Why southern Spain - Andalusia region
An opening note, those who are interested in places of entertainment (restaurants, bars, etc.) are advised to check the story from the site of Mira Eitan “חאמון באספמיה: שותים ואוכלים את אנדלוסיה“ where the trip is told from a different point of view that also includes culinary.
Landing in Madrid
The landing at the airport in Madrid and the drive to the car rental office went surprisingly efficiently. However, a surprise awaited me when I presented my driver’s license to the clerk. He took a long look at it, and then told me that it had expired. I was shocked and checked the expiration date, which had indeed passed. The only solution that came to mind was to transfer the rental to my wife’s name, luckily she had her driver’s license with her. After an inspection and the payment of additional insurance fees, the vehicle was handed over to us. We were relieved. I immediately canceled the insurance that was in my name, hoping to get a refund. In the end, I was able to get the money back.
380 km separates Madrid from Córdoba, the first stop on our journey. In Spain, the quality of the roads and the kindness and patience of the drivers are impressive. We learned an important lesson in road planning: every few kilometers, there is a bridge that allows you to go back if you miss the exit from the highway. The Andalusia region in southern Spain greeted us with literal warmth when we arrived. As soon as we stepped out of the air-conditioned car, the 38-degree heat hit us in the face. The kind hotel clerks in Córdoba greeted us with the expected courtesy, which was still nice. Overall, everywhere we visited, all the people we met during the trip were pleasant and willing to help, which brought a smile to our faces.
Córdoba
The city is full of signs of Jewish heritage. It’s fun to walk through its alleys and the Jewish quarter and see ancient Hebrew signs. The Maimonides statue is proudly located in the center of the city. The La Mezquita mosque, the Reconquista cathedral, the Alcazar fortress, and the Roman Bridge over the river are all evidence of the city’s past. The heat that accompanied us during the trip was quite exhausting. The sweat dripped from every pore in our bodies, forcing us to take many refreshment breaks at the cafes scattered around the city. We would grab a corner and enjoy the delicious food served there, cooling our burning bodies and sipping on a cold drink. As we regained our breath and relaxation, we couldn’t help but notice the calmness, kindness, and patience of the customers as they waited for their turn. It was something to envy.
Seville
Spending two days full of experiences in Seville filled us with happiness. I will not go into the descriptions of the many different sites in the beautiful city. Just indicate what can be done and you shouldn’t miss anything. Watching flamenco dances in the clubs scattered around the city, walking in the old city and its alleys, the charming Triana neighborhood, the royal palace “Real Alcazar”, the gothic cathedral “La Giralda, Plaza España, the promenade on the Guadalquivir river and not to skip the sites:
Palacio de las Dueñas
Pilato’s House, the house of the Duke of Medinaceli
Palace of the Countess of Lebrija
Jerez
Alcazar Palace, Jerez Cathedral, Jerez de la Fonterra’s architectural and cultural heritage, these are some of the things worth visiting in Jerez.
But it is impossible without visiting the huge Tio Pepe winery, hearing about the history of its founders, seeing the production and distribution processes in the world and tasting the intoxicating drink, just wonderful.
If you are already in Jerez, it is recommended to jump to the island of Cadiz, about half an hour’s drive from Jerez. A walk in the alleys and along the Atlantic coast when a pleasant breeze will caress and cool your faces, making you forget the heat of Córdoba. Delicious food and great ice cream will be a successful end to a visit in Cádiz.
Gibraltar
The cliff rising to a height of 426 meters greeted us, the mountain climbing sharply upwards in an unusual way in the flat terrain leading up to it. We parked our car in a neat parking lot before entering English territory. We were warned not to try to enter Gibraltar by car, and the long line of cars at the border entrance proved to us that this recommendation was correct. ‘Enter on foot and choose a guide with a van for an efficient visit,’ they told us. That’s exactly what we did. We chose a van from the line of vehicles with a driver/guide, agreed on a price, and the tour began.
The warm-hearted guy turned out to be a wonderful guide, giving us background on the history and leading us with detailed explanations to every corner and site on the cliff. At each place, we got off the car for a walking tour, from the observatory overlooking the lower city that spreads out at the foot of the cliff, to the city harbor and the coast of Spain in the horizon.
We visited the stalactite cave, walked among the peaceful monkeys at the top of the mountain (they have enough food to keep them full and not bother the tourists who take pictures of them non-stop), visited the Jewish cemetery, climbed to the high observation deck, whose floor is made of transparent glass that raises concerns for those with a fear of heights. The view overlooked the distance to the south and east. The last site on the tour was a rock-hewn tunnel that descends dozens of meters into the mountain, with rooms along it featuring firing chambers where soldiers took positions and defended the mountain from invaders.
The tour ended where it started, near the border exit to Spain. Of course, those who are interested can walk in the city center and eat in one of the many restaurants. It is highly recommended to use this service. It saves time, is efficient, is not stressful, and saves the tourist from the difficult climb on the steep hiking trails. The price of the guide with the van includes the entrance tickets to the stalactite cave and the carved tunnel.
Málaga
The heat level was tolerable in the southern cities closer to the ocean. Walking to the various sites through the city’s alleys while peeking into the designed shops is heaven for shopping lovers. The Alcazaba fortress at the top of the hill majestically overlooks the surroundings. To our surprise, one evening while dining in one of the city’s restaurants, a religious procession of priests carrying a magnificent ark approached. Dozens of young people carrying the casket walked close to each other wearing white robes and advanced slowly to the sounds of church music.
The Picasso Museum is an attraction for art lovers, Málaga also offers a short trip to the beach for those who love swimming or water sports.
The white villages between Ronda and Mijas
Ronda is located on several cliffs that are separated by deep ravines, ancient bridges connect the parts of the city between them. The stone bridges are built on stone pillars rising from the bottom of the ravine and in their upper part end in stone arches, on which the road is paved, which forms a bridge between the parts of the city. Dozens of tourists scattered along the bridge look at the massive structure and surely wonder how they managed to build such a huge structure in the distant past. For the young among us there is a walking path to the bottom of the valley and along the valley between the thick vegetation.
After a short drive we found ourselves in Mijas, a cute town on the side of a mountain, its white houses glistening in the sunlight. After coffee or ice cream who remembers, we returned to Malaga.
Grenada
Granada is a beautiful old city that is fun to stroll through. The highlight of the city is the Alhambra Palace, which can take at least half a day to explore, with its well-kept gardens, water fountains, and citadel that offers views of the surroundings from above. To see the best views of the lower city, it is recommended to visit the observation points Mirador San Nicolas and Mirador San Cristobal at sunset, when the city is bathed in a charming reddish golden light. Another interesting attraction is Sacramento’s gypsy district, which has a promenade lined with shops. There are also clubs, called the caves, that are carved into the mountain and offer flamenco performances. We had the chance to watch one of these shows, and it was amazing to see the dancers’ energy and the wonderful singing and guitar playing that accompanied the dance. Granada is a must-visit city in Andalusia.
Toledo
We drove north from Granada to Toledo, a distance of 400 km, and arrived at the foot of a hill where the old city is located. The city is surrounded by a wall and is known for its Jewish history. We took escalators almost to the top of the hill and found ourselves in front of a view of the lower city, with its red roofs and the distant view beyond it. From there, we climbed up to the alleys of the city, which were filled with Jewish signs, including inscriptions in Hebrew on the metal sidewalks and Hebrew signs. We even came across a synagogue called Sinagoga De Santa Maria La Blanca, which was probably converted into a church at some point. The question arises whether it is upsetting when a synagogue becomes a church or a mosque due to unfortunate circumstances. The answer is that we shouldn’t be upset, because ultimately we all pray to the same God (note: I don’t remember where and who said that one, so I didn’t mention his name). We left the old city through one of its gates and walked along the wall that surrounds it to the parking lot. On our way to Madrid, we stopped at the old Toledo train station to admire its beautiful structure and release the excess body fluids we had accumulated.
Madrid
The city is always impressive with its variety of ancient buildings and palaces, giving the feeling of being in a museum. Sculptures scattered throughout the square, beautifully designed windows and doors, and artistic ironwork all contribute to the city’s former wealth. The spacious gardens scattered along its streets are full of laughing children sitting on benches and enjoying the shade of the trees. While wandering through the gardens, we came across a statue of Don Quixote and his servant Sancho Pancho, with the statue of the author Miguel de Cervantes observing the characters of his book. There are many nice corners with cafes offering fresh hamon and chilled beer, and street musicians playing their instruments beautifully as they try to make a living through music. The most surprising thing was the number of people walking in the streets, with Plaza del Sol being the most crowded.
I had heard of the region of Andalusia through the stories of Spanish writers, who describe the towns and typical characters of the region through their descriptions of historical buildings. Happily, I felt like I was traveling inside their books and felt the need to share my own feelings. I hope that my stories and accompanying photos can convey the experience to you as well.
