Some cities strike me as being a good fit for human beings. Cordoba is one of these. It is easy and pleasant to walk about the old city, for so long the capital of Spain. It’s famous “patios” or courtyards constantly surprise with tempting glimpses into the colourful flower-filled lives of residents.

How wonderful it is to walk along the boulevard that runs parallel to the Guadilquivir River and to look down on the wide banks, preserved as a natural habitat for many water birds. Yesterday we approached the Roman Bridge to walk over into the Old City. We were puzzled by the sound of intermittent bells. When we peered over the parapet we saw a large flock of sheep making it’s way along the bank of the river. We never saw the shepherd. How wonderful to see this in a modern European city in the 21st. Century!

The Roman Bridge is just that. Recently designated a pedestrian walkway, it is guarded by a statue of St. Raphael ( an archangel, in fact). He is the guardian of the city and in the past he was credited with saving Córdoba from the plague as well as other misfortunes. As we stepped off the bridge we faced an arch marking the walls of the city. There was a particularly tall column with another statue of St. Sebastián. No building in the Old City can stand higher than this statue! No Cordoban family is without a namesake of this patron and he is also the protector of travellers. ( read the story of Tobias in the Old Testament to see why)

Next time a little about the Great Mosque of Cordoba ( now the Cathedral). It is a truly astonishing mish-mash of architecture, art and devotion sitting in the shadow of the Jewish Quarter, birthplace of Maimonides.

Cordoba, my new city heart-throb!