Tuesday 27 February 2018

Córdoba


The city lies upstream from Seville on the Rio Guadalquivir and was once navigable as far as here. It was the largest city of Roman Spain and later formed the heart of the Islamic empire of the Moors.




The major monument to visit is the Mesquita, the grandest and most beautiful mosque constructed in Spain and later in 1236 a Christian Cathedral was consecrated inside the mosque built without destroying the Islamic architecture and the two seem to blend well together.



It's quite dark inside so takes some time for your eyes to aclimatise and then you begin to see the beauty of the place, it is absolute enormous and certainly does take your breath away! Each way you turn more wonderful architecture comes into view. We stayed inside for two hours, I think we actually made the circuit twice just to make sure we hadn't missed anything.



The rest of the city does have it's charms, especially the tapas bars, and the tiny church of San Bartolomé with it's tiled interior.



 There is also a part of town where the locals adorned their tiny flower filled patios....very cute!



Tuesday 20 February 2018

Images of Portugal


We have spent just over two weeks in Portugal from just over the Spanish border at Castro Marim, down to the Algarve coast from Villa Real and almost as far West as Portimão, the weather getting warmer all the time.

Castro Marim

There was lots of birdlife to see on the Marim and salt marshes - Flamingos, spoonbills, black winged stilts with their brilliant red legs and storks nesting or soaring above us.




The wonderful and varied coloured cliffs made for interesting walking until we actually made it into the sea just before the tide came in at Praia de Marinha making it inaccessible. Only paddling of course.





We happened upon an Orange festival once turning northward to Silves - the Orange capital of Portugal - and the best oranges you will ever taste. .....and the tangerine gin? I'm  not so sure.



Tangerine Gin!

Travelling east on our homeward journey we just had to call in at lovely Paderne. In the middle of olive groves, almond trees and with a handy spring water font......just right for a spot of washing in the tepid spring water. Who needs electricity when nature provides.





The sports club in the village has a great cafe serving dish of the day or grilled fish and you eat with the locals, no menu as such so it's a bit pot luck. So we walked over the hill past an ancient windmill and ate facing the football pitch.



So now it's back to Castro Marin for our homeward journey back through Spain.



(A more detailed diary can be found on the desktop version of " Mortons Abroad " at the right hand menu)

Sunday 4 February 2018

Seville


Two days in Seville taking time to see the sights and enjoy the tapas. We are parked a short bus ride away in a marina so have a good view of the river and it means Les gets a rest from driving for a while.


The Cathedral was our first stop. A beautiful building which certainly lived up to it's claim to be the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world and has wonderful works to be admired both inside and out. It was built on the site of the former Mosque. Included in the ticket, and accessed from inside the cathedral, is the Giralda bell tower, which was the original mosque's minaret and we managed to ascend the 17 floors by way of a slope which somehow turned out to have 34 levels, all numbered ..... We thought we had reached the top only half way up! The view was great and luckily, we were there when the bells were silent.




Our reward for this exertion was lunch at the Old Tabacco Factory a short stroll away and now part of the University. It was built in 1750 and retains it's position as Spain's largest building, bar one - but now, among other things has a great canteen! Funny how we always seem to eat among students while abroad.

Yes, it's the factory!

Lunch consumed, and very nice too, we set off to the Plaza de España. What a sight.....lovely fountains and boating crescent in the sunshine and everyone having a relaxing time. Each region in Spain is depicted by tiled niches forming a semi-circle and set in pleasant but vast gardens and quite a walk back to the bus.



Next day the Alcazar was our first stop and joining the queue early turned out to be one of our better ideas. The building was in both Moorish and Christian hands but extended at one time to house a harem of 800 women!  Most of the present structure was rebuilt by Pedro the Cruel in 1350 (or Pedro the Just, depending on your fortunes!) but he retained the Mudéjar central rooms, it's completely stunning and well worth the wait. Lovely gardens and pools to wander around too. The photo's don't do it justice - you will have too see for yourselves!





Another tapas lunch (with local sherry) in a typical bar, complete with hams hanging from the ceiling, rounded off the day. ......Or so we thought, until we turned the corner upon hearing what can only be described as a very loud murmering......a small plaza packed with locals enjoying drinks and snacks at high tables and stools, or just standing about. Quite a sight.




We were so lucky with the weather, today, it's overcast and a bit damp.


Just one more of the Alcazar!