This is the next instalment of my Special Moments, Magic Memories series for the 2022 A to Z Blog Challenge.
MEZQUITA-CATHEDRAL, CORDOBA
As newbie travellers to Europe many people will have Big Ben, or the Eiffel Tower on their to-visit list. For no good reason we hadn’t ventured to Spain until a few years ago and we decided we wanted to see the Moorish south-west with its Islamic influences. We really didn’t do as much homework beforehand as we could have, but that may have worked broadly in our favour when we got to Cordoba and went to visit the Mezquita-Cathedral.
Talk about a WOW moment!
Again, one of those where your jaw drops and you stand stunned for a bit before rotating in front of all you can see. It truly is spectacular as well as unusual combining a former mosque and a Catholic Cathedral. The architectural differences are noticeable and I fell in love with the mosque “half”. The Christian side was very ornate and bling with lots of gold and glitter.
Frustratingly my mobile phone had been stolen in Granada the day before so I was using a dodgy old phone and the photos aren’t as great.
MOROCCO
Morocco had been on our bucket list for a while so when a small group (12) tour came up, we went for it. We’re normally independent travellers but either we’re getting old or we’re just getting lazy 😉
We absolutely loved Morocco and there was so much to be dazzled by that it’s nearly impossible to single out any particular place or thing. Instead, I’m going to leave you with a photo-journalism type insight into what we liked. I could have included twice as many images but held myself back 🙂 We especially liked the drive to Marrakesh with its twisting road through the Atlas Mountains – mountains, snow, villages, markets and shops.
We thoroughly enjoyed Fes, its historic sites and the medina. Not so much the smell of the tanneries 🙂 The noise and bustle of Marrakesh was stunning – sometimes literally – but there are usually quiet corners off lanes and alleys. We didn’t sign up to eat sheep’s head but we ate a lot of tagine along the way! Can’t say we dawdled near the snake handlers at the medina either.
We’d certainly consider a short side trip back to Fes or Marrakesh if we ever get to do another trip to Europe/UK some time. Revisit? Visit a new place? So pleased we got to do this trip.
Have you visited Spain or Morocco? What are your favourite memories?
Do you like seeing bright colours or do you prefer a more subtle colour palette?
Family history across the seas 
Lots of colour and those arches are stunning.
Haven’t visited either but would like to.
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Won’t it be amazing when we can reliably think about future travel? So much to see and do.
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Marakesh, Medina and Morocco every place looks fascinating. Thanks for the virtual tour…. pics do show vibrancy of the place
Dropping by from a to z http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/
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Wow, that cathedral was amazing. Personally the vibrant colours are my favourite
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Yes, we loved the cathedral! And the colours just lift the day.
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I’m sure you took lots of photos… colors are spectacular! Not sure about eating sheep head, but I would have lingered, far back to see the snakes. Thst was def a great shape with great sites
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I think the touts trying to get you closer were scarier than the snakes 😉
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I was definitely struck by the beauty of the colors!
Beth
https://bethlapinsatozblog.wordpress.com/
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I couldn’t resist photographing them 🙂
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Both bright colors and subdued.
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One needs to offset the other doesn’t it, to live comfortably with them.
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I haven’t visited anywhere in Europe yet, but it has been on my travel wish list for a very long time. This was a great post Cass. The pictures are lovely and I can’t imagine the “Wow moment” that would accompany seeing it all in person.
Stopping in from A to Z:
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I do hope you get there some time, it’s a great experience.
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I would love to visit Morocco. I love the bright colors in those last photos.
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So so I…make you smile.
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I have not been to Spain or Morocco, but they look beautiful. I’m not a great traveller, unfortunately – I love places when I get to them but I really hate the getting there 😉. When it comes to colours I can never really decide what I like best. If I have to live in it all the time, probably more subdued, but bright colours can be so uplifting.
Best wishes
Tasha
Tasha’s Thinkings: YouTube – What They Don’t Tell You (and free fiction)
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Yes, I don’t subscribe to “getting there is half the fun” theory, least of all these days. So long as I enjoy the places I get to 😉 A pop of bright colour is okay to live with but I do enjoy the vibrancy in the markets and medina.
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Returning the compliment of your visit to my blog. Wow you’ve been to some great places. I live in London but am ashamed to say I’ve never been to Kew Gardens – it’s the opposite side of London from us but it is on my to do list.
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I think we all suffer from not looking at places nearest us, and London has so much to see anyway. I can recommend a visit to Kew if you like gardens, despite the trek to get there.
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