Cordoba

25/11/16

We had to cut out our planned nights in Cordoba in order to see other places but we still wanted to go so caught an early bus there from Granada and then a late train to Sevilla so we could at least visit for a few hours. Unfortunately Gary is suffering from a bad cold and I left the camera in the locker with the luggage. (Thank goodness for mobile phones.) It was also raining so turned out to be one of those less than ideal travel days you have from time to time.

We walked through Jardines de la Victoria to the city walls and the old gate. After lunch in Plaza Santa Catalina we went to the Mezquita. It was a mosque that has been turned into a cathedral. The terracotta and white striped arches of the old mosque are striking and the niche that points to Mecca is beautifully decorated. There are also some pillars and a mosaic from Roman times. In the middle of the mosque is the Christian church which by comparison is rather ostentatious. Outside is the lovely Patio de los Naranjos, a cobbled courtyard planted with lines of bitter orange trees which smelled lovely even on a wet day. Less lovely was ‘Nazi toilet cleaner woman’ who kept everyone out while she took 25 minutes to clean the two toilets. The place is a contradiction!

We then walked to the Roman bridge and back to the train station to sit and drink coffee until the train came.

It was still raining when we reached Sevilla. Found our accommodation OK but then got totally lost for quite some time trying to find the supermarket and get back with a few supplies. It was also Black Friday, apparently a big shopping sales day after Thanksgiving (more transferring of American culture). The little streets were packed with Sevillian shoppers who are not used to walking with umbrellas. Yep, one of those days.

Patio de los Naranjos

Roman mosaic floor

Roman bridge

Main city gate

Muslim arches in the Mezquita

Christian and Muslim mixed