Left Cordoba after a bit of a sleep in and breakfast in the hotel about midday. Bit of a drive to Malaga so wanted to break it up a bit. So first stop Antequera to check out some Dolmens or prehistoric burial tombs but it didn't quite go according to plan as Antequera sucks! Traffic was a nightmare as we arrived around 2pm ish when it seems parents are picking up kids from school and breaking for lunch so its their rush hour. The LP didn't have a map of Ante...

No sleep in this morning. Wanted to visit the Mezquita (mosque) about 9ish as it's free before 10.30am plus groups aren't allowed in. We made it in about 9.30 so managed to experience the vastness and tranquility before the hoards of tour groups invaded. The Mezquita is massive! It even has a cathedral inside it which was added in the 16th century and took 250 years to be completed. The original mosque was established in AD 784 and was much smaller but as ...

Had Buffett breakfast at hotel as didn't want to waste time looking for somewhere as wanted to get on road. Drove to Baena first of all which is renowned for it's olive oil. Visited Nunez de Prado which has been a family owned working mill since 1795. They make first class oil and have won loads of prizes. They have been organic since the 80's. We were able to wander round and watched a brief DVD and got to see them bottling/packing the oil. Bought a bottle of...

Had a lovely sleep on big 4 poster bed. Had big breakfast (included) in hotel then drove to Baeza. Wandered around, looked at architecture, Chris stole an orange from one of the many trees outside the Convento de San Francisco, but it tasted rather sour/bitter. :) Came back to Ubeda, had little siesta then wandered into town to check out sites but freezing and hungry so waited till early enough to start enjoying wine and tapas.

Checked out Palicio de Villardompardo in Jaen before leaving which houses a museum and has 11th century Arab baths underneath it. Headed back into town for some breakfast then headed off to Ubeda via Sierra de Corzola. Followed suggested scenic route from Lonely Planet and was absolutely amazing. Went from miles and miles of olive groves to high craggy sometimes snowy (in the distance) mountains. Really pleased we took drive although took longer than expected (...