Córdoba: A Visit To The Mezquita And The Alcázar

The Puente Romano over the Guadalquivir River in Córdoba, Spain,  just as it started to rain...again.

The narrow streets of La Judería, the former Jewish center of Córdoba

Geraniums growing everywhere.

Winding streets that connect to more winding streets, until you get lost

Evening light: Bougainvillea, Cypress trees and a bell tower.

The Mezquita: Former Muslim Mosque, now Christian Cathedral

The intersection of Muslim and Christian architecture

Muslim arches

Arches as far as the eye can see.

The Christian Chapel, built inside the former Mosque

Moorish tiles and Christian painting

The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, the former palace 

Palace gardens with orange trees

Perhaps the most interesting stop on our trip through Spain so far has been Córdoba, Spain. Much like Toledo, the City traces its history back to the Romans. The City was then taken over by Visigoths in the late 6th Century, before it was captured by the Umayyad Caliphate in the eighth century. King Ferdinand III of Castile recaptured the city in 1236 during the Christian Reconquest of Spain.

There is much to see in Córtoba, especially its historic center, which includes the former Jewish section. The medieval Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, the primary residences of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, is particularly lovely, especially its garden, which was in full bloom during our visit.

The Mezquita, however, was a real revelation. Built on the site of a Visigoth church, it was first a mosque, before being converted into a cathedral after the Christian Reconquest.  It represents the ultimate adaptive re-use of a beautiful structure. The former mosque's minaret was turned into a bell tower, and an elaborate Christian chapel built right inside the mosque.

The various styles make this edifice quite unique and stunning.

The next stop on our trip is Sevilla. More soon.

Feel free to follow Pardon Me For Asking on Instagram for more photos of our travels and of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, of course.

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Toledo, The 'City Of Three Cultures'

View of Toledo, early in the morning, with a balloon in the sky as well

The San Martin Bridge over the Tajo River, leading into the old part of Toledo

So many narrow, winding streets in Toledo

Going down one street

and going up another

and getting lost

By now, you know my fondness for windows and flowers

La Catedra Santa Marial De Toledo

La Virgen Blanca

‘El Transparente’ altarpiece created by sculptor Narciso Tome in 1732

High above, illuminated by a skylight, these figures look down on the visitors below.

'The Disrobing Of Christ"by El Greco

Magic landscape. Driving South from Toledo.

The windmills of Consuegra

The second stop on our journey through the south of Spain was Toledo. a Unesco World Heritage Site. Toledo shows influences of  the Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities who left many  imprints of their cultures on the City.  Romans and Visigoths left  their own traces behind before them.

The ancient walled city, with its winding, narrow streets is much unchanged since the middle ages. Its Cathedral is one of the most spectacular ones I have ever visited.

Since we were in Toledo during Easter week-end, it was teaming with visitors, which made navigating the streets a bit difficult, but it still was very much worth a visit.

On the way further South, we stopped in Consuegra to see 11 beautiful old windmills...and a castle too.

Our next stop is Córdoba.
Feel free to follow Pardon Me For Asking on Instagram for more photos of our travels and of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, of course.

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From Madrid To Malaga: A Brooklyn Blogger In Spain

Plaza Mayor, Madrid

Madrid under a gray sky

The Prado Museum...no photography allowed

The Thyssen Bornemisza Museum

The museum contains one of the most stunning collections ever assembled,  from the Dutch masters  all the way to art of the 20th  Century.

Old doors and symmetry are some of our favorite things.

Mercado De San Miguel on a rainy Friday evening. So many great food and drink options from the many vendors inside.

The market, busy on Good Friday

Vino! Yes, please.

Fresh fish and fried squid. It was so fresh

And of course, there was lots of Jamón

No matter what time of day, cold beer and tapas are in order in Madrid

More tapas, more delicious food.

The bar at La Taberna Para Gatos

Open late for business

Dear Readers,
We have embarked on a trip through Southern Spain and we hope that you will come along as we make our way from Madrid to Malaga, with a few stops in between.

We arrived in Madrid a few days ago under gray skies.  No matter! Our program included visits to the Prado, the Thyssen Bornemisza and the Reina Sophia Museums, so we were not bothered by the steady rain.  From masterpieces by El Greco to Goya, to Velázquez and Picasso, from Titian, Rubens, Raphael, Dürer and Rembrandt, to the French Impressionists, these three cultural institutions own spectacular collections of European art.
We actually spent an entire day at the Prado and that was not enough to walk through every gallery.

In between museum visits, we ate and drank late into the night, because when in Spain....

The next stop is Toledo, just an hour's drive from Madrid,
Feel free to follow Pardon Me For Asking on Instagram  for more photos of our travels, but also of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

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