Cordoba Day 1

I exit the train station and the 35 degree heat takes my breath away. I had been planning on walking from the station to my hotel, but think better of it and jump in a taxi. 10 minutes later I’m dropped off in a quiet, cobblestoned lined road, with whitewashed walls and wooden doors.

I enter number 17 and am surprised to find a tiled entrance way leading into the most beautiful courtyard I have ever seen. I feel as if I have wandered into a secret garden oasis from the 1600’s. There are mosaic tiled floors, aristocratic archways, wooden ceilings and a balcony that stretches the length of the house. To add to that everything is a luscious green, there are plants everywhere.

I am shown to my room which overlooks the courtyard and then shown the communal kitchen, living and dining room.

It’s now 5pm and after a much needed nap I am ready to explore the city.

As I wander the streets making my way into the historic centre I can’t help but notice how few people there are and how serene and calm the atmosphere is. Every time I round a corner I am surprised and delighted with historic monuments and stunning architecture.

I stop for a refreshment, a cerveza of course, before meeting my walking tour group. One of my biggest pieces of advice when visiting a new city is to sign up for a free walking tour. They are usually led by locals with a history degree and you learn how to situate yourself in the city as well as its social, political and religious history. It’s also a great way to meet people from around the world. There were about 10 of us on this tour from Brazil, Italy and the USA. It’s customary even though the tour is free to tip the guide anywhere between 10-20€ per person.

The tour proved to be fascinating and set out the history of the city not shying away from the deep rooted religious conflicts that so impacted the culture and architecture that we experience today. We visited the Synagogue and the Mosque as well as the Cathedral and many notable plazas. An added bonus was also being educated on the gastronomical history of the area and having a lot of the local dishes explained. At the end of the tour we were also given restaurant recommendations.

Nearing the end of my first day I decided to try one of the recommended restaurants that happened to be just opposite my guesthouse, La Posada del Caballo Andaluz. I enjoyed the beautiful terrace and indulged in a local delicacy, an oxtail stew, and tasted the Montilla-Moriles sweet sherry wine which is only made in this region.

Feeling full in body and with my nomadic soul brimming over with happiness I crossed the road to my room and fell into bed, excited for what tomorrow would bring.