Cordoba parte uno

This formeer Roman town was occupied by the Caliphat and the Spanish. 

The only remaining synagogue is Spain (if I understood correctly?)

The Mosque cathedral, built and then expanded to increase capacity from 5000 to 40000 from the 5th-8th century, and converted to a cathedral in the 11th century. The most miraculous thing about the bldg is that it survived the middle ages.

Sherry anyone?

Bonus in Jerez de la Frontera was a stop at one of the bodegas (wineries) they are famous for. 

Isabele from Lustau was amazing and her way of describing the wine was fascinating.  We tried 5 types of sherry and a vermouth. 

The building is called the cathedral of sherry, and parts of it were built in the 1800s. 

Met some nice people on the tour. We were all kind of quiet until about glass 3, and then suddenly we became great friends. 😄

Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art

A little day trip from Seville today. 1st stop was Jerez de la Frontera and the equestrian show.

No pictures during the show, so I can't share the horses dancing, but a couple of them were training outside, so at least I can share how beautiful they are!

Also worth a look around the palace and grounds

This is the arena

Palace - just the former house of some rich dude

First Impressions

I've been in Spain for about 28 hours now and have only seen a small part of this large country, so these are just first thoughts...

1) The well dressed Spanish man is most likely wearing a button down, no tie, soft blazer (corduroy or something similar) and a scarf. He may also be wearing too much cologne. 

2) Streets are narrow. Sidewalks are even narrower. 

3) Parking is an art form, and sometimes an act of bravado

4) Residential bldgs trend toward terraces, white or tan plaster, and tile roofs

5) There's a lot of space for a country with such a long history. Some obviously agricultural, but some just wide open. 

6)  They favor big block letters for graffiti, which is everywhere

Seville apartment rental

There were a few road bumps on the way of my plane (2 hr delay sitting on it in DFW), train (OMNI is not getting a good customer service review from me), and automobile (taxis today...just to tired to hoof/bus/subway that big suitcase).

But check out the view from my rental apt with a private terrace. 

Weather is a fresh cool. Very comfortable to sit out, although temp is dropping with the sun, so that may not last.

Happy space ✔️

Time to find some dinner...

Picturesque Puertollano

Little village seem from the train, about halfway from Madrid to Seville .

Red tiled houses crawling up the hill over a pretty church.

There's a monument to miners standing on a hill overlooking the town. And since of the town is less picturesque, with tin roof shacks and clear evidence of the mining that occurred here.

My American is showing

  

Already can tell that Spainards are used to being a little more flexible than in the U.S., or the Asian counties I have visited more recently. 

Waiting for a train at Madrid's Puerta de Atocha Estación del tren begins with everyone hovering by the display board, waiting to find out what gate their train is coming in to. Which happens about 15 mins before the train arrives, and then everyone rushes to the gate. Then another line.

Then they've changed the train, so the seat I reserved doesn't even exist. Handed me a printed card with no consideration of window, aisle or solo seat I originally booked.

Lots of hurry up and wait. Not a place to  try and follow a super strict schedule, at least not for a first time visitor on day 1

Right now, I'm wishing I'd slept more than a few hours on the plane, so I 

Outward Bound

After a long hiatus from travel, and a longer break from blogging, I'm one more off to explore the Tookish side and put my Baggins away for a few days.

Twelve days to explore southern Spain and Portugal.

Sidenote, my seatmate on the plane is a lovely woman named Pilar, and I've already reached the limits of my Spanish, before we pulled away from the gate. SMH