Cordoba

Cordoba was my favorite place that we have traveled thus far, and the blame for that rests on the Mezquita. This was a mosque that was converted into a Cathedral after the reconquest. The theme of Roman Conquest to Islamic rule to the Catholic resurrection runs rampant all of over Spain, thus creating a intriguing fusion of the elements of the various culture, especially in terms of the architecture and ornamentation. The Mezquita was the closest thing to the Vatican that I have ever scene, while at the same time retaining a large portion of the Islamic arches and strucutes in the building itself. It was the extreme end of over ornamentation I have ever bared witness too: ten foot tall gold and silver shrines, gem encrusted crosses, gold depictions of Christ’s death, and an absolutely amazing chapel area. It has some pretty stained glass too. The above pic is of that 10 foot tall shrine and below some of the chill glass.

We also went to a killer tea house near the Mezquita, where we indulged in a pot of “A thousand and one nights,” rested on a some soft pillows, and absorbed the Islamic aura of the tea house. It was one of my favorite things I have done since being in Spain.