Wednesday in Cordoba

 Another blistering hot day (39 degrees)

We were lazy this morning as there was nothing really planned until the evening.

We walked over to the original Roman part of this city which we hadn’t been to before and while at the archeological site we noticed another walking tour company. We inquired and found out about a tour starting in 20 minutes so we booked it.

This tour was, in any ways, the same as yesterday’s tour however our guide this time was much more to our liking and his approach to telling us about his city was much more to our style. Needless to say, we loved it!

The following are two photos from one of only three intact synagogues in Spain from the time before the Catholics came (the year 1236 in this part of the country); at least that is what I “think” I remember him saying. Over time it had been covered up and forgotten until less than 100 years ago when rediscovered during some renovations.

On the wall behind me as I took the photo above is a Catholic cross ( showing that that the synagogue was repurposed after the Jews were evicted ( or forced to convert to Catholicism). This had been covered up as well so the cross this shows its’ original colours.

With the finish of the tour at the Roman bridge ( in which I was sad to learn that only the bridge support pillars are original) we walked across for better photos of The Mezquita.

After a small lunch we walked back to our hotel for a nap and later a dip in the hotel pool which incidentally felt like ice berg water due to the extremely hot day we experienced.

Supper was at the same place we ate last night simply because their kitchen was open  I was surprised that many restaurants open for supper after  7 PM ( and we were eating at 6).

Tonight was a hi-light night. We had a night tour of The Mezquita,

OMG does not describe the beauty of this massive mosque/cathedral. We were told in no uncertain terms that no photos were allowed.We go back tomorrow morning to get some.

The building was “so” incredible. As we entered the old mosque both Caro and I got goosebumps! The mosque was built and enlarged three times over the centuries of Muslim rule and could hold 40,000 worshippers.

The architecture for all the different cultures and the influences of all of them together in one gigantic building is something we are both happy to have seen. The end of the tour was inside the cathedral which is inside the old mosque. The craftsmanship was outstanding throughout and as we sat in the pews of the cathedral they played recorded music with choirs singing. Terrific sound quality!

It was 29 degrees as we walked back at 10:30 tonight and my phone says we did over 23,000 steps today.