City of three cultures

As far as I can tell, the region of andulacia, although comprised of several distinct provinces and sub cultures, all cotain several distinct characteristices. Ubquititous sun, superb food, and an interesting mix of visigoth, moorish, jewish, and christian archiecture. Add the fact that our struggling aussie dollars fare much better here than barcelona or amsterdam and we have ourselves a winnner.

Cordoba, continues this trend with the bueatiful mesquita. After the moorish invasion in the latter part of the first millenia, this visigothic church was turned the finest mosque of it´s day. With Pilgrams travelling from North Africa and the Oriente. Not too forget another trend, post requenista, the Christian church and kings added their own modifications and enhancements to make it a truly unique building.

An extensive juderia is to be explored, containing one of the three remaining synagoues to surivive the spanish inquisition. Although small, it is equally distinct from the two cultures and bueatiful.

Although the fare is fantastic, I am yet to find the Spainish equivalent of fish heads. Something that is uniquely spanish and would turn the heads of most aussies. Rating half a mention would be ox tail stew.

Struggling to find the attraction, but nonetheless drawn to the experience, we travelled to a local bull fight and paid five euros for the cheapest seats in the house. After ten minutes, it was clear that attendance would compare poorly to a Power home game and we strolled down to some 20 euro seats, five metres from the fence. I must say, infront of this seemingly brutal ¨sport¨, Beth and I became somewhat of afficionado´s. The artstic dance of the matador, the flight attendant standard posing, the crowd erupting with ole´s, and even the efficiency of the bull´s end. Even witnessing a matador getting one back from the bull. By the end, the difference between the good, bad, and ugly however small, was easily distinguishable.

The stuff fairy tales are made of

Your best childhood fairytale about alladin multiplied by a thousand is the only way to describe the splendours of the alahambra. Originally a Moorish fortress around 900 and later converted to multiple palaces by the Nasrid until 1492; The geometrical architecture and decor create a feeling of wealth, beauty and passion without a hint of decadence. Photo´s will of course accompany on facebook, but I am sure that it will be a poor imitation. When we are in our sixites and sitting on the porch whittling and sweing, we will remember the day we visited the alhahambra as one of the very best.

The first word that comes to mind with Granada, is romantic. The arabic settlements contain cobbled and patterned, narrow and windy streets with houses decorated with arabic tiles and caramics. The bars, cafes, and restaurants are plentiful; Serving a tapa with each drink until late in the morning . As a couple you can survive of one main and grazing. We left Granda today wanting more and vowing to visit one day.
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