Travel: Cordoba, Spain

CNN's recent travel article got me to reminiscing...

Traveling is divine. There's something so romantic about wheels touching ground in a foreign country, one where you have no history or connection. Everything is new and exciting; an experience in the making. Just getting off the plane is a thrill, with the unknown staring you down: poster ads, text messages, strangers hugging. But sometimes you find a place that's an entirely new level of magic. The summer streets of southern Spain are seering hot with even shelter in the shade allowing little reprieve. The weather begs for a siesta in a cool, dim room for a long afternoon. If that can't be arranged, you would settle for a cold drink in a dark corner with delicious little tapas. Simple, and yet so perfect.

We traveled to Cordoba in 2003, and it was one of the best trips we've had. It was hot everywhere, but the nights were deliciously warm. The narrow streets steeped in history. The whitewashed homes with spectacular tile, wrought iron, and oasis courtyards gave off such a refreshing aura. And the piece de resistance, the Mezquita, a vast mosque with a cathedral built in its middle. It's such a collection of conflict, harmony and history that it makes you reconsider yourself and the history you know.

With only 4 days in Andalucia, we only spent a day exploring in Cordoba, a day in Carmona, and two days in Sevilla. Just enough to whet our appetites for more.