Arriving in Córdoba

Thursday February 27 was a travel day.  Beautiful weather in both Málaga and Córdoba.  High of around 22C.  We finished our packing in the morning and went for a last walk around town.  We walked to a nearby taxi stand and took a cab to the Railway station.  The Málaga station is very nice and the trains do run on time in Spain!  Our train left at 2:15 p.m. and we arrived on time in Córdoba at 3:20 p.m.  We took a cab to our Airbnb which is located about a five minute walk from the Mezquita, one of the world's greatest works of Islamic architecture.

We were in Córdoba in 2015 and fell in love with the city.  We put it on this trip's itinerary for a return visit.  Our Airbnb is in a much different location than the apartment we stayed in five years ago.  It is right near one of the bridges across the Guadalquivir River.   The apartment is more old-fashioned than our places in Sevilla or Málaga, but is very large with high ceilings and lovely wooden doors and shutters and is very well-equipped.

Outside of the apartment building.  We have the three windows on the first floor including the small balcony (second floor in Canada). I took this picture at around 7:00 p.m.

Large bedroom and alcove with dressers and hangers

Very large bathroom

Living room with large table

Kitchen with washing machine

In the evening-- lovely light fixtures

We decided to check out the 'hood and walk over to the tourist office which was only six minutes away.  We walked along the river--- very pretty with the scent of orange tree blossoms in the air.

Walkway on River--- Alano MAY do a run here

Across the road were a number of nice- looking cafés 

Heading up one of the streets from the wider street on the River

We passed the Puerta del Puenta--- very imposing

Passing by...

Triunfo de San Rafael (Statue dedicated to the archangel San Rafael)

Wonderful design

There are lots and lots of flowers in Córdoba

The woman at the Tourist Office was very helpful in pointing out a street where two supermarkets were located.  Luckily, there was a square nearby with a fabulous fish store as well as two small fruit and vegetable stores.  We did most of our shopping there.  It turns out that tomorrow  (February 28) is Andalucia Day, which commemorates the 1980 referendum, which gave full autonomy to the Andalucian community.  Andalucia is the community that has the largest population of Spain with around 8.5 million inhabitants.  The referendum was originally meant to have been held in 1936 but the outbreak of the Civil War prevented it.  The referendum had to await the end of Franco's dictatorship.

Wonderful fish store- we bought clams and salmon

Cherry blossom time in Córdoba

Lots of narrow winding streets with white walls and flowers

Flowers everywhere

Palm trees, orange trees and blue sky

Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos (Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs)

Entrance to the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos (built in the 13th and 14th centuries) on the remains of a Moor palace.  It is where Ferdinand and Isabel made their first aquaintance with Christopher Columbus in 1486.

We the walked around the Mesquita-Catedral, which we will go visit again this trip.  It is such an amazing building, which dates from 785.

Outside of the Mezquita-Catedral

Doors of the Mesquita

Another door

Beautiful light on the tower

We had remembered Bar Santos from our last trip and it was also recommended by our Airbnb host.
It's specialty is tortilla de patata (potato omelette).   An excellent portion for just 2.40 euros.

Bar Santos across from the Mesquita

The specialty

One gets a piece to go and eats it under the Mesquita's walls-- very quiet when we were there in the late afternoon

A lovely framed picture

Another doorway at the Mesquita

We then headed back to the apartment.  Alano made a wonderful meal of artichokes, pasta with tomato sauce and claims.  We started a new bottle of Córdoba wine and had our last apple scone from Julia Bakery in Málaga for dessert.

Tomorrow morning we will take a Free Tour of Córdoba and celebrate Andalucia Day.  A number of museums are free tomorrow and there will be other events around town.