Viva Córdoba

We celebrated our 2nd full week in Sevilla by getting out of Sevilla.

We took our first day trip to Córdoba, a historic little town that still has traces of its Moorish and Roman roots. Consult the map if you're curious:

We woke up early and caught the 1 1/2 hour train from Sevilla. Trains are fun because you can sleep really, really well on them! Once we arrived, we grabbed a map and started heading to the Mezquita, Córdoba's must-see Moorish mosque-turned-cathedral. On the way we managed to find the most entertaining playground I've seen in all my days!

Proof that we had fun.

After taking in the city for a while, we made our way to the Cathedral. I was absolutely amazed by the Mezquita. Jaw-dropped & wide-eyed. This place is MASSIVE - and the mix of Moorish influence overridden by the Catholic kings was just so breathtaking. I know I sound like a complete nerd right now, but I will happily embrace it.

View of the Mezquita's bell tower from the courtyard.

Those famous arches! The Moorish influence lives on.

Even though it was build in 600 CE, it doesn't get old.

After our time at the Mezquita, we had a very Spanish lunch. Here, instead of dinner being the most important meal like in The States, lunch is! We found a little restaurant and ordered a traditional meal de Cordobes: a cold creamy tomato soup, flamenquín, patatas, flan and always café con leche.

What is flamenquín, you ask? Well, I didn't know what it was when I ordered it. It's pork wrapped in ham and filled with cheese, then deep fried. Deep fried pig on pig on cheese. I'm glad I found that out several days after I had eaten it. Oh well, you know what they say, when in Córdoba!

El Puente Romano

We tried to go see the Alcazar, the palace where the Catholic Kings lived once they overtook Córdoba, but it closed right when we walked in. Rain check.

We explored the city more and took a stroll across the famous Roman Bridge. This thing is incredible! It stretches over the Guadalquivir River, which runs through Sevilla, too. We took a little nature nap-ski in Parque Miraflores, then finished off our time in Córdoba with a nice glass of wine at a restaurant nestled in the middle of one of the city's beautiful parks.

All in all, I give Córdoba an A. Beautiful, historical, quaint town with plenty of sights to see and adventures to be had. I really liked taking a day trip because we didn't have to deal with luggage or hostels, and still got to eat/sleep at home.

Weekend for the win!