Today was our rest day in Cordoba. It’s a busy and vibrant place, showing the influence of many cultures and layers of history.
This Arabic Salon de Thé had a gorgeous interior, as do many of the restaurants and hotels here - there are garden courtyards, tiles and pillars which seem cool and enticing.
The key building (and tourist attraction) is the Mezquita. The site was (by some accounts) originally a Visigothic church. The church was purchased in the 8th century, razed to the ground and a mosque built at a time when Cordoba was the capital of Muslim-ruled Al-Andalus. It was converted back into a cathedral in the 13th century when Cordoba was conquered by the Christians in the Reconquista.
The scale and composition of the building is astonishing, as is the huge variety of decoration, stone work, mosaics and art.
This was also our last day on Camino together. Tomorrow morning Neil walks on (for another 11km or so), while Sarah starts travelling to Bonnevaux in France, the centre for the World Community for Christian Meditation. She will be leading a retreat on joy this coming week, and then beginning a personal, 30-day silent retreat.
After an afternoon spent trying (ultimately successfully) to find alternatives for a flight cancellation for Sarah we wandered back into the city centre for a final tapas and sangria. We were joined by Karsten and Esther who also walk on tomorrow. We sat outside in a wonderful plaza entirely surrounded by cloisters and had the best tapas so far. Walking the two kilometres back to our hostel we passed through streets that were heaving with revellers and ringing with music. The Cruces de Mayo fiesta is in full swing!!
It’s been such a wonderful experience to share this part of the Camino Mozarabe together and we are very grateful for your company on the blog and for your thoughtful and witty comments! The blog will of course continue as Neil walks on, and as Sarah sends news of Bonnevaux, so we hope you continue to join us on our ways.
Buen Camino
Neil and Sarah 🙏👣
Interesting the mixture of Islamic geometrical decoration and the more representational Christian art.
ReplyDeleteGo well dear pilgrims. I head for Texas today on another sort of pilgrimage. Charles
Have finally caught up with you in ‘real time’, having been following days after and reading the messages you left on the trail. … Makes me think about how there are many ways to leave (and follow) yellow arrows for others in our daily lives and relationships.
ReplyDeleteWondering about differences in artistic inspiration of faith - Islamic patterns could almost induce a dissociative abstract experience of awe, Christian representation focuses on concrete story-telling and lessons?
Godspeed to both, KAS
Thank you for your glorious photos and thoughtful musings - it has been a treat to share in your journey. Thank you for sharing so generously. Blessings on you both for the next stages. Lyn P
ReplyDeleteNice that you could visit the Mezquita, thank you for the pictures and explanations! I hope Sarah arrives safely in France, the cancellation of the flight must have been stressful.. I am glad that you could find a successful alternative. I wish you all the best in this new stage of the journey that you are now starting separately.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo!
Alba
Certainly such a treat to follow in your footsteps. For Sarah, 30 days silent retreat in Bonnevaux sounds like a wonderful well deserved rest and another spiritual experience. And Neil, we will delight in following the journey. Amazing photos in Cordoba, the Mosque-Cathedral is so unique, again bringing back many memories. Keep well and many blessings to you both. Bxx
ReplyDeleteAnd we / it all coexist, together, separately, there, here, intertwined lives, Muslim arches and designs, Christian symbols of faith and servitude… it’s a pity that conquest was/is so desirable … the decimation of one to make room for the other, the subordination of others to exert control …so unnecessary ! I am loving that you’ve so wonderfully demonstrated how easy (well, from here it looks a breeze!) it is to be with and accept all as it is… and that you’ll continue to do that as one continues the outer journey and the other embarks on the inner journey… wonder which will be the more challenging?? And can Sarah send news of her journey while on silent retreat? And will she want to?? 😉Go well on your separate journeys together with us all! Much love, Deb ❤️👣
ReplyDeleteI look forward to continuing to join you on your ways. Sending love, Elizabeth R. xo
ReplyDelete