On March 27, all of SYA hopped on a train headed for southern Spain or Andalucia for six full days. Kelsey and Celia followed the group after she completed her Gymnastics exhibition.
Our first stop, Córdoba, was conquered by the Moors in 711, and the Moorish influence can still be felt in the city. During the time of Islamic rule, Córdoba was the largest city and reflected a sophisticated culture.
Photos: Mezquita de Córdoba
The Mezquita or Mosque is the most impressive building in Córdoba and claims to be one of the grandest in-tact mosques. However, officially, it's called the Cathedral of Córdoba. In fact, when Álvaro, the SYA faculty member who organized the trip, called to make reservations for the "Mezquita," the person on the phone responded, 'do you mean the Cathedral?"...apparently politics still remain heated as Muslims have lobbied the Catholic Church to be able to pray inside the Mezquita and have come to blows over it as recently as 2010.
The Mezquita is divided into three parts according to its historical period. After the Catholics reconquered Spain from the Moors, they inserted a church inside the Moorish building which makes it a very peculiar building in that, within the same walls, one part looks like a traditional mosque while another part appears to be a typical church.
Photo: Craftsman painting leather in local Córdoba shop
We visited the Royal horse stables with the Wolff-Kings, petted some gorgeous beasts and watched a few of them in the training process.
Photos: Royal horse stables
Photo: Touring around Córdoba
