Just a few of the statues in Cordoba, Spain.

Jewish quarter of Cordoba, Spain, includes an ancient synagogue – not in operation – with elaborate arches – yet still in the clean unadorned style of this population of peoples. The entire group were “removed” by Queen Isabella and Ferdinand. Some converted to Christianity, some fled to Portugal.

Good bye Grenada! Christian, Moorish, historic, contemporary; amazing! Lots to process!

Malaga! This port city is amazing! Markets, shopping, Roman theatre, Moor’s Alcazaba, huge cathedral and no cars in the historic city. AND Picasso was born here! Museums are terrific, especially the new Malaga Museum with a treasure of antiquities and very nice long term loans from the Prado.

Bodegas Bentomiz in mountains between Malaga and Grenada – those vineyards are the way they are – no lines to hold them up. Harvest was in August at 48 Celsius (118 F) so the vines look very tired by now! The Dutch couple started this when they found very old vines on 3 hectares they bought here. They built a home and wine making building and have several more acres farmed on neighboring hillsides that also have good angles to the sun. The owners are perfecting dishes to serve with their various wines – that we certainly enjoyed!

Centro Historico – Alcazaba fortress and Roman amphitheater; model of the fortress in the Malaga museum (opened 2016) and a few objects on the first floor there. The local art history also on display on 2nd floor; most of these works on loan from national collection in Madrid.

Whoa! Pretty high up here – Ronda, Spain!

Ronda has the largest bullfighting ring in Spain. Ernest Hemingway and Olson Welles both came to watch the fights, now held here 3 times a year. Matadors have an entourage of 2 picadors on horseback, 3 banditeros and 1 moto or page who helps the matador with everything from getting dressed, changing capes, choosing swords. bugles sound between each of the 3 stages of the fight; showing off the bull’s abilities to swing and charge; lancing the bull to injure him in the large muscle behind the head (from face on) then after the pics comes the final kill that should pierce the heart on the first try. It is during the last phase that music sounds, crowds are engaged and on their feet hailing “Olay”! If the show has pleased the president/royalty who are in their special seats; he will wave a white flag. The matador ears an ear or maybe two for his bravery! the bull is rarely spared save times when the animal has showed such a fight as to be returned to his farm – remember Ferdinand smelling flowers in the pasture?

It’s my understanding that the fights are still about honor, pageantry, bravery and ritual – originally a way to prepare for military battle. It was here in Ronda that the family of Ernesto and then grandson Pedro Romero formalized the rules and the barbarian practice became a ritualized activity.

Below the pix show where bulls are kept for 3 days before run down the maze of chutes thru iron doors to a holding box where they wait – or fight to get out – of a dark holding stall. By the time he gets to the ring, he’s furious! A bull weights 1,000-1400 pounds!

It’s a fortress, it’s a palace; it’s an Alcazar! This is Seville Spain. There are several all over this country! The exterior stone and mud wall is early moorish era. Then inside the Christian reconquista era leaves the original; adds their own graphics with paintings and portraits. Layers of history in the architectural features throughout – a mixture of Moorish and Christian meet royalty. It is in a balance of design called mudejar referring to the layering of different aesthetics. The moorish calligraphy in the front wall (seen thru the arch) proclaims Allah Is God Is Great. The letters continue throughout the palace. They can be read right to left; left to right; up, down and back side foremost in a mirror!