We left Granada at 9:30 this morning and drove for about three hours through beautiful hilly countryside with fields after fields of olive groves. Patricia told us all about processing olive oil. Spain produces the world's best and largest supply of olive oil. We stopped at a store for a break and bought saffron, almonds and paprika. When we got to Cordoba, Bob and I walked from the hotel over the Roman bridge to the old city and had a tapas lunch at a charming restaurant. Then we met the others and toured the Mezquita, the word for mosque. It is amazing, built in 785. When Ferdinand and Isabella became rulers of Spain, the Moors were driven out and the Catholics took over. When their grandson, Charles V, became king, he had a cathedral built in the middle of the mosque and the Muslims are not allowed to worship there anymore. Later when he saw it, he regretted what he had done as it was such a beautiful building. It is acoustically perfect. The Imam could whisper the prayer and it was heard throughout the mosque. Above you see the mosque and then the altar of the cathedral. Then we walked through the old Jewish section. In the Middle Ages, all three religions lived together peacefully. It was a very warm day. Cordova is always hot. After we return to our hotel, we walk a block away to dinner with our whole group, very homogenous and interesting travelers.
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Love this! It's like tagging along.
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