The dawn heralds the morning sun that shines so brightly and hotly, as though it were a radiant chariot riding across the sky reminiscent of beautiful fields of violets... Oh phooey. It's so hot. We had breakfast at the tiny hole-the-wall cafeteria on the ground floor of the hotel. I had some apple pastry thingy that was just sweet and unspectacular, and zuma de naranja (orange juice) for a drink. I feel fat, so I guess I should cut down on all that excessive eating... ^^"
Mum and I slacked around for a while (today turned out to be quite a slacky kinda day, very Rayson-like indeed! You'll see why later), while Dad and Wendy went to get tickets for the train tomorrow, and Mr and Mrs Ho went to Zara to get a refund on one of the trousers they had gotten. Finally my mum couldn't sit still for any longer and at eleven thirty, we went down the street to the river and the bridge spanning it behind our hotel. We took a few pictures there, then walked back and at eleven forty-five, all of us headed to the monument just outside our lodgings - the Catedral de Cordoba. The site changed on the way from being a mosque to a church then a church to a mosque many times over, and I found that it had many similarities to the other cathedrals I had visited prior in Spain, but at the same time, there were a lot of differences in architecture. After we had gotten our tickets and stepped into the building, I was momentarily taken aback because there were loads of arches everywhere and the rims of all of them were alternately painted red and left bare. It reminded me strongly of carnival tent roofs but the effect was actually very nice. Pictures to follow on Facebook! As usual , the central area was very large and grand and I was finally able to get a picture of the controller of the pipe organ this time (I think - might be mistaken though!). I'll let the pictures do the talking provided they turn out fine - my camera screen has gone screwy with a multitude of vertical lines crossing it (faded too...) so I can't really perceive whether the pictures're picture perfect. =/ We saw a bride and groom taking wedding pictures in the cathedral! W followed them out where confetti exploded unto them with much fanfare and a horse-drawn wedding carriage awaited them. Joyous occasion that was! ^^
We sought lunch after that at the Bar Santos nearby. There was an incredibly long queue so Dad and Wendy went to queue for the food while the rest of us went to find seats outside - an empty patch of raised sidewalk of the Catedral de Cordoba. The patrons of the bar were seated all along the length of it because there's vey little space indeed in the bar. I got pictures of this too, so that you guys can see what it's like. So everyone had a plate of tortilla and it was smashing! It was firm yet easy to chew and tasted of the goodness of potatoes and fried egg (without capsicum and other unneeded veggies, yeuch! =P). There was also a plate of chicken salad and chicken meatballs to share amongst the six of us. The chicken salad barely had any veggies in it and was kinda sweet, sour and spicy all at the same time. It went very well with the tortilla, and so did the meatballs, which were perfectly done with a sour and slightly tangy sauce. Good stuff, and it certainly was good enough a meal to explain the long queue!
We returned to the hotel next to siesta in typical Spanish fashion lol! And I typed a good bit of this post then while Mum and Dad and the Hos went up to make coffee and have an afternoon nap (don't ask me how they managed both those things together but they did!). The sun's really bright in this town - my eyes hurt just from being out in the open, and if you aren't in the shade, it's really too hot for words! I'm actually glad that they're having a rest, so that I can chill too. ^^
We met back down slightly after four then headed for another palace near our hotel - Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos. *groans* It was still really hot, but when we got there, it was closing! *cheers* So we headed into town instead, but stopped by a synagogue. It was small and had information in English so it was actually quite interesting!
We then stopped by a trinket shop for a very very long while. Many moons passed. Rayson wilted waiting in the courtyard. He became irritable. We then headed into the town center. Guess what for? Indeed, to shop! Mum and Mrs Ho stepped into a shop called Pimkie, and it was like that casino in Percy Jackson? They spent more than an hour in there trying and retrying clothes for size and time just seemed to stop. I stood outside and turned into a sculpture. I did notice quite a few dogs on leashes pass by though - the Spaniards seem to like dogs a whole lot. After they were done, it was my turn! I dropped into Jack & Jones across the street, picked two tees, tried them and was out like a shot within fifteen minutes. They're nice! I'll show them to you if you want when I get back! ^^
We trooped off to Desigual in the next street and there was a celebration there! A fiesta! They offered customers free tidbits and an interesting fizzy sorta wine. I scooted upstairs, tried a shirt and a long-sleeved tee, chucked the tee aside, and decided on the shirt. Sixty-four euros and then a twenty percent discount - you do the math. =P I went downstairs then to find the rest. At the counter, a salesgirl put a pair of psychadelic paper glasses on me and, putting up the "victory" sign, said "Hippie!". So I did the same thing and got a picture with her too. Then she gave me a cheap woven sombrero with a colourful band on it. And somehow on the way, perhaps under the influence of alcohol without dinner, the moolah began to flow out of our pockets into their cash registers. Actually my family did okay, we crossed a hundred euros, but not by much - the Hos spent several hundred there! We sure let the party mood get to us! D=
We spent long enough at Desigual and then decided to go back to the same place as lunch for dinner. We had sausages instead of chicken salad this time and they were rather salty, but they still made for a good dish, and cheap to boot!
We returned to the hotel after that quite satisfying dinner to put down all that shopping and make a visit to the bridge thereafter. What a contrast it was compared to the simmering heat of the day! It was cool, people were strolling hither and thither, and the atmosphere was one of utter relaxation. Oh for such weather and monuments in humid and land-scarce Singapore! Took a couple of pictures, but not with me in them, partly because I looked like a kook with the sombrero and my hair was flat without it. And I had to keep my hand on it quite a lot of the time as there was a threatening breeze. Bother. I still like it anyway, that's unconditional love for you. =P
So we returned to base after that and i'm typing this in my room. Got to go down to use the WiFi in the lobby in order to post this up so I guess I'll end it off here. Goodnight, dear reader! ^^
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Calle del Corregidor Luis de la Cerda,Cordova,Spain
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