under another sun

Last day in Cordoba old town. We heard the owl again last night. Up and as now traditional, made our way to Salon du Té for our Andalusian Breakfast and good cups of vanilla tea. However not entirely idyllic this morning as there was persistent drilling from workmen who are expanding the place. Back and straight back to the Mezquita and to the wall with the mihrab on the qibla wall. These are new words I've learned, mihrab is the semicircular niche in the wall (the qibla wall) that faces Mecca.   I feel overawed by the this mihrab, which has exercised a strong fascination on me since I first saw it with Lorraine on Tuesday. Having drunk in this and the gorgeous arches either side of it, we wandered about again. I wanted to look more at the Cathedral part. The effect of all the light it contains is incredibly dramatic, and it goes up several stories. The contrast between the facelessness of Islam and the depictions of Jesus, God, Mary, various saints and angels is stark. To me it ...

Below Lorraine in the pool; Lorraine in the flower street; a horse in a square advertising a horses and dancing girls show; Lorraine and I in a selfie on the Roman Bridge; a glimpse into the cathedral gardens planted with orange, cypress and palm trees; other shots outside the Mesquita at night, golden doors and interesting shadows.

Lorraine and I decided to try the hotel breakfast this morning.  It was excellent if a bit pricey, but it was a buffet of cooked breakfasts, and all the coffee you could drink, which turns out to be quite a bit if you put your mind to it. Off today to the mind-blowing experience of the Mezquita. It is a huge mosque, which has, which, after the reconquest of Spain, had a lofty cathedral built inside it, and it became a Christian building. The Cathedral part seems full of bling, and crowded and bright. What you notice in the Cathedral is the faces, and the representations of Christ, Mary and God and so on. My two favourite things there were a painting of the annunciation and the mihrab, which was one of the most spellbinding things I have ever seen in my life. After this excitement, we headed back to the hotel to sit by the pool and chill out, and enjoy a cold beer. In the evening, during our walk I suddenly had the idea of eating pizza, and Lorraine gamely agreed on a pizza hu...