Monday morning. A day of disasters that all ended reasonably well.
Spent 2 frustrating hrs being sent around in endless circles in efforts to become Id,d & registered on the local Airbnb holiday accommodation booking site in preparation for proposed inland trip to Cordoba,Seviilla,Ronda .
A 400-500 km road trip
Soon however we ere wending our way up through the extremely rugged dry sparsely vegetated the high Sierras bounding the coastal strip .These soon gave way to gentler cultivated rolling hills covered in olive grooves & grain crops A very pleasant patchwork scene of various colours .. Soon we were in Co'rdoba . If you wish to be understood by the Spanish. Corrrrrdaba...
Once the largest city of Roman Spain.& for 300 years .Heart of the western Islamic Empire of the Moors.after their conquest in 756..
Under the control of Abda at Rahman 1 a great Mesquita. Mosque.was built completed by his son 10 years later.Supported by 1293 marble columns & many arches.
Parked the Citron and walked through town ,crossing the Guadalquivir river, which runs 100s of miles inland from near Cadiz ,through Sevilla ,to Cordoba & beyond ,& was once navigatable to Cordoba .A centuries old ,restored Roman bridge brought us to the foot of the Mesquita.and the streets of the old Jewish & Moorish quarters .. & old part of town .
With some fine detective work assistance from the rough Guide of Spain" & a very pleasant Matron de Hostal. We very soon acquired a very traditional 3 bedroom apartment at Hostal de Alcazar in the centuries old part of town.
Things were brightening up. The frustrating Airbnb site being ditched forever .
As luck would have it the Festival of Patios was on . With locals opening there homes to allow visitors to view their extravagently decorated Patios.A pleasant evening stroll spent viewing Patios in the old Quarter.
A very topline dinner was had at the Almudama Restaurant in the old town.. Susan and Joanne tackling the local specialty of Tail De El Torro..Some fine vino Tinto ,, And we would maintain , A very fine cultural & language exchange with our very pleasant locally born Moroccan waiter, A good result was achieved by all
Dining topped off by a very fine "Sol de Malagar "A thick ,sweet, extremely fine tasting ,almost port like wine, of Muscat &Pedro Ximenez grape varieties ......Courtesy of Restaurant. Things were definitely brightening up.
Tuesday morning a simple breakfast of tostardardas ,mermalada = jam & coffee con letche at local restaurant. It was of to tackle the mosque.
An extremely interesting beautiful and tastfully decorated building which had been closed _in to a certain extent by following Catholic cathedral builder's.The modification Cleverly done, but seemingly over extravagant in its decoration as if to outdo the original design.
It once must have been an exquisite building . with many openings on all sides leading into an extensive building.
The original Mesquita .built in two parts with additions ,in latter centuries , still retains much of its original beauty .
After spending the morning Mezquiting. it was off a 100kms to the west sth west . Down stream .to the highly recommended city if Sevilla.