So, where's my boyfriend?

Hi All!
Today our entire program took a day trip to Cordoba which was about a two hour bus ride from Seville.  When we got there, we toured (yet another) mosque/cathedral...shocker, I know.  But, this one was actually my favorite of the many that I have been to because the Arabic architecture was so prominent that it really made the building exotic and interesting to see.

a view from the outside

In the courtyard of the cathedral/mosque, there is what we called the "boyfriend fountain."  Rumor has it that if you drink from this fountain, you will get a boyfriend.  Since I follow a "when in Spain" mindset, I decided to take a few sips along with a few others from our group.  So, magical fountain, where's my boyfriend? It's been almost 8 hours and I'm still waiting for a boy to materialize.  Will I meet him tonight? Will I meet him five years from now? Is there a time stamp on this thing? I wish you would give me a little more to go on here.

 The spigot we drank from

 a full shot of the fountain

When touring the actual building, it was extremely strange to go back and fourth between Catholic and Islamic architecture, but it was also cool at the same time.  With each new room we went into, you never really knew what to expect.

 Part Islamic...

 Part Roman Catholic..

Another thing I must note about: the Asian tour groups.  I kid you not, everywhere we have gone in Spain, there has been at least three busloads of Asian tourists there too (complete with their cameras around their necks and fanny packs).  These tourists are a rather tight bunch, by that I mean they do not separate from each other. Period.  Well today, I did the unthinkable...I (accidentally!) broke up the pack!  It wasn't my fault! We were all walking through the same narrow space and I got in between a few people.  Yeah, they don't like that.  They basically ran me over.  Clearly personal space is not in their vocabulary.  I'm sorry Asian tourists! I promise I did not mean to be that person!

After another hour or so of admiring the building, we moved on to view the synagogue of Cordoba.  The synagogue was a small room with very little decorations that could barely fit the fifty of us.  It was mind-blowing to see the differences between the two buildings.

After the synagogue, we were granted two hours of free time before we had to get back on the bus to return to Seville.  We used that time to do a little shopping and grab a drink.

Next week we have a four day weekend and I will be going to Italy!! Words cannot describe how excited I am, so be on the lookout for a stellar blog post about that trip.  So, until next time, chao chicos!!

love,
sworonoff

P.S. To any Woronoff, Pellisero, or Padden who is reading this, I saw something today in the cathedral that you may appreciate...

...Liberty's cousin.