Each time before, it's been a quick trip round the Mosque, then back on the bus to go somewhere else. This time because Jule decided we would go on a private tour, I saw parts of Córdoba that I had only read about, or didn't even know existed. Having done the grand tour, I can only echo the words of that T.V. character in #96.
"Why wasn't I told!"
THE MOSQUE "THE CHRISTIAN BIT"
All tourists visit the big Islamic Mosque. What I had never seen before, was the "Christain" part of it, which is just over the road. Inter Islamic history and politics as well as Islamic/Christian interactions can be complicated at the best of times, For some reason the "Christian" section still had gardens laid out in the Moorish/Islamic style. As mentioned before, the Moors were desert people, endless sand or rocky wastes, little water, no shade from the burning sun, except for the occasional palm tree if you were lucky. So to them, Paradise after death consisted of cool, lush, shady places with lots of water to quench the thirst and refresh the spirits. The beautiful big red coxcomb flowers and jasmine scents also heightened the sense of calm and tranquility. I'm not really a garden enthusiast, but these were the best. When you look at the photos the lady in white is indeed a bride.
INSIDE THE BIG ISLAMIC MOSQUE.
Julie has sent you lots of photos so I'll just skip through this a bit quickly. The Catholic Catherdral within the mosque does look an eyesore. A bit like Deamworld in a Greek Temple. Even the Catholic King who authorised it hated it when he got to see it. Apparently a lot of intercity rivalry and conflict had a lot to do with it. If Seville and Cadiz had a cathedral, then Córdoba had to have one too.
THE JEWISH AREA.
The Jewish area was a place I never knew about, until saw it. Unlike the AK waving, hard line psycho Islamist fanatics who grace our T.V. Screens today the Islamists of the Moorish culture were sophisticated, intellectual, and enjoyed many of the daily and sensual delights we like today. Within Córdoba is a Jewish quarter where the man below -Rabi Moses Ben Miamondes - resided.
He was a sort of "Renaissance Man" brilliant at just about everything. I suppose the point I am trying to make here, is that all this was going on while a lot of the rest of Europe was stumbling around in The Dark Ages.
THE DRIVE HOME.
The drive home in our rather swishy chauffeur driven Mercedes people mover was also very enjoyable. There were lots of castles
Lots of olive groves
An old railway station that had been turned into a restaurant
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