cordoba

I took a day trip to Cordoba though my school! there were about 25 of us that went. We took an early bus there and spent the day touring! The drive to Cordoba is winding and hilly. Unfortunately our bus driver was driving like a maniac! He took every turn so fast and it was making everyone carsick. We stopped halfway and people were even getting sick! Luckily we all made it there and back in one piece. When you arrive in cordoba you cross the puente romano (roman bridge) to enter the city! 

in front of the puente romano

First we went to the alazar de los reyes cristianos. It's castle/palace has a collection of Roman mosaics. The gardens were beautiful! I wish we had more time to relax (eat, read, etc)

alazar de los reyes cristianos 

gardens

Next we went to Los banos del alcazar Califal. Built in the 10th centry, dating back to the period when cordoba was the capital of al-andalus (under muslim rule). Afterwards we went to the Jewish quarter we saw the calleja de flores, the synagogue and zoco (mercado de artesanias). The flowers were GORGEOUS! 

They gave us some free time to wander the city and we went to the plaza de la corredera. Its an enclosed, square plaza where they used to have bull fights but they learned that the bulls would just stay in the corners the entire time so that's when they started using circular plazas instead. Now the plaza is for shopping and eating. We also did some shopping before heading back to meet up with the group

Plaza de la corredera

We met up at the mezquita- catedral. It was once the most important mosque in Spain but was converted (like all mosques) to a cathedral under the christian rule. It was originally very small but there were 3 additions that were added on over the years.