This morning went just too smooth. We got everything packed up and ready before 10 am, without even rushing. That meant we could have a second breakfast courtesy of the campground just to get us right and ready for Córdoba. We ate, paid and were off to be in town by about 11 am. It was also time to test out my botch job for the tent latch. For now, we will still use the ratchet strap as a backup, but I am confident in my roadside repair skills!

It might be decadent, but we gotten used to going for the parking garage closed to the main attraction we want to see and pay for the safety and general ease rather than hunting for a spot in crowded cities or facing longer walks. Sue me, but I have to carry Number 3. It also means the car is nice and cool when we come back.

This time the parking garage was a bit of a mini attraction on its own. It was tucked in behind the old city wall, and the entrance was an old gate. Very much in style. Our number one item for today was the Mezquita, or Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. This time, for what felt like the first time, tickets were come by the old fashioned way: Wait in line for 20 minutes, then get in.

This place turned out a definite highlight on our trip so far. The mosque was so enormous that “converting” it after the Reconquista did for once not mean taking away the original character. Instead, over time the Christians build several cathedrals inside. Plus what felt like 50 chapels. Still it felt like a mosque, first and foremost to us. Memories of Iran and Oman came back. Even the mihrab was left intact. What an odd and wonderful place.

We have been slowly pushing our lunch time back. That means we were not the first to line up for lunch for once J – after the indulgences lately, we opted for the hip-and-cheap kind this time. A student juice bar called Bicicleta served us food even with the slight difficulties we had in crossing the language barrier.

On our way from lunch, we had a little photo stop at the old bridge which featured as the Long Bridge of Volantis in Game of Thrones.

We finished the sightseeing off with a little stroll through the old Jewish quarter. Narrow lanes and cute courtyards take the edge of the coming afternoon heat. Looping back to our car park right next to it, we felt sufficiently tired to head for our next camp in Seville. Best to go for close range for the big hits.

The city camp ground ended up to be of the could-be-a-lot-worse kind, and Number 3 even made friends with some kids nearby. Enough to be invited to a private pool party. The fellow Germans were on a similar two month parental leave trip, although with their second child already. Once again, we learned that Number 3 and cool water have an ambivalent relationship. Our hosts were real nice and had some travel experience under their belt. It was almost a shame that we would be rushing of the next morning already. But Portugal awaits.

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