When I arrived in Granada, I took the bus to the historical centre.   As I stepped off the bus I was aggressively approached by a woman who thrust a sprig of rosemary into my hand saying it was a gift from one of the saints. She then grabbed my hand and spouted some predictions.   She then demanded that I let her see my other hand.  She spouted some more predictions then demanded money. 

I was a little stunned by her approach and I gave her 2 Euros.  She continued to hang onto me and demanded more so I  gave her another 2 Euros to get her to go away.  She kept hanging on and told me this was not Madrid.  In Granada, she continued, the price is 5 euros per hand.  Are that point I pulled my hand away from her and said no and walked away with her still yelling at me.

Later, both in Granada and in Seville, I continued to see gypsies with sprigs of herbs in their hands approaching tourists.  None that I saw were as aggressive as the one who accosted me.

When I was approached I just shook my head and walked away.   Most would then say something about wishing blessings for me….makes one wonder if they might not mean the opposite….