving back direct to San Francisco in 12 hours.  

• Trips to the island of Spetses and a one day three island cruise to Hydra, Poros and Aegina during the visit of my nephew Bryan in July 1996.  Also, road trip to the cliffs of Meteora and the monasteries with the boys.  The plane he flew from Athens to JFK was the same as TWA flight 800 that took off for Paris and crashed 12 minutes after departure. 

• Jeffrey graduates from elementary school.  

• Cruise to Santorini, Crete and Mykonos with the Chavera's.

• ICASS Conference in London September 22-25, 1996.              

• Weekend ferry trip to Corfu in November 1996.  

• Supporting numerous CODELs and visits by Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke.  

• Transition from FAAS to ICASS and conference in London September 1996.

• Travel to CGFS Charleston for FMO conference in March 17-25, 1997.  

• Vacation in Rome with Jeffrey to Rome and Vatican with church group May 25-31, 1997. 

Above Rome

At Trevi Fountain

At the Vatican for Mass
by Pope John Paul II

       












    

• Hiking Mt. Olympus June 6-8, 1997 Trip to the island of Paros July 4-6, 1997Packout and prepare for transfer to Paris July 14, 1997

Favorite Memories

• We had a group that played poker at least once every two weeks and rotated houses.  Besides DCM Tom Miller,  there was Bill Rooney, Mike McLaughlin and a couple of other embassy staff, Stelios, a local businessman who owned is own pool company, John Priamou and a couple of other expatriates in our group.   The most memorable was a weekend trip to Stelios' house on the island of Kefalonia in June 1996 with our poker group.

• Playing tennis and squash at the Politia Tennis Club and being invited to lunches and dinners at the club on weekends..  Playing against Tom Miller and Nick Smith.  Also, playing squash with Robert Wood and Andreas.  Also, on occasion our Politia club members played against a group of visiting British sailors from their ship docked in Piraeus.  After each tournament we had a fun dinner to celebrate.    

• The Management Counselor, Mike McLaughlin was an avid sportsman.  He had a basketball court constructed on the embassy compound as well as a bar and restaurant named "The Upper Deck".  I headed up a basketball league with different teams within the embassy but was terrible as a referee.  I played with the Management team Aires "God of War" staring Mike and our Voucher Examiner George Hatziioannidis.  I also had a bad experience trying to coach a high school basketball team.  We played softball on the weekends out at the American school on a hard dirt field. 

• Mike left the summer of 1995 and was replaced by Anita Booth.  I was Acting Senior staff and Country Team meetings. 

• Boy scout camping trips with Patrick and other activities like field trips and Pinewood Derby.

• Slouvaki dinners at local restaurants in Politia and Kafissia

One of regular parties to celebrate different holidays and occasions with Evelina, Olga, Irene, Flora, Xenia, and Toni, 

In Paris attending conference and in a bar in the Latin quarter having drinks with colleagues Costas, Litta, Steve Hartwell and Dave Zarisky, my replacement. 

I guess it was meant to be but Steve was actually promoted to the Senior Foreign Service before me however, his name was removed from the promotion list and I was next in line. 

Visit to Stelios' place in Kefalonia for a weekend of fun travelling

around the island, eating and playing poker. 

The Poker group with regulars Stelios, Tom Miller and Bill Rooney.

Prior to walking the Athens Marathon with

Cindy and Rebecca Gonzales. 

I walked the 26 miles in 6 and a half hours.

Medal for Completing the Marathon

Certificate 

Twentuy Years of Government Service

Farewell Gift

1996 Year in Review

 Highlights:

• Trips out of Athens (See also Blog Athens 1994-97)

• Home Leave in the U.S. beginning February 26, 1996.

• Attended the Indian Wells ATP/WTA Tennis Tournament March 8-17 including some tennis lessons from a pro.  Michael Chang won the men's singles and Steffi Graff the women's.  I remember driving back direct to San Francisco in 12 hours.  

• Boy scout camping trips  and Pinewood Derby with Patrick.

• Tennis tournament May 11, 1996.

• ODELS Bereuter, Naa and Roth May/June 1996.

• Jeffrey graduates from elementary school.

• Patrick's field trip to Olympus.

U.S. Events

·         US budget crisis in fourth month (Jan 3).

·         Clinton approves resumption of many government operations (Jan. 6).

·         Bob Dole sweeps primaries (March 5).

·         F.B.I. arrests suspected Unabomber (April 3).

·         Clinton signs line-item veto bill (April 9).

·         President blocks ban on late-term abortions (April 10).

·         ValuJet crashes in Everglades; all 110 aboard killed (May 11).

·         747 airliner crashes in Atlantic off Long Island, N.Y.; all 230 aboard perish (July 17).

·         Congress passes welfare reform bill (Aug. 2); approved by Clinton Aug. 22.

·         Republican convention nominates Bob Dole and Jack Kemp (Aug. 14); Democratic convention   nominates incumbents Clinton and Gore, who win the national election (Nov. 5).

·         Clinton appoints Madeleine Albright as first female US secretary of state (Dec. 5               

World Events:

·         Chechens capture 2,000 Russians (Jan. 9). Chechnya peace treaty signed (May 27).

·         France agrees to end nuclear testing (Jan. 29). Background: nuclear disarmament

·         Britain alarmed by an outbreak of "mad cow" disease (March 20 et seq.).

·         UN tribunal charges war crimes by Bosnian Muslims and Croats (March 22). Nations pledge $1.23 billion in aid to rebuild Bosnia (April 22).

·         South Africa gets new constitution (May 8).

·         Israel elects Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister (May 31).

·         Militant Taliban leaders seize Afghan capital of Kabul (Sept. 27).

·         Iraqis strike at Kurdish enclave (Aug. 31); after warning, US attacks Iraq's southern air defenses (Sept. 2–3).

·         Ethnic violence breaks out in Zairian refugee camps (Oct. 13); Clinton approves plan for UN-   backed relief mission for 1.2 million Hutu refugees starving in eastern Zaire (Nov. 13).

•  Hundreds of thousands return to Rwanda (Nov. 15–18).

Movies:

Best Picture "Braveheart"; Best Actor Nicolas Cage "Leaving Las Vegas"; Best actress Susan Sarandan "Dead Man Walking";  Best supporting actor was Kevin Spacey "The Usual Suspects"; Best supporting actress Mira Sorvino "Mighty Aphrodite".  Director Mel Gibson "Braveheart"

Super Bowl:

Super Bowl XXX was between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.  The Cowboys defeated the Steelers by the score of 27–17.  Both teams entered the game trying to tie the San Francisco 49ers for the record for most Super Bowl wins by a franchise (5). The Cowboys, who posted a 12–4 regular season record, were making their eighth Super Bowl appearance, while the Steelers, who recorded an 11–5 regular season record, were making their fifth appearance. This game was also the fifth rematch between Super Bowl teams. Moreover, it was the third meeting between the two longtime rivals in a Super Bowl (after Super Bowl X and Super Bowl XIII), the most between any two NFL teams.  Dallas became the first team to win three Super Bowls in four years, while Pittsburgh's defeat was their first Super Bowl loss in team history.   Dallas' Larry Brown, a 12th-round draft pick, became the first cornerback to be named Super Bowl MVP by recording two interceptions in the second half, which the Cowboys converted into two touchdowns to prevent a Steelers comeback.  The NBC television broadcast broke the then-record for most watched sporting event ever on American television, and the second-most watched program of all time, trailing only the final episode of M*A*S*H.  The half time show featured Diana Ross who arrived in a helicopter.

World Series:

The 1996 World Series had the Yankees defeat the Braves four games to two.  Yankees relief pitcher John Wetteland was named the World Series Most Valuable Player for saving all four Yankee wins.  The Yankees lost the first two games at home, being outscored by the Braves, 16–1. However, they rebounded to win the next four games, the last three in close fashion, including a dramatic comeback win in Game 4 to tie the series. They became the third team to win a World Series after losing Games 1 and 2 at their home stadium, following the Kansas City Royals in 1985 and the New York Mets in 1986. They also became the first team since the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 to win four consecutive games in a World Series after losing the first two.  Game 5 was the final game to be played at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, as the Braves moved into Turner Field the following season. Atlanta became the only city to host the World Series and the Olympics in the same year and Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium became the only stadium to host baseball in an Olympics and the World Series in the same year.

1995 Year in Review

Highlights:

• See Athens 1994-97 Blog)

U.S. Events

·         Criminal trial of O. J. Simpson opens in California (Jan. 24).

·         Scores killed as terrorist's car bomb blows up block-long Oklahoma City federal building (April 19); Timothy McVeigh, 27, arrested as suspect (April 21); authorities seek second suspect, link right-wing paramilitary groups to bombing (April 22).

·         Los Angeles jury finds O. J. Simpson not guilty of murder charges (Oct. 3).

·         Pope John Paul II visits US on whirlwind tour (Oct. 4-8).

·         Million Man March draws hundreds of thousands of black men to capital (Oct. 16).

World Events:

·         US rescues Mexico's economy with $20-billion aid program (Feb. 21).

·         Russian space station Mir greets first Americans (March 14). US shuttle docks with station (June 27).

·         Nerve gas attack in Tokyo subway kills eight and injures thousands. The Aum Shinrikyo ("Supreme Truth") cult is to blame (March 20). Background: International Terrorism

·         Death toll 2,000 in Rwanda massacre (April 22).

·         Fighting escalates in Bosnia and Croatia (May 1). Warring parties agree on cease-fire (Oct. 5);   sign peace treaty (Dec. 14).

·         France explodes nuclear device in Pacific; wide protests ensue (Sept. 5). Background: nuclear weapons

·         Israelis and Palestinians agree on transferring West Bank to Arabs (Sept. 24). Israeli Prime   Minister Yitzhak Rabin slain by Jewish extremist at peace rally (Nov. 4).

Movies:

Best Picture "Forrest Gump";  Best Actor Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump"; Best actress Jessica Lang "Blue Sky"; Best supporting actor Ed Landau in "Ed Wood"; Best supporting actress Dianne West in "Bullets over Broadway".  Director Robert Zemeckis "Forrest Gump". Music "The Lion King" 

Super Bowl

In Super Bowl XXIX the 49ers defeated the Chargers by the score of 49–26, becoming the first team to win five Super Bowl championships. The game was played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida (now part of the suburb of Miami Gardens, which became a separate city in 2003).  This game is regarded as 49ers quarterback Steve Young's final leap out of the shadow of his predecessor, Joe Montana, who had won four Super Bowls with the 49ers (in 1981, 1984, 1988, and 1989), two with Young as the backup quarterback. With Young at the helm, and a defense consisting of several veteran free agents who joined the team during the previous offseason, San Francisco finished the regular season with a league-best 13–3 record, and led the league in total points scored (505). The Chargers, on the other hand, were regarded as a "Cinderella" team, and advanced to their first Super Bowl after posting an 11–5 regular-season record and overcoming halftime deficits in both of their playoff wins.

This was the first Super Bowl in which both teams scored in all four quarters. The combined aggregate score of 75 points and the ten total touchdowns both remain Super Bowl records. Still, the 49ers controlled most of the game, with Young completing touchdown passes in each of the 49ers' first two drives. The Chargers were able to cut the deficit late in the first quarter, 14–7, on a 13-play, 78-yard drive, but could not slow down San Francisco afterwards. Young was named the Super Bowl MVP, throwing a Super Bowl-record six touchdown passes, and completing 24 out of 36 passes for 325 yards. This was the first Super Bowl of the 1990s to not feature the Buffalo Bills.

World Series

In the 1995 World Series the Braves defeated the Indians in six games to capture their third World Series championship in franchise history (along with 1914 in Boston and 1957 in Milwaukee), making them the first team to win at least one crown in three different cities. This was also Cleveland's first Series appearance in 41 years and marked the resumption of the Fall Classic after the previous year's Series was canceled due to a players' strike. The Series was also remarkable in that five of the six games were won by one run, including the clinching sixth game, a 1–0 combined one-hitter by Tom Glavine (MVP) and Mark Wohlers.   

1994 Year in Review

 Highlights:

• Departure from Morocco, home leave in the U.S. and arrival in Athens early September just in time to close out the fiscal year. 
• Prior to leaving Morocco I visited the south of Spain.  Driving up to Tangier and taking the ferry to Algeciras, Spain.  Visits to Ronda, Granada (The Alhambra) and Costa del Sol including Malaga, Torremolinos and Marbella. (See separate Blog
• Tennis tournament November 5, 1994.  Enjoyed tennis at the American school and Politia Tennis club and squash Politia as well.

Politia Tennis Club

                    

                                                       Dining at the club            

• Numerous CODELS including Shelby in December and Sarbanes in January.

U.S. Events:

·         Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan attacked (Jan. 6); three arrested in attack (Jan. 13).

·         Aldrich Ames, high C.I.A. official, charged with spying for Soviets (Feb. 22).

·         Four convicted in World Trade Center bombing (March 4).

·         Clinton accused of sexual harassment while Governor of Arkansas (May 6).

·         O. J. Simpson arrested in killings of wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and friend, Ronald Goldman   (June 18).

·         US Supreme Court approves limit on abortion protests (June 30).

·         Senate confirms Stephen G. Breyer for Supreme Court (July 29).

·         Major league baseball players strike (Aug. 13).

·         Newt Gingrich named House Speaker (Dec. 5).

World Events:

·         Serbs' heavy weapons pound Sarajevo (Jan. 5-6).  Thousands dead in Rwanda massacre (April 6).

·         South Africa holds first interracial national election (April 29); Nelson Mandela elected   President.

·         Israel signs accord with Palestinians (May 4), peace treaty with Jordan (Oct. 17).

·         IRA declares cease-fire in Northern Ireland (Aug. 31). Ulster Protestants declare cease-fire (Oct. 13).

·         Aristide returns to Haiti (Oct. 4), forms Government with Prime Minister and Cabinet (Nov.   9).

·         US sends forces to Persian Gulf (Oct. 7).

·         Russians attack secessionist Republic of Chechnya (Dec. 11 et seq.).

Movies:

Best Picture "Schindler's List".  Best Actor Tom Hanks "Philadelphia".  Best actress Holly Hunter "The Piano"; Best supporting actor Tommy Lee Jones "The Fugitive"; Best supporting actress Anna Paquin, "The Piano.  Best Director Steven Spielberg "Schlinder's List".  Best Foreign Film "Belle Epoch".  

Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXVIII was between the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills.. The Cowboys defeated the Bills for the second straight year by the score of 30–13, winning their fourth Super Bowl in team history, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers for most Super Bowl wins. This is the only time that the same two teams have met in consecutive Super Bowls. The defending Super Bowl XXVII champion Cowboys finished with a 12–4 regular season record, despite key players missing games due to injuries. The Bills were making their fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance, but still seeking their first title, after also finishing with a 12–4 regular season record, largely through the strength of their no-huddle offense.

After trailing 13–6 at halftime, the Cowboys scored 24 unanswered points in the second half. The Bills had built their lead off of running back Thurman Thomas' 4-yard touchdown run. But just 45 seconds into the third quarter, Thomas was stripped of the ball, and Dallas safety James Washington returned the fumble 46 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. From there, Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, who was named the Super Bowl MVP, largely took over the game. On Dallas' next possession, Smith was handed the ball seven times on an eight-play, 64-yard drive that was capped off with his 15-yard touchdown run. He later scored on a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Overall, Smith had 30 carries for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also catching 4 passes for 26 yards.

World Series

The 1994 World Series was canceled on September 14 of that year due to a strike by the MLB Players Association that started on August 12. It was only the second time in MLB history that a World Series was not played in a given season (the first being in 1904).  This was to have been the first year of a regularly scheduled three-tier playoff system, with the National League and American League divided into three divisions (East, Central, and West) at the start of the 1994 season. (An unscheduled three-tier system was used in 1981 due to the shortening of the season by a mid-season labor dispute.) The new playoff system (involving a wild card team in each league) did not go into effect until the 1995 postseason.

Rabat, Morocco 1990-94

 Highlights:

• Support Trips to Consulate Casablanca, American Legation and VOA Tangier.

• Pulling regular Duty including courier runs to the airport about every six months.

• Awarded the Meritorious award for assisting in the evacuation of embassy non-essential pesonnel and dependents. The State deprtment authoeized the order departure after receiving a credible threat from Hezbollah to detonate a  car bomb on embassy grounds.  

Budget & Fiscal Office Recognized by the NEA Bureau 

• Serving on the Board of the Rabat American School.  Bob Sills, Principal

• August 26, 1993 Jim Woolwine replaced Al Lopez as Management Officer.

• December 7-10, 1993 one of several visits by SECSTATE George Shultz 

• Attended the Annual Marine Ball in November.   

• Occasional support for CODELs and Staff Del visits each year like Shelby, Lantos and Bereuter in January 1994.

• May 2-12, 1994 TDY to Algiers to spell Management Officer, Brian McIntosh.

Favorite Memories:

• Trip north to El Hoceima on the northern edge of the Rif Mountains with Roy Chavera and Steve Taylor.  Sailing from the port on the Mediterranean.  My Mitsubishi Pajero broke down not getting enough gas and Steve was able to fix it by taking a piece of tin from peanut can and placing it inside the carburetor.  

• Trip south with Roy to Zagora and riding camel in the Sahara.    

• Trip to the Todra Gorge via the the Tizi-n-Tichka road connecting Marrakech to Ouarzazate

• March 26 - April4, 1993 Trip to Ouarzazate  and Ait Benahaddou site for many films  including the epic "Lawrence of Arabia", "Gladiator" "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" "The Man Who Would Be King", "The Game of Thrones 2011 series, and many religious films including "Jesus of Nazareth", "The Last Temptation of Chris" and "Kingdom of Heaven".     

• June 12-14, 1993 Trip to Fez, Volubilis and Meknes.  Medina and leather tanneries in Fez.  3rd century ancient roman city of Volubilis.  Meknes and the Bab Mansour huge gate with arches and mosaic tiling and the 17th century Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail with courtyards and fountains.  

• June 20-27, 1993 vacation to Oualidia, Essaouira, Agadir, and Marrakech.

• Vacation to Paris July 16-25, 1993.

• OIG Inspection October 1993.  Inspector Diane Smith wrote me up for having retained funds obligated for curtains for residences.

• November 25-28, 1993 vacation to Tangier and Gibraltar.   

• April 1-9, 1994 family trip to London.

• Acting out different plays at Ambassador Ussery's.

• Weekly poker with the USAID guys:  Jerry Render, Rick Scott, Gene Kull, Joe, Keith

• Embassy softball team playing at American School rivalry with USAID other teams like the Japanese, Hash House Harriers, CG Casablanca.  

• Coaching little league with Marine Detachment Commander.

• Tiger Cubs Boy scout trips with Jeffrey:  4X4 Off-road Rally February 5, 1994; Temara and Bouznika, Camp out May 28, 1994.  Patrick Tai-Kwon-Do lessons Saturday mornings.  

• Patrick's First Communion May 15, 1994.

• Travel to the South of Spain June 24-27, 1994 before leaving Morocco (See separate Blog site)

• Playing tennis at the American club, within walking distance to the Embassy, with Gene Kull, Helena Lopez, Vern and Elaine. 

• Departed Morocco July 9, 1994.

Ouarzazate  and Ait Benahaddou 

The Road south

Me and Roy Chavera on a camel track outside Zagora

Zagora

Todra Gorge

Embassy Softball Team Bart Hoskins, Dwight Rhoades, Chuck Wills, Mike Jahnake

The Ambassador used to host parties to sole mysteries

• Ambassador Ussery was a really nice guy, very approachable who got along well with everyone.  He also went with the group that hiked the Atlas Mountains.  He was from Columbia, South Carolina.  His wife Ann was the former direrctor of Head Start.

• Ambassador Frederick "Freck" Vreeland was the Ambassador to Morocco 1992-93.  His mother was French-American columnist, Diana Vreeland, editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine.  He purchased a 12,000 square foot fortress just outside of Marrakech and, in fact, retired there.  He had some famous guests stay at his mansion like Mick Jagger, King Hassan II.      

•  Marc Ginsberg was the Ambassador from 1994-98. At 44 years of age the first Jewish Ambassador to an Arab country. As a political appointee he had a lot to learn about Department regulations on representation, household staff and allowable expenses. I had an uncomfortable situation with him surrounding the 4th of July celebration in scheduling the singer for the Moroccan national anthem.

Superior Honor Award from CDA Joan Plaisted

Superior Honor Award from
Ambassador Ussery 

 With Bob Sills and CDA Plaisted Dedicating a new 
Addition to the Rabat American School

Tried acting in a couple of plays including 
"A Christmas Carol" as Mr. Scrooge

Promoted to FP-01
(After 6 years pretty good from FP-04)

Congratulations

Tour of Andalucia Southern Spain before leaving Morocco

The Alhambra Granada Spain

Alhambra Granada Spain:
Dawn of the Alhambra

Fierce civil wars ravaged in al-Andalusia during reign of Emir Abdullah ibn-Muhammad (888 to 912 AD).

In one certain battle, rebelling Muladies had crushed the Arabs, who had to seek refuge in humble red-coloured castle (either: Phoenician, Greek or from Roman Spain origins) situated on a hill. The castle's defences provided scant protection for the Arabs. The castle served its purpose but incurred severe damages and was almost forgotten about.

---

---

Location of the Red Castle

The castle was sited on a natural plateau, on Sabikah hill, in Andalucia Spain.


Below that hill, there was a significant Jewish quarter: Jewish refugees who settled from the time of Nebuchadnezzar 586 BC. That Jewish quarter was called the Albayzin, it was a suburb of the city of Gárnata, in the province of Elvira: Medina Elvira was the capital of Granada - until the fall of the Cordovan Caliphate.

Moorish Invasion of Spain

The Albayzin Jews aided the Moors during the invasion of the Iberian peninsula and helped them to take Granada. The Moors took possession of the city: 711 - 713 AD.

---

The Albayzin

The Albayzin grew.
Jewish Samuel ibn-Nahgralla was the Vizier to King Habbus of Granada. Samuel ibn-Nahgralla built himself a palace on the ruins of the red castle. Its plot was that of the Alhambra's Alcazaba.

Overtime the city of Granada evolved around the Albayzin.
From 1055 to 1066 AD, local Muslims grew to resent the Jews. 30th December 1066,, there was a massive revolt instigated by the Berber Muslims against the Jewish community. The mob seized and murdered Joseph ibn-Naggralla by crucifiction (the following vizier after Samuel: Joseph was his son). The castle was smashed to ruins and 4,000 Spanish Jews lost their lives.

The Alcazaba and the Patio de Armas

Do theses names sound familiar?

Yes, the construction of The Alhambra AND Malaga Alcazaba had similar names and were identical in some details, they were built and designed by the same people.

The Alcazaba palace was built several times. Alhambra history is more detailed in Alhambra Granada Spain Palaces

Etymology of Alcazaba (from the Arabic word al-qasba): fortress

Various Etymologies of Granada

• Gárnata, Granada of the Jews: a small Jewish district
• Moorish name: Ilbiria
• Christian name: Elvira
• Roman name: Illiberis
• Greek name: Elibyrge

---

What does "Granada" mean?

Granada in Spanish means: a pomegranate.
After the city of Granada was established as province's capital. The Moors chose the "pomegranate" as a city crest symbol. To this day the pomegranate symbol remains.
Significances of Sacred Geometric patterns islamic art and architecture 1

Pomegranates represented on the entrance paving of Mexuar Palace.

---

Taifa (petty Kingdom) of Granada 1013 to 1091

The Zihrids were a Berber tribe.
After the civil war, of the Cordovan Caliphate and complete destruction of the Cordovan palatine city of Madinat-az-Zahra, the Zirid clan, moved from Cordoba and set up their residence in Granada.

Medina Elvira during the 8th to 11th century was the ancient city of the Cordovan Caliphate (and during the Emirate). It was also destroyed being part of the Cordovan Caliphate. However, Elvira's roots, belong to previous civilizations.
The Christians effaced Elvira completely during the reconquista. Granada's Archaeological and Ethynological museum, has remnants of its existence.
Zawi ben-Ziri, the Zirid clan chief, created an Independent Kingdom - from this point - Granada became capital of the Granada province.

Etymology of the Word Alhambra

Alhambra in Arabic signifies "the red one."

Fortress walls of the Alhambra Granada Spain were constructed with locally-made bricks. The sundried bricks were composed of clay and gravel from the surrounding area. Naturally high iron levels, in the soil-content, cause a red-hue reflection.

The Alhambra Symbolized

Identical to the Madinat az-Zahra, the Alhambra, primarily, glorified Islam, the Sultan and God by means of its spectacular Hispano-Moorish and islamic art and architecture. The Alhambra also represented the power of the Sultan in both religion and political matters. And the Alhambra was "home" to its inhabitants.

Model of the Alhambra Granada Spain
Model in Torre de la Calahorra, Cordoba

The Alhambra Plateau

The Alhambra site is on a singular landscape, carved by a fast-flowing river: the river Darro. The above natural plateau was sheared off from the below Albayzin district by a deep ravine.

The plateau area covers 142,000 m2, sweeping W.N.W. to E.N.E.
View ranges are panoramic, spanning to the heights of the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada, over the city, over the Alpujarras in the south and towards the Antequeran vegas in the west.
There were thirteen watch-towers (until Napoleon's troops blew-up a couple of the watch-towers in 1812 AD, during the war of Independence) and fortified walls protected the Alhambra site, which eventually, overspread the entire plateau.

The Alhambra was a City within a Fortress

Highlights of the Alhambra - Alhambra Granada Palaces Gems

Discover details of the Old Royal Palaces: the Nazrid Palaces the best features of Alhambra's Islamic complex Alhambra-Granada-Spain-1





Detail of Taracea Craftsmanship, Mexuar Palace Alhambra


There are four distinct zones:

• The Alhambra Palaces: Los Palacios Nazaries
• The Alcazaba - or military zone
• The Medina - where the city lay
• The Generalife - the summer palace

The Alhambra park is situated in the Assabica valley sweeping from the south to the west. Moorish Water Gardens, parks and flower areas were generously distributed. Unseen to visitors were vast vegetable gardens and fruit orchards which supplied the Alhambra inhabitants. Excellence in Water Technology, farming and gardening remained a scientific project in Moorish Agriculture.

Places That Require Alhambra Tickets

To gain the most benefit from your visit to the Alhambra, you need at least half-a-day and preferably, a whole day. Don't forget to carry water.