Sunday 15 June: Cordoba

Poor Mike did not have a good night. Lots of coughing and then this morning his eye was much worse.

Barb had downloaded some walking tours and set off to explore and we set about finding a pharmacy open on a Sunday. There was one not too far away, but they said he needed antibiotic drops and therefore a doctor. The pharmacist gave us directions to a private hospital where we could get a doctor’s appointment. It was a 10 minute walk in the other direction back past our apartment.

We now know that the tower is the top of the Mosque-Cathedral

Lots of different and colourful building styles

Many of the streets are narrow and decorated with pots of ornamental (or real) flowers. Evidently there is a 2 week festival in May when everyone decorates their courtyards and then invites neighbours in to enjoy it. That festival is itself a world heritage event!

It was getting hot.

In places you have to squeeze into doorways to let cars and small vans past. The taxi we got first, transferred us to another driver when he saw the address and said “I can’t go there”.

The Red Cross Hospital of Cordoba is in a lovely building and is super efficient.

The hospital is on the right beside the water feature. We had just walked through the old city wall at the left.

First he got admitted ( with a bracelet thing and bar code – I kid you not), then was seen by a nurse who took his details and blood pressure etc. Then we had a 5 minute wait and were called into the doctor. She announced it was conjunctivitis and needed eye drops and then heard his cough, so checked his lungs and throat. Then she checked my lungs for good measure. All fine on the respiratory front.

That all cost €82 but we were actually seen by a doctor so we felt reassured. Then it was back to the pharmacy for the eye drops which were only €3.50.

After all that, it was nearly 2pm and we’d had nothing to eat. We walked further up the road and found this large square and a very nice restaurant, full of Spanish people enjoying Sunday lunch.

You could eat outside under umbrellas or inside where there is air conditioning. We went inside. We had a chicken and pork paella to share and 2 large beers and it was delicious.

Barb joined us at the restaurant (Gran Bar) and then we had a wander around but by this time it was 39C and most shops were closed so we headed back to the apartment.

All of us enjoyed lengthy siestas.

We headed out when the temperature had cooled (to about 34C) and wandered down towards the Mosque-Cathedral, which is another world heritage site. We have tickets booked for that tomorrow morning.

Behind the Mosque-Cathedral adjoining the new part and looking towards the footbridge over the river.

I’ve seen a virtual model of the Mosque-Cathedral and it is very impressive. It occupies a large city block beside the river (it is not clean like the Waikato) and has walls on each side. It’s all very grand and the views up and down the (murky) river were also lovely in the evening light.

There are some weirs under the bridge. Not sure if it was a former mill or what but the river definitely goes down a couple of metres. There’s a former water wheel at the right of this photo.

We then walked back around the mosque-Cathedral (that’s what it’s called) and up an alley and found a nice tapas bar, where we ordered too much food but were able to bring home leftovers. We didn’t leave the restaurant until 10.30pm and people were still turning up to eat!

We are trying to drink a lot more water.