We have an early train to catch so we get a cab from the hotel to the station and have Ryan figure out where we need to be. Two and half hours of train ride through the Andalusian countryside and we are in Cordoba. Our hotel is easy walking distance from the Mezquita so we drop the bags and head over to see how bad the crowds are. All I have read on message boards is get there early to beat the crowds or it isn’t worth going in. It was around 11am so I figured we’re out of luck. It was empty. Ryan walked right up and bought tickets and we were in. What is really cool about this place is that it was a mosque that has a Christian church built inside it. The word we heard over and over again was tolerance. This area of Spain had been known for its tolerance of all religions, until the inquisition made its way through here. The art work and architecture are breathtaking. The rest of the day is spent wandering over the Roman bridge, built in the first century BC, and through the old town. Again, there aren’t any Laundromats nearby. Dinner tonight was at Cespedes Bodegas Mezquita, a tiny place between the Mezquita and the river. Best Sangria and Gazpacho I had in all of Spain. The Sangria was mixed to order in the biggest pitchers! I think the food was good too. Good thing it was an easy walk back to our hotel. Overall, it was a pretty good birthday.