| 13 September - A (relatively)
short train trip this morning brought us to Córdoba, which was once the most
important Moorish city in Spain, and the most splendid city in Europe in the 10th century. |
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| Córdoba 12/9/97 |
Córdoba
13/9/97 |
| Córdoba is particularly famous today for its
8th century mosque, which became over the following two centuries the largest mosque in
the Islamic world. It remains with us today because it was converted into a cathedral in
1236. This photograph is of one of the entrances. |
The bell tower of the cathedral rises where
the mosque's minaret once stood. |
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| Córdoba 13/9/97 |
Córdoba 13/9/97 |
| A giant door knocker, dated 1573, gracing one
of the gates of the cathedral. |
I call these things Ham Vices. I'm
sure they have another name, but as you can see, my term accurately describes their
function in this tapas bar. Speaking of food, the quality of it has improved steadily
since we turned southwards again away from Paris (where mediocre food was more easily
found than in any city I've ever visited - evidently urban France has lost its taste
buds), and has reached an all-time high here in Spain, where we've been eating like kings! |
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| Córdoba 13/9/97 |
Córdoba 13/9/97 |
| A big bike race was on in Córdoba. I think
these were some of the losers, because the crowd was clapping in a "nice try"
sort of way as they rode past. |
The view from our hotel room at night. |
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| Córdoba 13/9/97 |
Córdoba 13/9/97 |
| We were lucky to see an excellent flamenco
performance while we were here. |
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| Córdoba
14/9/97 |
| 14 September - The Córdobans
take great pride in their patios and street decorations. Being late in summer, much of
this is now past its prime. |
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| Córdoba 14/9/97 |
Córdoba 14/9/97 |
| Photographs just don't do the interior of the
Mezquita any justice, but hopefully these will give at least some idea of this remarkable
building. |
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| Córdoba 14/9/97 |
Córdoba 14/9/97 |
| The park inside the grounds of the Alcázar de los Reyes
Cristianos (castle of the Christian Kings) are splendid, though, nce again, somewhat past
their prime at this time of the year. |
Statues in the gardens of the Alcázar. |
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16 September - We are in Granada, having taken the bus from Córdoba to get here. |
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| Granada 16/9/97 |
Granada 16/9/97 |
| The Alhambra, a magnificent 13th-century Muslim citadel,
dominates Granada. |
Inside the Nasrid Palaces. |
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| Granada 16/9/97 |
Granada 16/9/97 |
| The courtyard of the Myrtles, in the Nasrid Palaces. |
What remains of the oldest palace inside the walls of the
Alhambra, the Partal Palace. |
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| Granada 16/9/97 |
Granada 16/9/97 |
| Looking down from one of the towers of the Alhambra at a
part of Granada. |
The walls of the Nasrid Palaces are intracately carved
with Arabic script and motifs in bas-relief. |
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| Granada 16/9/97 |
| At the Nasrid palaces. |
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