Córdoba and Málaga

When I was home for Easter I was searching hotel websites and came across a really cheap one in Córdoba, Andalusia and decided to impulsively book it for this weekend. I'd never heard much about Córdoba and it wasn't somewhere I'd have thought I really wanted to go but the hotel had a bath and when I started googling it, it looked so pretty and I was instantly glad I'd booked it.

As I previously mentioned, the hotel had a bath in every room and honestly it was one of the main reasons I'd booked which sounds crazy I know. In my excitement I went to Lush in Valencia and bought way too many products for a 3 night stay but I regret nothing.

Pretty bath 

I arrived in Córdoba on Thurday night and caught the bus to my hotel. The bus was only 1,20€ for a 25 minute journey and I couldn't believe how cheap it was compared to England. On Friday, I set off to the city centre and after taking a wrong turn and walking along the river in the wrong direction, I finally found the centre. I arrived at the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos which is a Spanish fortress of Moorish origin and once served as one of the primary residences of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. The entry was 4,50€ which in my opinion was completely worth it as you could climb to the top where there was a great view of the grounds and surrounding area and the gardens were huge with so many beautiful and colourful flowers. It was nice just to sit for a while and watch the water fountain display and hide in the shade from the 28 degree heat.

Next I headed to the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba which was 8€ to enter which I thought was a bit high for a Cathedral but I guess if you're religious it would be worth it. Saying that, however, the detail inside was incredible with every wall covered in paintings, sculptures and intricate designs. Throughout there is also 856 columns made from jasper, onyx, marble and granite which were made from pieces of the Roman temple which had occupied the site previously, as well as red and white arches. So overall I'm glad I decided to go in and have a look.

Outside of the Mezquita 

Arches inside 

Such Detailed Walls 

Beautiful Celling

Stained Glass Window 

Another Pretty Celling, 

On Saturday I decided to take a day trip to Málaga and was originally going to go up the castle but the weather was so hot I just decided to go to the beach for the day. I went to la Playa de la Malagueta where the sea was absolutely freezing and the sand was incredibly hot and so I actually spent most of the day under a palm tree on the grassy area of the beach and looking around the port. However it was a lovely day trip and the coast of Málaga is a beautiful one.

Sign on the Beach 

Pretty View of the Coastline 

The Port 

The Port 

While I was in Córdoba, they were celebrating the Cruces de Mayo which is a festival and a contest in where the different Catholic brotherhoods compete for the best-decorated cross. So after checking out of my hotel I walked around the city to see these Cruces which were impressive.

 

 

I also went to have a look at the Roman Temple which was built in the middle of the first century and the Roman bridge which was also built in the first century and I just love looking at Roman ruins.

Roman Temple 

Roman Bridge. 

Another aspect of the city that I loved was all the flowers that lined different streets and buildings and the huge amounts of flowers that were in the Alcázar. I don't know if they were there because it's the Cruces de Mayo or if they are there all the time but they were so colourful and pretty.

Flowers in the Alcázar

Flowers in the Alcázar 

Flowers in the Park