Visiting the Mezquita

This is a view of the Hotel Gonzalez where we stayed in Cordoba. It's literally ten metres from the Mezquita. The Mezquita was orginally a mosque built by the Islamic caliphs when the jihad spread from Middle East down North Africa, and continued from Morocco to South of Spain. This was subsequently re-conquered by the Christian kings and a cathedral was built right in the middle of the mosque. IMHO, this destroyed the beauty of the place. Sort of a desecration, even though I'm not a Muslim.

Here Russell is running around in the courtyard of the Mezquita, which has many fountains for abolution rites, where the Muslims wash themselves before prayer. It has also lots of orange tress and is really more beautiful than these photos can show.

Still in the courtyard, with the tower behind. In Islamic times, this was the place where the call to prayer was made. When the Christian reconquest came about, this was partially destroyed and is considerably shortened now. Also the top was replaced with a Baroque style roof.

Within the Mezquita. It's literally breathtaking and is HUGE inside. Just imagine hundreds of men prostrate and worshipping their god within the space in times past... Russell loved this place, and ran circles inside this place, non-stop for almost 45 minutes.