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BOURDAIN IN GRANADA
Granada is most famous for three viewpoint we share, one that always col-
things: The Alhambra, the last stronghold ors our travel adventures.
and architectural marvel of the Moors In the Granada show, Bourdain re-
who ruled here for nearly 700 years. The flected on Spain. “Spain is the sort of place
resting place of King Ferdinand and that never really made any sense, anyway. But
Queen Isabella, who funded Columbus’ in the very best possible way. This is the coun-
world-changing voyages. And the tradi- try that gave us the Spanish Inquisition. Also
tion of serving free tapas when you order anarchy. This is where devout Catholicism
a drink. “This is still one of the few places mixes surrealism and modernist cuisine with
in Spain where they're free. All you have to traditional tapas. Christianity and Islam traded
do is keep places and
drinking,” shared space.
Bourdain And the ef-
explained in fects and in-
his program fluences of all
on Granada. those things
Bourdain are right here
visited An- to see.”
dalucia dur- Bour-
ing the dain’s
pageantry- trademark
filled Sem- was to avoid
ana Santa Michelin-
or Holy starred
Week, the restaurants,
week before Easter. Bourdain's tour guide staged presentations, and tourist desti-
was his close friend, cinematographer nations. Instead, he sought out the local
Zach Zamboni. Zach lives in Granada markets, street vendors, and obscure
part-time and had been begging Bourdain restaurants to experience the food and
to visit for a long time. culture enjoyed by locals. Ironically, as he
Besides dining out, Bourdain wandered probably found out, the once off-the-
the streets of some popular neighbor- beaten-path places featured in his pro-
hoods, visited the Alhambra, and took in a grams became tourist destinations be-
Flamenco show in the Moorish Albaicin cause of him. Today, they still draw
neighborhood. For him, learning about Bourdain pilgrims tracing his footsteps
history and culture is the heart of his from around the world – including us.
travel philosophy. Food and drink, he be- “Nighttime in Granada. And it's time to pur-
lieved, and so vividly showed, are win- sue that greatest of Spanish traditions, tapas.
dows into the soul of a place. It's a
106 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2024
