We're back from our trip to Andalusia - just 1,000 miles.  Fabulous scenery in the Sierra Nevada.  The hotels here are quite beautiful although the breakfasts leave much to be desired.  Driving through the old town of Granada and Cordoba was a bit tricky!

 The Alhambra beggars description - What a wonderful civilization the Moorish culture must have been.

The Great Mosque in Cordoba is absolutely staggering.  One can only be appalled at the total desecration of this beautiful building by the Catholic Church, who have built a cathedral and heavily barred chapels within the mosque, with their paintings of bleeding martyrs and lashings of gold leaf - it is so tawdry in contrast to the sublime quiet space of the mosque.

Some nice carving in the Cathedral but the wood is so uniformly dark brown it looks like a miraculous creation in chocolate.  Sad to think a great craftsman should do anything so vulgar.

The drive back was quite astonishing - I could not believe there were so many olive trees in the world let alone one part of one country.  Millions as far as the eye could see in every direction.

I certainly recommend a visit to anyone interested - I can even suggest accommodation if you are on a budget.

Best wishes
Ian