We took our first train to Seville and I have to admit that I absolutely love traveling by train. We have taken several now, including a night train, and it is far superior to traveling by air. It is practical, very accessible, and peaceful, compared to flying which is out of the way and hectic. Not that it could ever work in the states, but in Europe it is definitely the way to go!
On the opposite side of the spectrum is taking a taxi in Spain. It is an insane experience that I’d rather not repeat. The drivers do not yield to pedestrians until the very last moment…even in the case of an elderly woman or a women pushing a stroller. And given that the streets were designed to fit carriages and not cars, buses, etc., it can be more exhilarating than going to Six Flags. Seriously, if you are into extreme sports come to Spain and ride in their taxi’s.
Seville
Our visit to the cathedral in Seville was certainly a highlight of our time in Spain. It is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third largest in the world. As well, it was transformed from a mosque into a cathedral and it still bears the remnants of this transformation. Most visible of which is the bell tower, which once used to be a minaret. As you can see from the pictures, the Islamic style “key holes” still testify to the bloody wars that used to take place in Southern Spain.
The same transformation can be seen in the cathedral/mosque in Cordoba.
Cordoba
Cordoba has a very small town feel to it that is inviting after coming from larger cities like Paris, Barcelona, and Seville. There are far less tourists and it is very easy to get around by walking.
Here are some highlights:
The Cathedral/Mosque of Corboba: This site was at one time the site of a church leading up to the Moorish expansion into Spain. As the number of Muslims began to grow in Cordoba, they were in need of a bigger building to house their worshippers. In order to meet this need, the Muslims actually bought the church from the Christians and turned it into a mosque. However, as the Christians began pushing out the Muslims during the Crusades, they took over the mosque and converted it into a cathedral. This is just one of the buildings in Southern Spain that international Muslim groups are currently trying to get returned.
Our hotel! Absolutely amazing! It is actually built on top of some old Roman ruins and the hotel restaurant has a glass floor which looks down on the ruins. Pretty cool!
