First stop: Córdoba. Why? The Mezquita of course. Built in the 8th century, this was the most important mosque of the city when the Muslim's had control of Spain. Of course, after those Christian folk got all reconquest-happy it was turned into a Gothic cathedral. The mix of architecture is incredible.
The majority of the inside is covered with these brick arches with alternating white and red stripes.
We also saw a Flamenco show. The traditional Spanish dance was so fun to watch! It is best described as a combination of tango, tap, ballet, and stomping with twirly big arm movements, plus a lot of clapping (substituted sometimes by the small wooden things they clack in their hands). There were two guitar players, two singers, and several dancers who came on for different numbers.
I guess part of Flamenco culture is the serious passion behind it. All the dancers' faces were extremely concentrated and almost pained until their ecstatic bow.
Stop #2 La Alhambra in Granada.
Fact: Most visited place in Spain.
Fact: 8 thousand tourists a day.
Fact: Residence of Muslim Royals.
Mystery: How did they finish all the intricate decorations in only 160 years?
This was one of the coolest places I have seen. It's a huge palace with tons of inner patios with perfectly trimmed bushes, fountains, flowers, and pools of water ground level. Unlike gaudy Christian iconography, Muslim architecture is not extravgant on the outside, all the aesthetics are saved for the inside and limited to vegtation and scripture.
I can't believe someone did all this with a small pick all over the walls.
I'm sure the south in the U.S. has some cool things too. Definitely not epic mosques. In fact probably no mosques at all... But I mean... the twang. That's cool! I guess... Speaking of, Andalusia(southern Spain)-ers have an accent too. They don't pronounce S at the end of words.
Well, Adio_!
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