Córdoba #2, Andalucía, Spain 10/2013
Having seen the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos fortress and the Cathedral of Córdoba, we realized that there was much more to see in Córdova than we had time for in one day. Abandoning the dusty, noisy overpriced campground, (€32), El Brillante Municipal RV Park, we moved to a safe parking area with other travelers for only €11 for 24 hours and literally a 5 min. walk from downtown, giving us a chance to see a little more of this historic Spanish city.
In the morning, we strolled along the riverfront to see the old Roman bridge and the Puerta del Puente. From the top of the fortress tower the day before, we had seen the Royal Stables of Córdoba, commissioned by Philip II in the sixteenth century. Grouping together the best stallions and mares of the land bordering the Guadalquivir river it was the beginning of the breed of the Andalusian horse, officially called Spanish Purebred.
Walking by the stables, we saw an announcement for an equestrian show called Pasión Y Duende del Caballo Andaluz, (The Passion and Spirit of the Andalusian Horse), and it was just about to start. Without getting into too much of the history of the Andalusian Horse, today it is apparently bred especially for concourses and equestrian competitions. We had never seen such an amazing display of high-stepping gates, backwards, sideways, crossovers,—one big stallion even sprang straight up in the air from a standstill position, all four hooves being over two feet off the ground. Another display was a beautiful Flamenco dancer twirling around a trained Andalusian, and you could swear the horse was listening to the music and keeping with the rhythm.
Watching these magnificent animals perform and realizing just exactly how many amazing things we do with the horse; pleasure riding, plowing, pulling, racing, cattle roping; I could better understand my mother’s passion, once an accomplished rodeo horsewoman and a city girl at that. She would go to the stables after school and shovel out stalls at the Kings Beach stables in San Francisco for riding credit.
After a wonderful relaxing soak in four different pools including a salt floating pool, a Hammam (steam bath) and a massage at the Baños Árabes de Córdoba, (sorry, no photos allowed) there was nothing else to do by find a cute café and enjoy a couple of tapas and some good Spanish wine. We had “done” Córdoba and ended Monika’s fun birthday celebrations.
From the top of the fortress tower the day before, we had seen the Royal Stables of Cordoba.
We had never seen such an amazing display of high-stepping gates, backwards, sideways and crossovers.
One big stallion even sprang straight up in the air from a standstill position, all four hooves being over two feet off the ground.
As a beautiful Flamenco dancer twirled about, the horse seemed to be listening to the music and having a good time keeping with the rhythm.
The Andalusian Horse, also called Spanish Purebred, is truly one of the most magnificent animals of its kind.
The Puerta del Puente, (Gate of the Bridge) had been nicely restored.
Some of the arches on the Roman Bridge are still part of the original construction from the early 1st century BC.
The narrow streets of Córdoba invite exploring.
After a wonderful relaxing soak, steam bath and massage at the Baños Árabes de Códoba, there was nothing else to do by find a cute café and enjoy a couple of tapas and some good Spanish wine.
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