Granada inspires global campaign for new Fortress! (Fri 9)

Upon this day we hereby launch the campaign fund for the building of a Fortress in Quakers Hill. 

It has become abundantly clear to us that every self-respecting town worth its salt ... every town that has some pride in itself ... should have its own fortress. Nothing says "here I am - no one is gonna push us around" like a fortress ... or at least a decent palace. We have visited Athens, Nafplio, Ronda, Mycanae which have each had one! Santorini doesn't have one BUT it is part of a volcano that caused an ice age which brings its own gravitas. Granada has perhaps the queen of fortresses in Alhambra and we have been under its brooding shadow all day as it asserts itself over the region. Quakers Hill until now? ... nothing, nada, nix. The Andersons hereby pledge the first euro! Join with us, brothers and sisters of Quakers Hill, and we shall sit in our Fortress and sneer upon the peasants of Kellyville and wider Sydney. Our time slot to see the awesome Alhambra finally arrives tomorrow morning and shall be all the more valuable as we make notes for the new construction.

Today was great fun as we were joined by our Spanish friends Jenny, Jaume, Marti, Laura, Sonia and Roger. They arrived by fast overnight train at 7:30am and joined us in our apartments which have turned out to be very nice. Aside from Jenny they have all missed school, uni or work to have this holiday - which is their first hol for a while. Lots of catching up as Jenny is Merryn's close high school buddy. Fiona and Meg are similar age to Spanish youth and they have been facebook friends for a few years.

We then wandered the old moorish quarters of Albaicin together. The Moors had the place to themselves from the 8th century until the 15th century during which time they built their aforementioned fortress. The Catholic Spanish kings then threw them out of Southern Spain but knew a good fortress when they saw one and kept on the cleaning staff. We had two goes at tapas over the day which Jaume and Marti have been thoughtfully planning - the second turned out much better than the first (which had included some birds bombing some of the youth).

In the meantime please send any Euros (preferably) or Aussie dollars (if that is all you have) to our address, "care of" Mr Peter Anderson, QH Fortress Local Co-ordinator. Carrots also appreciated.