Córdoba and Granada

This weekend was packed with an ISA excursion to two Andalucían cities. Over 100 of us filled two autobuses and at least one floor of a hotel with our bags (no Ryan Air, no holding back), excited chatter, and a whole new appreciation for clean bathrooms.

Córdoba 

Age of Empires:  Córdoba   

Although I had a couple of the pre-packed crossaints Rosa buys in bulk (we go through a bag a week) for breakfast, eating was my first priority upon arriving in Córdoba. Bocadillos must have been written into the Contract of Host Motherhood, because on these excursions everyone has basically the same loaf of bread with a slice or two of jamón and queso in the middle. Rosa knows that her niños are growing young women and need to be fed often, so she always packs us two. As we made our way over the bridge and to La Mezquita, I rescued one of my bocadillos from the dark confines of its plastic bag, and was quickly assaulted by one of the many gypsy women that evidently frequent the touristy sites.  

Leah: future gypsy

"Por favor, gracias, I have a child, I have hunger, please, money....mis niños...gracias, euros..."

Okay lady, I can identify with your hunger.  But whether it's real or not, your Louis Vuitton bag is not indicating a great need for me to add to the .50 euro you are pitifully cradling.  

The gypsies were everywhere and had a few issues with personal space.  I highly recommend visiting La Mezquita-Catedral, but look forward to the crowd of roaming babushka ladies. 

La Mezquita-Catedral was first known as the San Vicente Basilica, which was destroyed after the Islamic invasion of Córdoba and replaced with a mosque.  After King Ferdinand III took back Córdoba during the Reconquista, the Catholics added a chapel here, some crosses there, and voila! there's your Mezquita-Catedral.  Ever since the 13th century, Catholic mass has been celebrated every day.  I truly wish my pictures could do this place justice, but it's very difficult to experience the beauty without following around a witty tour guide in a group of 35 of your BFFs. 

 

Tour guide & my best friend

Niños under an umbrella...ahsocute!!

It was rainy in Córdoba, so we spent the majority of our free time after La Mezquita-Catedral enjoying café con leche and ice cream while safely indoors and free from the gypsies.

Granada

After a healthy five hours in Córdoba, we were herded back on the bus to see what has become my second favorite city in Spain.  I'm thinking Ferdinand and his wifey Queen Isabella did not quite succeed completely conquering Granada, because it is still under a heavy Arabic influence.  There are hundreds of tiny little shops full of Moroccan goods, with owners who will make a "special deal" just for you, the "rubia más guapa de todo el mundo."  Well! I would be a fool to turn down super special prices just for me, so here I sit, in my new obnoxiously bright Aladdin pants and hippie headband.  

Hey, the guy said the color went great with my hair!

If you are planning a trip to Spain to see the rubia más guapa (keeping that one for a rainy day) then you must go to Granada.  For all you planners, this is what we will do together:

Granada Itinerary

- Los Tarantos for the best flamenco show I've ever seen in my life.  Best part? It's in a cave.  For the rest of my life, I can casually work into conversation, "Oh that's so cool...that story reminds me of the time in Granada I saw this flamenco show in a cave..." 

La Alhambra: see facebook for more photos

- La Alhambra: massive Moorish palaces with gorgeous gardens.  The detail in absolutely every aspect of the place is unbelievable.

- Shopping! Ladieez.  I don't care if I've seen the same tapestries in every single shop, this guy is going to give me a great deal.  Also, the postcards are supahcheap.

- Free tapas! The tapas restaurants are so proud of their food that they just give you one with every drink.  I bought a 2 euro tinto de verano and received a small mountain of Chinese rice.  Don't be confused by the Chinese-Spanish food.  Just go with it, man.

Joy.

- Kebabs.  If there were a word-counter this weekend, kebab would be #2 on my list, right after "OMGSHOPPING!" I am telling you, pita and beef have never tasted so good.  I felt bad wasting the opportunity for free tapas, but all I wanted was a 5 euro meal of kebab, plate-o-fries, and Coke.  And to get the full effect you have to say it right: keh-BAB. 

Hm-hm, no, I wouldn't like to share.

- Moroccan tea/hookah lounges.  Maybe it's because I haven't had it in two months, or maybe it was because they gave me my own teapot to use, but I had the best chai tea ever at one of these places.

- Capilla Real is the gorgeous chapel/final resting place of King Fernando V and Queen Isabel I.  The history was SO interesting.  Although most of us had traded sleep in bed bug-free beds at our hotel for quality time at the chupiteria the night before and were thus exhausted...I loved it.  No pictures were allowed, but let me just tell you that there's a statue of John the Baptist immediately after his head was cut off.  Jealous yet?  Also, if you wait in line for 45 minutes, you can see the tombs of the royal family through a little window underneath the chapel.

Sarah Bigelow had a big weekend: her ginger-chic self turned 20 years old on St. Patrick's Day! Really, could any day of the year be more fitting?  The entire world was celebrating people that look fabulous in green, and she is definitely one of them.  Happy birthday Sarah!!

Well done, Granada.  Well done.