Spain Blog #33: Granada: Hookah and the Rat!

L to R: David, Gary and Bruce doing Hookah

In this blog, we're going to share a funny story of an after dinner dessert and Hookah experience with an uninvited guest!

Our entire group of 9 guys had dinner at a Turkish steak house and walked through the streets of Granada at night, until we found a small place that offered desserts and a Hookah Pipe. Gary was the bravest one, and said he'd try it. A couple of others also joined in. 

WHAT'S A HOOKAH PIPE? A hookah is a water pipe that is used to smoke flavored and sweetened tobacco. Other names for hookah are narghile, argileh, shisha, hubble-bubble, shisha and goza. According to the shop owner, Hookah smokers may feel light-headed and slightly buzzed, or they may just feel relaxed.
  
THE UNINVITED GUEST! The little dessert place was on a high hill in Granada. The door was open and we could see the lamp-lit street from where we were sitting. As you walk in the shop, there were three levels, each descending about 2 feet lower than the previous level (highest at the door) because the shop was built on a down slope. 

Scott, Rob and Tom in Alhambra Palace

  While Gary was doing his Hookah thing, and others were eating dessert, Tom and I noticed that a big rat walked through the door and went into the first room!  There was a young man and woman there, and eventually the woman shrieked because she finally saw the rat, too! 
   The shop owner seemed unfazed, and went over with a broom to shoo the rat back into the streets (to join its brethen apparently). It took about 15 minutes before the shopkeeper gave up because the rat disappeared into that first room (and the young couple didn't stay in that room)! 

NEXT: THE TURKISH BATHS!