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- Europe 2010 – Spain and Mediterranean Cruise – Introduction (Blast from the Past)
- Madrid, Spain – Europe 2010 Trip (Blast from the Past)
- Cordoba, Spain – Europe 2010 (Blast from the Past)
- Seville, Spain – Europe 2010 Trip (Blast from the Past)
- Granada and Toledo, Spain – Europe 2010 (Blast from the Past)
- Barcelona, Spain – Europe 2010 (Blast from the Past)
- Celebrity Constellation Cruise Ship Review (Mediterranean Cruise) – Europe 2010
- Nice, France – Europe 2010 and Mediterranean Cruise (Blast from the Past)
- Portofino, Italy – Europe 2010 and Mediterranean Cruise (Blast from the Past)
- Pisa and Florence, Italy – Europe 2010 (Blast from the Past)
- Rome, Italy – Europe 2010 (Blast from the Past)
- Naples and Pompei, Italy – Europe 2010 (Blast from the Past)
This is a Blast from the Past post. These posts chronicle our travels and other life events before we started blogging! These posts are usually heavy on the photos, but lighter on the narrative text.
After spending some time on our own in Madrid, Ken and I went on a four day tour, hitting several beautiful cities in Spain. (For those interested, it was this tour, offered by Viator).
Our first stop on the tour was Cordoba!
![Narrow streets in Cordoba Narrow streets in Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18349716003_b.jpg)
![Views in Cordoba Views in Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18347801104_b.jpg)
I’ve mentioned on the blog before that I spent a year living in Egypt right after I graduated college. It was amazing how similar much of the architecture was in many Spanish cities to what you’d see in the Middle East. That is all the Moorish influence in Spain!
Cordoba is an amazing mix of ancient Roman, Muslim, and Christian influences. And stunningly beautiful!
![Around the city of Cordoba in Spain Around the city of Cordoba in Spain](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18349717683_b.jpg)
![Around the city of Cordoba in Spain Around the city of Cordoba in Spain](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18349719643_b.jpg)
![Around the city of Cordoba in Spain Around the city of Cordoba in Spain](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18944115376_b.jpg)
Much of our afternoon in Cordoba was spent at this place, which has many names, including The Great Mosque of Cordoba, aka the Great Cathedral of Cordoba, aka the Mezquita.
So, the this place originally started under Christian construction, then Muslims took over construction after their conquest of the area in the 7th century. Fast forward about 600 years, and then Christians ordered it to become a Christian place of worship once again. So, there is a big mix of architectural styles.
For instance, the following photo looks like other photos I’ve taken in Egypt or Jordan:
![Arches inside the Great Mosque of Cordoba Arches inside the Great Mosque of Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18782722738_b.jpg)
But then on the outside of the structure, you have church bells:
![Outside the Great Mosque / Great Cathedral of Cordoba Outside the Great Mosque / Great Cathedral of Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18349730703_b.jpg)
![Outside the Great Mosque / Great Cathedral of Cordoba Outside the Great Mosque / Great Cathedral of Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18973361901_b.jpg)
And inside the mosque / church, you have portrayals of saints.
![Christian figures inside Mosque/Church of Cordoba Christian figures inside Mosque/Church of Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18782725008_b.jpg)
![Christian figures inside Mosque/Church of Cordoba Christian figures inside Mosque/Church of Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18973368911_b.jpg)
This was a recurring theme walking throughout the entire structure. It was really an amazing site to see.
![Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18347827224_b.jpg)
![Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18349743533_b.jpg)
![Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18349745863_b.jpg)
![Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18965013712_b.jpg)
![Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18782714240_b.jpg)
![Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18349749973_b.jpg)
![Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba Mezquita–catedral de Córdoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18347847124_b.jpg)
The outside of the Mezquita was also gorgeous.
![Outside the Great Mosque of Cordoba / the Great Cathedral of Cordoba Outside the Great Mosque of Cordoba / the Great Cathedral of Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18347855964_b.jpg)
![Outside the Great Mosque of Cordoba / the Great Cathedral of Cordoba Outside the Great Mosque of Cordoba / the Great Cathedral of Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18782750978_b.jpg)
![Outside the Great Mosque of Cordoba / the Great Cathedral of Cordoba Outside the Great Mosque of Cordoba / the Great Cathedral of Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18964992472_b.jpg)
![Outside the Great Mosque of Cordoba / the Great Cathedral of Cordoba Outside the Great Mosque of Cordoba / the Great Cathedral of Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18970378685_b.jpg)
And we were able to see some additional colorful buildings that surround the structure.
![Around the city of Cordoba Around the city of Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18944166636_b.jpg)
Afterwards, we walked across the “Roman Bridge” in Cordoba.
![Roman Bridge in Cordoba Roman Bridge in Cordoba](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18973409731_b.jpg)
Caught our shadows!
![Our shadows while walking across the bridge Our shadows while walking across the bridge](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18349781753_b.jpg)
And as we walked across, we could turn around to see some great views of Cordoba.
![Views of Cordoba from Roman Bridge Views of Cordoba from Roman Bridge](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18970438915_b.jpg)
![Views of Cordoba from Roman Bridge Views of Cordoba from Roman Bridge](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18782779888_b.jpg)
![Views of Cordoba from Roman Bridge Views of Cordoba from Roman Bridge](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18347882454_b.jpg)
So, a few days from then, there was a strike scheduled in Spain. And we knew it would disrupt some of our travel plans while there. But there was also grafitti ALL OVER THE PLACE in Spain essentially “advertising” the strike, or the “Huelga General.”
![Grafitti for general strike in Spain in 2010 Grafitti for general strike in Spain in 2010](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/18/18973795471_b.jpg)
And that was it for our afternoon in Cordoba. We traveled the rest of the evening to Seville, where we spent the next two days seeing some truly amazing and beautiful sites! More on Seville in the next post in this series!