Athens--Cruise--Spain 2022

Spent the morning visiting a ceramics museum in a neighborhood formerly known for its ceramics factory. The skill is amazing, and thanks to the museum, we started paying more attention to the tiles used for signs.  Ice cream for lunch, then train to Madrid in anticipation of flight home tomorrow. It's been a wonderful adventure, but we're ready to be home. Too bad we can't just click our heels three times and be there, skipping the flying thing.

Morning visit to Casa Palacio Condesa de Lebrija. The Roman mosaics were, indeed, stunning as was the building itself. I thought it interesting that one room was decorated with stars of David. According to the guide, this was an acknowledgement of Jewish ancestry. Apparently the Countesshad ancestors who had chosen to convert rather than leave in 1492 and was proud of it. I wasn't able to get s picture of that, but here's one of the mosaics. Then lunch, a nice still along the river since the weather was gorgeous and home for a nap. Ended the day with a yummy dinner that included a very nice spinach salad and Moroccan pastillas (a ground meat pie kind of thing in a pastry).

Day trip to Córdoba today. Started with a couple hour walking tour, getting a nice overview of the city and it's history: Romans, Muslims, Visigoths, Jews, and if course, Catholics. Got in a visit to a synogogue (hidden when theJews were expelled and thought they'd be back, found when one of the walls hiding there Hebrew inscriptions feel down). Also to the archeological museum, with amazing Roman ruins before lunch. Then tour of the main site of Cordoba, the mosque/Cathedral. Interesting tidbit: you can expand your house narrowing the street, but there must be room for a donkey. The flower pot thing got started when someone got creative about covering some holes in the wall.

Did Rick Steves audio walking tour this morning since it only overlapped a little with the tour yesterday. Interesting. The ugly history is so apparent with churches built on top of mosques (you can still see it in the architecture) and synogogues (no traces left--though the church is gone, too, with only an iron cross remaining in an otherwise nice plaza).  Then to the Seville mushroom, and the market underneath it. Flamenco show this evening. It was also excellent, and quite different from the one in Granada.

I think we've seen enough monuments to power and money to last a while, even if they are spectacular. Started with a very nice walking tour of old Seville. The guide was terrific (and a flamenco dancer when not tour guiding). Between royalty and the Catholic Church... Anyway, one difference from other cities we've been visiting is that, even though not on the coast, Sevilla was a huge trading center thanks to the river leading directly to the Atlantic. It's also interesting that the tobacco factory stopped hiring men and hired gypsy women (in the 1600's?) for15% of what they paid the men plus the women did a better job. The factory building is now part of the University of Granada. My overdose on power and money is probably enhanced by the time spent in the Alcazar--truly spectacular, but just too much!

Time in the morning to visit two ceramics factories specializing in traditional Granada tiles and pottery plus two. Carméns (special houses with gardens and views of the Alhambra). Back to the hotel in time to check out and catch our train to Sevilla. Got settled in our hotel (a modern one this time, so complete contrast to the previous one. Less interesting, but more comfortable room). Then for some tapas (gazpacho is completely pureed here, and sold by the glass or pitcher) and a nice introductory walk around.