Granada, Spain: Gluten-Free Travel Adventures
Zooming past the port of Málaga, we hopped onto a bus bound for Granada, cruising through the Sierra Nevada mountains. It felt like driving through California, only instead of vineyards, the golden hills were draped in olive orchards. Swap those grapevines for olive trees, and you’ve got the picture.
Granada itself is a curious blend of the new and the ancient, making it the perfect backdrop for our pre-Alhambra breakfast at Gran Café Bib Rambla. This wasn’t your run-of-the-mill breakfast—think eggs, sautéed mushrooms, a rainbow of fruit, bacon, and fresh orange juice that could have been plucked right from the trees lining the city streets. This was the kind of fuel that powers a day packed with exploring.
The Alhambra? Absolutely lived up to the hype. Its lush gardens, perched high on a hill, stand in stark contrast to the arid landscape surrounding it—an oasis of history, if you will. Watching kids splash around in the ingeniously designed water features, like water cascading down the handrail of a staircase, was pure joy.
In a continent brimming with churches, cathedrals, and chapels, the Alhambra stands out. It’s not just any palace; it’s a sultan’s palace, a rare gem in Europe and the crown jewel of Islamic architecture, established back in 1238. Queen Isabelle gave Christopher Columbus the green light to begin his explorations at this site. Climbing those steep, narrow stairs to the watchtower was no joke, but the reward—a panoramic view of the city below—made every step worth it. It’s moments like these that remind you why these ancient fortresses were built where they were: to protect and to gaze out over life’s splendors (and dangers) below.
We wrapped up our visit with a wait for the bus at a place called Foster’s Hollywood restaurant, serving up what they claimed to be authentic American cuisine, complete with a gluten-free menu. Now, it’s always a bit of a laugh to see what other countries deem to be authentic American food, which in this case meant burgers and Tex-Mex—though we skipped the Tex-Mex, because honestly, can you really beat San Antonio’s take on it?
Thankfully, gluten in Spain is still “gluten,” but if you need help navigating the dining scene, there are handy resources like https://glutenfreeglobetrotter.com/ or https://wheatlesswanderlust.com/ , which offer translation cards for all your gluten-free needs abroad.
It seems our little culinary detour to “America” inspired my friends because back on the boat, they all indulged in a hot dog, which my friend from Guadalajara topped with jalapeños in true Mexican style. Viva el hot dog and Viva Granada!
