Tortilla de patata and salmorejo

 

Yesterday we said hello Córdoba and hello to 39 degrees weather!

We’ve officially started our road trip with my parents across Andalusia, so I foresee many hot days full of great food and great architecture.

Last night we visited the Alcázar de los Reyes Christianos. An alcázar simply refers to an Islamic castle in Spain, built during Muslim rule, somewhere between the 8th and 15th century. The Cordoba Alcázar was built in 1327!

Courtyard at the Alcázar

Garden

Unfortunately, a large portion of the gardens and towers were closed due to the heat and due to renovations, but the air conditioned rooms and shade was a welcome relief to the heat!

On our walk back to the apartment, we walked across the Roman Bridge of Córdoba. This ancient bridge was built in the 1st century A.D, and is still used for pedestrian traffic today. 

View of the Roman Bridge

The annual Córdoba Fair is also on during our time here. Women and men in fancy dress can be seen all through the streets. Their traditional clothing is so beautiful and it really adds to the whole beautiful atmosphere of the city.

Musicians in traditional dress

This morning we visited the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. This building is absolutely fascinating, both architecturally and historically. Originally, the small Basillica of St. Vincent stood where the Mosque-Cathedral now stands, then, in 785, construction of the mosque began. 

Outside of the mosque-cathedral

Over many years, the mosque was added to by various Muslim rulers so that by the 10th century it could contain about 40 000 people for prayer. However, in 1236 the mosque was converted to a cathedral and an actual cathedral was built right in the middle of the mosque!

Cathedral inside the mosque

Walking through this place was amazing. A forest of columns and minimal lighting creates a dark, austere atmosphere. This forest surrounds the bright cathedral, right smack-dab in the middle of the mosque. Being able to visit these two religious places at the same time was so cool. You could tell how steeped with history every stone was.

Forest of columns

Signature of a workman on a column

Exploring the mosque

Gentle light let into the mosque

After spending two hours exploring the mosque-cathedral, we ate lunch on its steps. We got a traditional Spanish omelette, otherwise known as a tortilla de patata. This fluffy egg and potato mixture is very filling and yummy! We also got some salmorejo, which is a soup similar to gazpacho, but is made purely from tomato, olive oil, bread, and garlic. Quite refreshing :) 

Lunch on the steps of the mosque

We then spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the streets of the Juderia, the old town Jewish Quarter, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. This area is full of quaint winding streets, beautiful patios (or courtyards), and plenty of shops to empty your wallet!

Relaxing in a patio

Flower pots

Beautiful streets

Flowers and buildings

We walked around until I began to melt in the hot weather and then went in for a siesta to rest in the air conditioning of our apartment.

In the afternoon we went for a delicious dinner to dry some local dishes. The first dish (and my absolute favourite) was Remojón, a salad of oranges, cod, and almonds topped with a salty sweet sauce. This was so refreshing, it tasted like a cool summer breeze in the mouth.

Remojón!

Next, we shared some Berenjenas califales, or fried eggplants! These were topped with a balsamic wine and honey reduction… so crispy and just the right amount of sweetness.

Fried eggplants

We ended our evening by walking down to the fairgrounds. What a party! There are tons of rides and food stalls, as well as rows and rows of clubs, each one playing different music. Everyone was dressed up so nicely, it was so much fun to feel so immersed in the culture and the vibes of the city. I expect many people will be up until 4am partying!

Walking through the fairgrounds

Entrance to the fairgrounds