Cordoba

We head south from Madrid via fast train (Click here for Rail Europe). toward legendary Cordoba, the city where Columbus was received by the king and queen before granting him charter to sail into history and discover the Americas.

It was a great port city in Roman times, sending Spanish agricultural products to Rome, and receiving in return the great El Puente Romano, the "Roman Bridge", to span the formidable Guadalquivir river. Later it became the capitol of the Moorish kingdom of El-Andalus. And in the early 13th century, during the Spanish Reconquest, the Christian kings found the city so beautiful they left its Moorish archictural wonders standing and added to it.

Cordoba Spain

Seville

Or as the signs in the town say... "Sevilla"... is a little ways further south down the Guadalquivir river.

Seville Spain Some say that Tapas originated in Sevilla, but you can hear any number of alternate stories. One thing for certain, there are hundreds of tapas receipies, with each region having its favorites. What are tapas, you may ask... they are "snacks" that come between main meals. They can be as light as a slice of ham covering your wine glass, the heaviest being a small pastry pie. Olives are common. Cold Gazpacho soup falls in this category.

There are in excess of a thousand tapas bars in Sevilla, and they are so good that Sevillinos sometimes make their meal from tapas alone, going from bar to bar and having the best from here, the best from there. When you visit the Alcazar in the Santa Cruz quarter of Sevilla, ask for directions to Las Teresas, a fine tapas bar. If you cross the Guadalquivir via the Triana Bridge, you might try Bodeguita Sanlucar.

The photos at left, from top, are of... the city of Seville... palm tree lined Real Alcazar... the golden tower,Torre del Oro... a very classico way of travel... and the famous Plaza de Espana bridge
(no, it's not a picture of a
Las Vegas hotel).

Before we go on to the white sand beaches of the Spanish Rivera, let's take another little side trip and visit the little Andalucian village of Ronda.

Ronda Spain

Ronda

Set on the edge of fantastic gorges, this is a defensive dream town. A bridge over the canyon mouth separates the present town from La Ciudad where the historical old town awaits visitors with its Garrison and gates. The sheer cliffs have made Ronda one of the most difficult tasks of any army trying to take Andalucia. Cutting off the water supply at the Garrison at the base of the cliffs seems about the only way to win the town.

Ronda Spain Hotel Fortunately, we have no need for conquest, and can just wander down the ancient paths along the ancient walls, until we reach the new, whitewashed pueblo blanco section and sit down to some lovely tapas.

After you have had your fill, grab your bathing suit, Click Here and let's go to the warm Spanish Riviera.

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