Beyond -- To Córdoba, Spain

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzCq23T-zfwfKh-zqZcCITqVicDv0pf7YcptnEBumhpaj_BMNjz1cckEtB0Ek_JyYBQvOM45aLMBOSUQbTiK7vaDYvpRz8lUFFZAmkmdAJtv3OEvAQYnzoceYoi1APHr_2wvbMzSfpP8/s1600/2010+0911+Madrid+Day+5+DSC_0121sized.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519193584427352898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzCq23T-zfwfKh-zqZcCITqVicDv0pf7YcptnEBumhpaj_BMNjz1cckEtB0Ek_JyYBQvOM45aLMBOSUQbTiK7vaDYvpRz8lUFFZAmkmdAJtv3OEvAQYnzoceYoi1APHr_2wvbMzSfpP8/s640/2010+0911+Madrid+Day+5+DSC_0121sized.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; ; DISPLAY: block; ; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>The Catedral de Córdoba was formerly the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Mosque_of_C%C3%B3rdoba"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Great Mosque of Córdoba</strong></span></a>, or the <a href="http://www.mezquitadecordoba.org/en/"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Mezquita</strong></span></a>. It has long been on my list of places to visit (and photograph). With its 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite it did not disappoint! Although the temperature was almost 100F when we visited on September 11th, it was a place that took my breath away.</div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQa3MShcnejMfkNxHyBmL_pVQX9nh-dSMboYXwv6tq4qTvakDB0SEORPvGRV-BmgBMYicGtowruHYieDsAgBEAyYZaUrSZW1_S8RI7GeNz-aXAOWQrJfpkzMMTIDu9zLJaaclW1vb1Gb8/s1600/2010+0911+Madrid+Day+5+DSC_0035sharpen.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519194880198504210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQa3MShcnejMfkNxHyBmL_pVQX9nh-dSMboYXwv6tq4qTvakDB0SEORPvGRV-BmgBMYicGtowruHYieDsAgBEAyYZaUrSZW1_S8RI7GeNz-aXAOWQrJfpkzMMTIDu9zLJaaclW1vb1Gb8/s320/2010+0911+Madrid+Day+5+DSC_0035sharpen.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" /></a><br /><div>Built in the 700s by the Moors, it was taken over by Catholic monarchs in the 1200s. Rather than tear it down, as had been done in Toledo and Seville, they built a Baroque cathedral right in the center of it leaving a treasure of architecture and art for future generations.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Tomorrow we are back in Paris.</div>

Beyond -- To Córdoba, Spain

The Catedral de Córdoba was formerly the Great Mosque of Córdoba , or the Mezquita . It has long been on my list of places to visit (and pho...

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