Arches of Crodoba

Jill and I spent at least an hour wandering around inside the Mezquita-Cathedral. As I mentioned in yesterdays post the architecture was simply stunning. Here are some photos, even though it's so much better to see in person!

You might be able to tell that the alternating red and white arches in the first and second photos look a bit different than in the third photo. Because the mosque was enlarged at various times, different techniques were used to achieve the look. In the first two photos actual red bricks were used while in the third photo the look was achieved by painting red onto the arches. Another interesting fact is that there are 856 columns (of the original 1,293 before the cathedral was built into the mosque) of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite supporting the arches.

We were lucky and arrived for our visit early enough to witness mass being held in the cathedral. The priests were singing and the atmosphere was overwhelming.

Mihrab

Okay, only a couple more posts about my travels through Spain. I had such a great time that it's hard to stop talking about it. Anyway, one of the other highlights of my time in Cordoba was our visit to the Mezquita-Cathedral. This building features some of the most amazing architecture that I've ever experienced. Although the building served many purposes it was used as a mosque from about 784 until 1236 when after the Reconquista it was turned back into a Christian church. In the photos below you can see the spectacular focal point of the mosque, the Mihrab. It was built in the mid 10th century and according to Rick Steves, 3000 pounds of stones were used in it's mosaic.

Wild Flowers

The Greek countryside is starting to bloom! While spending time around Attica on Friday I took a few shots of the various flowers I saw. Hopefully we'll get a chance to take a few more photos as the spring season continues to grow near.

 

Out and About

For the past few days I've been reliving life as a Regular Member at the American School. On Thursday, I accompanied the members on a walk tracing the ancient city walls of Athens. It was an adventure that began in the Kerameikos (ancient cemetery where two significant gates of the city were located) and followed the walls for exactly 6.02 miles according to Margie's pedometer. Many portions of the walls can be seen underneath modern apartment buildings, within modern museums, in the basements of modern hotels, etc. It was an exciting morning. On Friday, Rob and I accompanied the members for a day trip around Attica in search of ancient border forts. It was a fun filled day that included some fantastic scenery. Below, Rob and his colleagues discuss Phyle, a fort on the frontier of Attica.

Just before lunch we took a pit stop at the Monastery of the Blessed Meletios. The church that is seen in the photo below dates from around 1035 A.D. What you don't see is the skirt I donned which is custom at many monasteries. 

Aegosthena, the final fort of the day, came complete with beautiful views to the eastern end of the Corinthian Gulf. These images are what I love so much about Greece.

Maimonides

This statue of the Jewish philosopher Maimonides sits in  Tiberiadus Square, the heart of the Jewish quarter of Cordoba. Maimonides was born here in 1138 when Cordoba was one of the greatest intellectual centers of the world. When Maimonides was ten the Almohads (a Muslim dynasty from North Africa) invaded and his family was forced with the decision to either convert, flee, or face death. The chose to flee and Maimonides spent a good portion of his life (and died) in Egypt. Today he is known as one the the greatest Jewish philosophers, Torah scholars, and doctors of the Middle Ages.

Roman Cordoba

I have been trained (thanks to my time traveling with the American School) to seek out Greek and Roman remains wherever I travel and Cordoba didn't disappoint. The remains in include a Roman temple, mausoleum, and a heavily reconstructed bridge. Also of interest is the statue of Seneca near the Jewish Quarter. Seneca, a Roman Stoic philosopher and advisor to Emperor Nero, was born here around 4-1 BC. 

Paseo de los Reyes

Jill and I most enjoyed the gardens at the Alcazar in Cordoba. These gardens occupy about 55,000 square meters of land and contain many different kinds of plants including orange and lemon trees as well as cypress and palm trees.

Jill loved the trees so much that she started hugging them! It was really embarrassing and I couldn't get her to stop! ;) Seriously though we found the coolest tree near the back of the gardens. It was trimmed to look like a tower and we enjoyed playing and posing with it. Another fun fact about the Alcazar is that it was the location where Christopher Columbus asked Isabella and Ferdinand to sponsor his trip to the Indies....but we all know that he ended up in the Americas. There is a nice representation of their meeting amongst the trees.