Spain to Germany

The highway to Córdoba once again took us through sloping hillsides speckled with olive trees. Undulating and twisting through green valleys and rocky outcroppings. It was a two hour drive from Granada. I wonder how long it took the king’s caravan to travel these 130 miles? Well armored and protected royal caravan passing through these valleys a perfect target from marauding peasants. A surprise ambush. Now 800 years later traveling across this landscape the Peugeot’s electronic sensors warning me of my speed and upcoming radar cameras. Buzzing loudly snd incessantly as the vehicle enters these invisible ambushes. No longer mortal combat or blood stained garments today’s travelers succumb a different ambush. The type that takes you breadth away and you question when the credit card statement arrives declaring the speeding fine.
Arriving at the apartments location in Córdoba a man in a utility uniform approached the car as I was attempting to park. He signaled with a wave to stop. Gear pressed into Park I activated my window down.
The man clean cut, blue eyes, trimmed beard called out my name, “Néstor?” “ then Soy Nícolas.”
I greeted him. What a surprise. He was just off work and knew I was arriving around 3:30. His car was parked on this street offering me his space instead of the reserved indoor garage. He emphasized that it was a very safe neighborhood although it’s appearance screamed working class. Of course I said. It’s a rental car so I don’t care where I park it.
His wife was in their waiting Peugeot same model as the one I was driving and pulled out of the spot. Gear selector in reverse with a perfect turn of the steering “wheel” (its rectangular) I eased the 3008 in one perfect motion. The tires merely a few inches from the curb.
Damn I’m a good driver!
Got out grabbed my back pack the other bag and walked across the street where Nicolas was waiting.
He was a chatty most friendly guy covering the dos&donts of the rental apartment especially the No Fumar restriction. Crossing another narrow street his wife leaned out of their car’s window saying hello. Pretty lady, welcoming smile.
Nicolas paused to point to the grocery store and the direction of the Mezquita.
He noticed my car lights had not yet turned off so I again press the lock on the key fob to no effect. Oh well, let’s got up to the unit finding it newly remodeled, small, clean and comfortable.
We settled. Planned a trip to the grocery stored and when ready to go I realized I had left my wallet in the car. Grabbed the keys and down we went. I saw that the car’s parking lights were still illuminated. Weird.
As I approached I heard the quiet murmur of the engine. I had left the car running! Forgetting to push and briefly hold the Start/Stop button. Dumb! Glad I left my wallet in it as it may have run all night or driven off without us.
That evening around 7 we decided to go explore the old city and have dinner. Sacrilegious of course since restaurants don’t open until 8. But one was open and an early dinner was what we hoped for. But what a mistake. No Spaniards eating here just tourists like us. And of course the worse, most insipid meal served in this ancient now modern day Andalusian restaurant!
However, walking back we stopped for a sorbet that was simply delicious!
Home to make yesterdays Penguin entry and to bed.
Quick note. Cordoba was a major Roman city dating back to 200BC when the bridge was first built across the Guadalquivir River then called the Baetis. It was a major transportation center through its history well into the 18th when the river who’s mouth is at the Atlantic Ocean filled with silt ending its rein as one of Spain’s main rivers. It still carries water from the Sierra but is mostly a natural environment for a diverse flora and fauna.Read more

Sunday afternoon under a clear, very blue sky and sea as gulls flew overhead their calls carried through the warm air I stopped to gaze at the horizon. In the distance visible to my eyes this sunny day were two sibling continents. Continents which are slowly inching towards reunification. Today their distance allows the sea to join the ocean beyond. In some distant future this great sea witness to history will become land locked.
This is the Strait of Gibraltar.Read more