Last night I set my alarm for 7:30a. I think the last time I was awake that early was before I started my trip – or over 80 days ago. Now why would I be waking up so early on vacation and on a Saturday no less?? Well I procrastinated and this was the last day I’d be able to visit the Mezquita and free from the hours of 8:30-9:30a everyday except Sundays.
What’s the Mezquita you ask? It’s a church that was built inside a mosque. Time for another installment of “Amy’s Condensed Version of History.” Originally a small church stood at this site. Then Abd al-Rahman I ordered a mosque to be constructed there in 784 when he ruled this area. Later Muslim rulers would each expand upon the mosque making it larger and more extravagant. That is until Córdoba returned to Christian rule in 1236. The King wanted the mosque destroyed so a church could be put in its place. Legend has it that he came to visit the site of the mosque and saw how beautiful it was so he canceled the destruction and a mosque was turned into a church.
I don’t know about you but I’ve never seen anything like it. Moorish architecture next to images of Jesus and Mary. Typically, these styles do not exist together as the styles are vastly different. Anyone who has stepped into a Christian church knows it’s not so tiled or intricately adorned.
After that, I had no other plans except to find food at some point until I realized almost all the stores are closed today. I asked the front desk and it’s some kind of fiesta or party today in Córdoba. And it started raining today. I’m laughing to myself because even if I found the motivation to do much of anything besides binge watch Cable Girls on Netflix, there isn’t much to do and I’d get soaked. So thanks Universe for deciding for me that staying in and relaxing is the best option of all.
Tomorrow I leave Córdoba to head back to Sevilla for one night before flying to Lisbon for 2 days and then HOME! Now, back to Cable Girls.
There She Goes... 