Córdoba

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Cordoba was muy interesante. A very unique city of its own. The (now foot) bridge across the Guadalquivir R. and the tower before crossing are more than 2,000 years old. I don’t think it ever really sunk in. I have absolutely no comprehension of that. 2,000 years… Just as in Sevilla, there are horses and carriages everywhere. The Cathedral tower is slightly less impressive than the one in Sevilla, but the inside more than makes up for that. The Romans were the first to build and so the first layer are columns. The Muslims came next and added an arch and finally the Christians added another. This mosque is I believe the 3rd largest in the world and the only one to not face Mecca. It faces Damascus (in revelry to assistance I think the Muslims gained from that city). The Cathedral portion left me in complete awe. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything quite like it. Ever. The ceilings were so high and detailed. I don’t think my pictures can do it justice.

We walked around the maze of buildings—the streets are very narrow and lack organization because the Arabs didn’t have a set plan in mind and just kind of built around their camps. It’s quite neat. We walked down one of the most famous streets (in the world apparently?)—it has many hanging flower plants along the sides of the buildings and the narrow pathway frames the tower of the cathedral. Muy bonita. We were unleashed to explore the streets on our own for about an hour and a half and we found the 75% off store. Yay! Definitely bought a shawl and it’s pretty cool, some jewelry and castañuelas (the clapper things Flamenco dancers hold in their hands). Carmen keeps going through my head now. Actually, it’s playing somewhere around here and it’d be muy guay (very cool) if I could see it.

I’ve grown accustomed to the chirping of the crosswalks, I am aware of the bike lane and in general more or less don’t get too disoriented—minus yesterday when we thought we were somewhere else but luckily we knew where we were going. I guess I can kind of relate to Christopher Columbus on that one.

If I had to describe this past week through my senses:
Sight – old architecture, relaxed people
Smell – the stench of oranges (but a couple streets they actually smelled halfway decent!)
Hearing – Chirping of crosswalks
Taste – helado!
Touch – the sun is so nice and warm on my shoulders! Even the “cooler” days we’ve had, when I’ve walked into the sun, it feels SO warm.

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Photos

Sunflower fields
They are AMAZING.

Comments

[Michele]

Beautiful!!
The inside of the cathedral is breathtaking!!!! :)

[Sunnyskate]

Cathedral
Oh my gosh it was... I can't even find words to describe it!