And so our Spain leg ends. In one short week we have only skimmed the surface of only one province of a very large country, but we gave it a good try. Drove to Granada from casares to visit the Alhambra. Long drive. The Alhambra was a magnificent complex especially the old fortress and the gardens with fountains and water works everywhere. The Arabs built wonderfully all over Spain during their 800 years here. Stayed the night at granada as we didn't leave alhambra until 8pm.
Then drove to cordoba through rolling hills of olive groves and castles on just about every hill. Obviously neighbourly relations weren't too good in the old days. Got to cordoba and wandered the old town. I had the biggest croissant in the world- almost the size of my head. Cordoba has some wonderful plazas including the plaza de cappuccinos which paradoxically had no cafes but a wonderful statue of the crucifixion I was transfixed by (not as transfixed as Jesus was but close). People obviously came to pray there because there were many candles and offerings below the statue. The mesquita at cordoba was stunning. Originally a mosque it was transformed by the catholic kings when they won Cordoba back from the moors. The building inside was massive with the roof supported by hundreds of arabesqued columns. Each bay held a masterpiece of art and statues, and the central nave soared into sky. Cordoba felt really good as a city with lots of plazas connected by streets and very relaxed everyone promenading.
Tip: don't order the plate of meat in the photo. I didn't think I did but I did. OMG it was horrible. Pretty sure the menu said cannibals delight in Spanish. (Jm did the same next day ordering fish. She received a large plate of every kind of salted, crumbed and fried fish and seafood. And a lemon. Nothing else.)
Long drive back to casares that day from cordoba but so worth it.
Next day we decided to make a day trip to Seville. Actually a day-night trip as we didn't get back until midnight! Seville felt very good also as a city but hotter than cordoba and many more police especially at night. The gardens of the alcazar were fantastic and Jeannie and I found a quiet area and lay down on some benches for a siesta. Very peaceful with peacocks roaming around and birds singing everywhere. We caught an authentic flamenco performance. There were only 4 people including the guitar player, male singer and male and female flamenco dancers but they were so passionate the small packed audience couldn't stop clapping after each piece. The female dancer in particular threw everything into it -at one point she paused and it was so hushed all you could hear was her breathing. Jm and jeannie were transfixed by the wobble in the male dancers tight little derrière. Very worthwhile even with the 3 hour trek home to casares that night, arriving midnight.
On the Last day in Andalusia we said goodbye to our great hosts John and penny and their dog gordo and then drove south to visit the roman ruins of baelo claudia at bolonia. It was a prosperous roman town from before 200 bc and was still pretty intact.
After that a 2 hr drive to Malaga airport to catch the plane to Barcelona and for Mick and jan Marie to pick in up a smaller car for their remaining two weeks in Spain.