Andalusia - Cordoba

Leaving Malaga was difficult (must have been all that sun, sand, food and Malaga wine!) but when you are a traveler, you have to leave one place so that you can explore a new one.
So, with heavy hearts but optimistic minds, we started towards the next destination on our list - Cordoba.

Cordoba's history is interesting and on the train ride there (about an hour and a half), I read about it and made notes. Notes that came handy (not really!) when we finally reached there and started walking towards this city's star attraction.

The Mezquita ( Mosque-Cathedral)
The only reason most travelers go to Cordoba is to see the Mezquita.  If you've heard about the Mezquita, you've probably gone ahead and also read about it. And if you've read about it,  I can assure you that you haven't  read enough to do justice to it ( my research wasn't good enough). This impressive structure needs to be seen to be believed.
So, instead of writing lengthy paragraphs,  I'll let you go over some photographs I took.

I was mesmerized as I walked in. The Mezquita's grandeur is stunning - from the floors to the ceilings. As I walked around taking it all in, I could feel a sense of calm descend over me. It was only when I got out,  that I realized that I had stayed inside for over 3 hours! The courtyard with its beautiful orange trees and open spaces add to the overall ambience.

Back lanes away from the tourist areas

In fact, orange trees are all over this beautiful region (Andalusia) and I enjoyed walking around taking pictures. If you leave out the main tourist area around the Mezquita, you will discover a very different city.  A  leisurely walk at dusk and then yet again at night, let me capture the true beauty of this city.

Of course, no trip is complete without food, so my partner and I ventured into two different tapas bars to try out their specials. There are enough options for vegetarians and non vegetarians. 4 -5 tapas can be shared between 2 people and you can expect a bill of 30 euros approx (based on what you order of course). Drinks are comparable to most other cities in Europe. Do drink the orange juice here and around this region. Delicious, sweet and healthy!

Aubergine pakodas 

Mushroom rice

Chicken with couscous

Smoked Lamb Samosas

Later, we walked around admiring the views across the Guadalquivir river on a full moon night.
The locals here are up till quite late (that's true in most parts of Spain) and on the evening that we were there, there was a fest so everyone was out on the streets enjoying till midnight.

If you are spending the night here, I would recommend a hotel near the station Read about train service and train options in my Malaga article here.) so that you don't need to walk too much with your bags. The city centre and the star attraction is barely a 10-minute walk away. There are plenty of quality and affordable accommodation options to suit every budget. Summers are very hot and temperatures can go up to 42 and 44 degrees C. If you have a choice, I would recommend autumn or winter or even spring to visit Cordoba. There will be less crowds and you will get better hotel deals as well!

As always, when it was time to say goodbye, I wanted to stay longer, take in a little bit more...
Cordoba was special. It always will be.

I hope you enjoyed this second article in my series. If you have any questions, do write a comment or an email.
Gracias!