Cordoba, Gaudix, Jaen, Toledo

(blog post link above has pictures) Before heading to Madrid from Granada, we took advantage of having a rental car to make several small side trips. I debated for weeks whether we should use the excellent railway system or rent a car, but ultimately, the flexibility of driving—combined with the extra luggage we have for our extended stay in Argentina—won out. One great bonus was the freedom to visit places off the main route.

Our first stop was Córdoba—a famous city known for its gorgeous whitewashed walls and winding streets. We spent a rainy day there exploring the renowned Mesquita-Catedral. I had hoped to learn more of its history through the audio tour, but alas, Mae and Nell demanded most of my attention. Still, I was awestruck by the building’s beauty and its 1,200 years of history. Although the site is open to visitors of all faiths, I was saddened to learn that Muslims are not permitted to pray there, as it is now reserved exclusively for Christian worship.

Beyond the Mesquita, we strolled across the Roman Bridge, browsed a small market, and discovered a fascinating little museum housed in one of the bridge towers. It was a wonderful way to spend a day immersed in Córdoba’s rich culture and history.

Gaudix- we learned that in Southern Spain there is a hundreds year old history of people building homes into the rock as "casas cuevas" (cave houses)- and were able to book a night in one in the small village of Gaudix. What a cool, beautiful stay- and the landscape was also as if we were transported elsewhere. (Another blogger's insights here).

Jaen- a short stop on our way to Toledo- we explored the old castle atop the hill. It had a small thrill for the girls- the chance to try to grab a dragon hologram, apparently the town has a mythology of dragons and is purported to be in the shape of a dragon. They thought that was really cool!

Toledo- we decided to spend a quick night in this famous ancient city atop a hill, famous for its history of sword making. Aside from winding our way through the fun streets, the highlight was getting to visit the last sword making shop in the old town, and stumbling across a small historical site where old roman baths were found (and the lighting was perfect for making shadow puppets #travellingwithkids).

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