Mirador de Montoro Córdoba

... with olive groves here and there. Driving through the country, it becomes apparent what Andalucia's main agricultural product is - OLIVES! We have eaten them, oh, at about every family gathering and they are served with bread at most restaurants before the meal. Our family actually makes their own olives, meaning that they pick them, soak them in water for a duration of time, and then soak them in spices and vinegar. They are so delicious! I want to take them back ...

I need to post my photos from the Alcazar. And I now need to post photos from the Mezquita in Cordoba. Both were awesome. Beyond words. They require pictures. But, I am too lazy to post them right now. However, I have a 3.5 hour ride to Granada tomorrow. So hopefully I will get a bit more organized during that trip and post when I arrive at the oasis... no, the hostel is actually called Oasis. :)

Hasta luego mis amigos!

... to see them in the original state but it is what it is thanks to history. The town was small, beautiful and full of life but not a place I could live, I need more chaos! Overall I really enjoyed the visit to Cordoba, I never really realized how much I liked architecture and art until I got here and can't wait to explore it more in the coming months.

... aged (that means closer to 70 than 60), just received a full table of food. French fries are how potatoes come. Before the waiter had left, one of the men says, "Ketchup?" I saw the waiter roll his eyes when he went back to the kitchen to find it. Sigh. The only condiments you get – but with all meals – is a dolly with salt & pepper, and oil & vinegar. Spanish put oil in and around and on ...

... With such popularity, it was no surprise to find more lines to wait in in front of palace, and huge crowds inside. So there I was taking another nap at the exit of place, sitting on the floor of the lovely El Portal Palace, and blinking weary eyes at its beautiful reflection in the emrald green pool. Yes it is beautiful. but at a hefty price. The Albayzķn, old Jewish quarter, is the other highlight at Granada. I have long learned about its fame for windy, narrow streets that provokes ...

... 40 minutes walking around, looking for somewhere to eat, and ended up about 75 yards away from the hotel because it started raining and I wasn“t walking anymore. After dinner we had icecreams form the parlour over the road from the hotel then came back to the room. I just hope the hotel clock doesn't chime after 11 pm, I don't think I could cope with the "guitar" strumming all night!

... for Granada. We booked tickets to the Alhambra, a complex of palaces, castle and mosque that is described as unmissable. So I hope we dont. I booked our accommodation over the phone so we can drop off our bags, but I am sure my uni friends will remember how poorly we were taught Spanish that semester, and everyone else will be able to guess my memory of it... We hope everyone is well, please feel free to email or comment back and let us know how you are! God bless, Heidi and Dave

... best room I've ever stayed in. It wasn't too big, but it had a table and chairs, a couch, double bed, kitchen (with dishes), and a full bathroom with tub/shower. At 45euros/night for two people, I'd like to bring it along with me the rest of the trip. After taking a break, we set out to investigate Córdoba. We seem to have timed our trip almost perfectly for the festivals in Spain so far. The day we arrived in Madrid ...

... individual is to mentally and physically prepare themselves for prayer. It is meant as the point of transition from the physical world to the spiritual world. Originally, Cordoba's mosque was adorned with palm trees. Sometime ago, however, these palm trees were supplanted with orange trees...I would have preferred the original palm trees, but that's just me. Thanks to the noble, righteous acts of Isabella and Ferninand, the mosque is now in Christian hands. They call it a ...

... worship. This particular monarch (can“t remember which Charles) decided to plop a cathedral right smack in the middle of the mosque. So right in the middle of the mosque is an enormous catherdral with soaring ceiling, choir, altar. It is totally bizarre and probably doesn“t make sense the way I am describing it. Visiting it is crazy, one moment you are in a mosque, low ceilings, repeated architecture and the next you are in a typical Christian cathedral ...