Córdoba

Another comfortable ride on the AVE high speed train delivered us to Córdoba. We were actually on it long enough to receive a drink. When we arrived at Córdoba and walked the long length of the train we could see the majority of the carriages were not in service. We presume that is because the train goes down to the Costa del Sol full, and then they bring back the empty carriages to Madrid to fill them up again for the return journey.

The dry heat in the afternoon is intense in Córdoba, so we took relief in the Mezquita, a former mosque with a 16th century church in the middle. It is a vast building with over 800 columns topped with red and white arches. We found it one of the most interesting sights of our trip. No queues either.

We are staying at another NH hotel, well situated half way between the railway station and the Mezquita. Lovely big and quiet rooms. There is a basic restaurant on the plaza near by that was handy for us. Their grilled squid was very good, glad we avoided the pork lung stew.