Tuesday April 16
It was the usual with breakfast and getting ready. The Red Group left at 8:15 am. The listed 84 passengers are divided into 4 groups. Most are seasoned OAT travelers and everybody is always on time and courteous to fellow travelers. Interactions with everybody else on this trip and getting to know them has been so much fun.
Well, Cordoba, here we come! I think it was a bit more than a 2 hours drive.
Joana is so full of knowledge. She talks about the landscape, the olive trees, cork trees, solar panels etc
The bus stopped to let us off on the other side of the river at the Calahorra Gate. I remember the museum James and I visited there in 2015 and I wished we could visit it again. Not in the itinerary.
We met our local guide …
… and walked over the bridge. Wow, quite a lot of visitors.
First we visit the Cordoba Mosque-Cathedral.
The bell tower!
The story of this building mosque/cathedral is amazing. Once in a while people are doing the right thing. After all, it’s the same God who was worshipped by different people.
Again I must say that my photos didn’t capture the awesome feeling.
Our local guide gave us a lot of details. Here is a glass plate in the floor to show that they found remains of a Christian building before the mosque was built on top of it.
Details! To make clear that the mosque is now a Christian building … the name of Jesus on the ceiling how many times?
Our local guide had shown us a large ornamental square with Arabic letters on a wall where a boy had asked him at a tour “is this a QR?” We laughed.
When I saw these stickers on the pews in front of the altar I had to laugh again.
We like wandering in these Iberian old towns so much. Stories around every corner.
We have 20 minutes to look around at a place. James and I need a drink. Ha-ha, we order in Spanish. I even remembered “tinto de verano”.
Group assembled again we walk to our lunch place. Steps down into a basement which is nicely cool on a hot day. We had very typical Spanish food which is of course what we like. Burgers we can have at home.
Afterwards we waled to the spot where the bus picked us up.
When we were standing there and I looked across the street I thought “what are the chances?” There was the hotel we stayed for 2 nights 9 years ago.
We had to hurry somewhat back to the ship because we were scheduled to leave Seville. We had been asleep when our ship had navigated the river and docked . We will be going out (at least in the beginning) at daylight this time.
Scheduled 5 pm Clio departs was a bit delayed because one of the 4 busses was late. One guest had gotten lost in Cordoba which gave the trip leaders almost heart attacks. It did not delay the “sail away cocktails on the sun deck”.
Bye to the people in traditional dresses streaming over the bridge to celebrate in the Seville Festival.
Coming up on the lock!
7 pm - a buffet dinner this time and I can keep it a bit lighter with some tapas.
The waiters had dressed up in traditional outfits.
We have to be thinking of packing our suitcases. Sigh.
But then, more adventure to come!
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