The Road from Santiago

  Another day in Cordoba and we will get lost - but then that is quite easy here. We will first mooch into the Museo Julio Romero de Torres, and why not. https://museojulioromero.cordoba.es/   If soulful nudes, wondering why they have to hang on to a bunch of oranges while some chat says she must take her vest off then this is your place. It has lots of work, kind and kitsch, profound and slightly pervy - a lot of it local.  Five days ago Carlos reckoned ‘It's a gem. The paintings are beautiful. And if you like Julio Romero de Torres, you'll love it. From the ticket office to the guides, everyone is super friendly. Greetings to Joaquin, who told us the story of the guitar. ‘  I certainly feel it is worth a visit next time we are in Cordoba. Fancy a bite? La Cazuela de la Espartería is on our route and we can pop in.  http://www.tabernasalinas.com/   Seven hours ago Yannick thought ‘ Typical of Cordoba, all the specialties are fabulously represented. Very f...

We will get lost today and double back on ourselves but, to be honest, who can blame us. Cordoba is a mass of tiny alley ways, with barely existing spaces squeezed in between all the houses. It is glorious and confusing and the confusion is glorious. First we will go to the Salon de Te, which conjures up images of North African sophistication and, maybe just an edge of decadence as opposed to Tea Room, which invokes a wet February in Morecambe, rain lashing down but hope reviving through mugs of steaming brew and a moderately priced bun.  I’m sure Morecambe does decadence too, but of a more homely sort. This halal restaurant has impressed the likes of Evangelos who wrote, four months ago, ‘ We did not only enjoyed the tea but also the food. The chicken with couscous is really nice and also the chicken shawarma. Don’t forget to try the baklava and the chocolates. The staff is really nice. The price of each portion is about 18.5€ (which is a bit expensive for me). ‘ Suha added ‘ We ...

  We are going for a wander round the heart of Cordoba.  The ways are narrow and stuffed with the most glorious tourist  tat and rubbish sellers. First we go to the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos.  If you are going to have a place, make it convenient for the river and the cathedral.  https://cultura.cordoba.es/equipamientos/alcazar-de-los-reyes-cristianos/   A fort was built by the order of Alfonso XI in 1328.  It was over the former gaff of the Umayyad governor, who built over that of the Roman big cheese. It got reworked when gunpowder came along to make things interesting. Ferdinand and Isabella established as a headquarters of the Inquisition and of operations against the remaining Moorish lands in Granada.  Two days ago, Alberto was impressed. ‘ Visited during an evening event with projections and lighting effects in the first half of May. The garden is extremely well-kept and full of various plants and trees, ponds, and fountains. I would ...

  We are going to the Mezquita-Catedral de Cordoba. It is glorious and I don’t think I can do it justice.  I will try.  First, some History. https://mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es/en/ According to tradition - the citation needed of the antiquarian world - a Visigoth church occupied this site, In 785 Abd al-Rahman I ordered the building of a mosque. It was expanded several times over the next few centuries.  A minaret was completed in 958. It had a base measuring 8.5 metres and was 47 metres high. A lot happened. If you want details read this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosque%E2%80%93Cathedral_of_C%C3%B3rdoba In 1236 Cordoba fell to Ferdinand III and the Mosque was converted into a cathedral.  According to Jimenez de Rada, the king took the cathedral bells of Santiago, which had been looted by Al-Mansur, back to Santiago.  Here we get what is stunning about the Mosque.  Here we have a first of pillars. The use of this architecture style, which gifted...