Cordoba

21 November 2011

7.30am, and it was our time to check-out from the hotel and the taxis were waiting outside to bring us to Julia Travel at Plaza de Espana. We're surprised that the taxi was so comfortable with such a huge place for us to put our bags and strollers. At 8am, the driver started to bring us there but pity for them that they have to escape the police just to avoid the summon.

I booked the tour from viator.com and I didn't use the Malaysian tour operator because i thought maybe we could get a better experience with the international company and it was much more cheaper with them. Surprisingly, majority of the people inside the bus were from Asian region. There were 3 couples from Singapore, 1 from India, 2 from USA, 2 from Tunisia, 1 from Indonesia and 1 from Jordan.

At 8.45am, the bus started its engine. As usual, Hayra has to be seated in the car seat as well as Emyr.

An hour later, by the road rules in Europe, we have to stop for a while just to make sure that the driver would be getting an enough good rest. So, we stopped for a quick coffee and toilet break somewhere in the land of La Mancha.

After that, we continued the bus ride again. Christina, the Julia Travel lady, mentioned something about this earth mountain but I couldn't remember her explanation.

At 12.30pm, we stopped for lunch and looked at how tired they were.

..and i got myself a nice cappucino.

After 2 stops, 6 hours later, Cordoba was in front of us. 'Wow..at last', that was the feeling. 

However, due to this was not a free-n-easy tour, everything must be in a rush, which i didn't like it so much. The lady guide didn't even wait for us to settle down with the baby carriers but just proceeded walking. At this time, i was like '...@#$@^%$#%&....geram tahap gaban'. It really spoiled my vacation mood. Seriously, few times that i mentioned quite out loud in Malay language '..eee, tak suka la macam ni..' n etc.

But, i tried to enjoy it still.

Again, we're walking in the narrow street.

Next, we saw the statue of Rabbi Maimonides in Calle Judios, a famous medieval Jewish philosopher.

We continued to walk and now, we're at the main entrance of the famous Mezquita a.k.a the Great Mosque. 

We entered the bronze-covered gateway to be inside the Patio de los Naranjos, a courtyard full of orange trees. The outer aisles and orange tree courtyard were completed by Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir in 987.

Later, we were inside the famous Great Mosque, such a beautiful terracotta and white striped arches.

What a magnificent architecture!! The construction of the Mezquita lasted for over two centuries, starting in 784 AD under the supervision of the emir of Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman I. The Mezquita is most notable for its giant arches and its forest of over 856 (of an original 1,293) columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite.

 

We carried on to see the magnificent mihrab- the area where the imam lead the prayer, a domed shrine of Byzantine mosaics built by Al Hakam II (961-76).

Then, we saw the original arabic engravings.

After that, we entered into the transition of the Mezquita when Cordoba was captured from the Moors by King Ferdinand III of Castile and rejoined Christendom in 1236. The Christians initially left the architecture Mezquita largely undisturbed - they simply consecrated it.  The Christian cathedral was really right in the centre of the beautiful mosque. 

Honestly, i was surprised. I felt uneasy of this new information but that was the history and that was the fact.

After 40 minutes tour inside the Mezquita, we're already back in the courtyard. We've been given 15-crazy minutes to do other things such as buying some souvenirs before we went back to the bus. Whackkkk!!! So, we took that time to buy the souvenirs and didn't get the opportunity to go to the beautiful long west wall of the Mezquita.

15-freaking minutes later, we made a move to the bus. But not before we captured the beautiful view of the entrance to the Roman Bridge.

..and the bridge itself...Wowwiewww!! At this point of time, we're one of the last batch of people from this tour that still mingled around joyfully.

But, i didn't even care of that annoying fact that we have to move on fast. Yet, i kept up the pace, just to make sure that other members of the tour wouldn't get pissed with us.

..and another breathtakingly incredible view.

My last shot with the Roman Bridge and the Mezquita as a background.

Bye bye Cordoba..even though it was just a short love story between you and me.