Torc about Roman Settlement

 We are on the way to Cordoba. It is the 12th city of Spain - 3rd in Andalusia.  Today 325,000 people live there. We are going to go large on the pre-711 events today and enjoy the walk into the modern, industrial southern suburbs but first,a station.

The Estacion de Valchillon is now only for cargo, it has no passengers to send anywhere.  Manuel left the note ‘Durum wheat and nile’ - which is confusing.  Ana notes it is a ‘A hiking route begins which at this time of year allows you to see almond trees.’

Back to Cordoba.  The Neanderthals left traces of their presence. A settlement can be traced to the 8th century BC. The Carthaginians did there thing and the Romans took over in 206BC. Things really got going in 169BC when Consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus founded a newer settlement amidst the existing one.    Marcus Didius Falco turned up here in 73AD in Lindsey Davis turned up in ‘A Dying Light in Corduba.’  Should you wish to see some of the Romanish craft you can nip down to the British Museum - where the imaginatively called ‘Cordoba Treasure’, a silver torc, can be observed.

The great Julius Caesar turned up in 46BC. He took against Cordoba, because it was pro-Pompey and so had it sacked and resettled by veteran soldiers. Clearly this was a ‘good thing’ as Senecas [Younger and elder] and Lucan the poet all came from Cordoba. Things moved on and in the early 4th century it became the seat of a Bishop. 

Let us stop as we enter town and enjoy the hospitality of the Cafeteria Las Torres.  Manu was generally happy but had a bad day and went all one star over it.  He said ‘I hate to write this review because I've had breakfast there dozens of times and never had a problem, but today, the young waitress (Patricia) was incredibly rude for no reason. The thing is, when I politely pointed out that the ham she served me was literally pure bacon (which it was), she got defensive and rude, arguing that she likes bacon and isn't a mind reader, and was furious because I didn't call her by name (to avoid being called by name, they have a sign with it on their shirt, like at gas stations). At work, bad moods and personal problems should be left at the door, and you shouldn't treat people who don't deserve it as if they've committed a crime. ‘  I wonder what Patricia’s view was.

Olga was much happier.  ‘I came for breakfast. They have a great variety and the portions are very generous. Everyone is fantastic; you feel right at home, which is really appreciated when you're working. I'll definitely be back. ‘

You know we haven’t been to a firework shop since when I don’t know, La Traca https://www.latraca.es/ offers to fulfill that need.  Desi reckoned ‘Very well-stocked and organized for service; the service was quick and efficient. ‘

That’s it.  Tomorrow we will get Moorish.