Cordoba weekend

Once again, I apologize for the lack of posts.  My life has been a complete whirlwind since returning from Italy.  As proof of this whirlwind, I am now typing this post in the wonderful city of Cordoba on Maggie's computer. 

A brief summary of this past weekend before delving back into Rome...

I arrived in Cordoba Friday morning.  I had what I hoped would be last and final time at the stupid place where I had to get my identification card.  To refresh your memory about this awful place:
     1. The first time I came to the building to submit my paperwork, I waited six hours.
     2.  The second time I returned to pick up my ID, they forgot to put the letter Y in my ID number.
     3.  When you go to pick up your card, you have to go to the building around 10:00am to get a ticket number and then return again at 12:00pm.  This is when they start calling the numbers.  Totally pointless and a waste of a day.

I had resolved on the bus ride to Cordoba that if this card wasn't ready or perfect, I was just going to use the messed up one.  Anyway, I now have the new card in hand, with all of the letters and numbers.  Phew.  After getting my card, I had coffee with Maggie and her roommates.  We caught up on the happenings over winter break.  After coffee, I explored the city a little bit before heading back to Maggie's apartment to play with my new KINDLE.  I am in love by the way.  Oh how I've missed reading.  I've been (painfully) refraining from buying books during my time here in Spain because at some point I'd have to figure out a way to get them back to the United States.  Soooo as a Christmas present to myself, I purchased a KINDLE which was on sale on Amazon.  I had it shipped to Maggie's house in the U.S.A. since she was going home for the holidays, and she brought it back to Spain for me.  I thought I was going to grudgingly use the KINDLE since I'm such a lover of holding a real book, but it's actually so convenient, and I love having the ability of instantly having a book whenever I want.  This could be dangerous to my credit card bill...

So the reading has also been consuming my life and is partially to blame for snatching me away from blogging.  My apologies.

After Maggie finished her private classes and dragged me away from my new toy, we headed out to the main shopping street in Cordoba.  Over the break, it was our friend Maura's birthday, so Maggie and I wanted to get her a small present.  Plus it is "Rebajas" here in Spain which is basically when everything goes on Sale.  And Mother, before you even ask, no, I did not buy anything for myself.  Around 7:30, Maggie and I were starving and headed to a restaurant called "Astronata."  While waiting for the kitchen to open, we sipped on some wine and planned out our meal.  Finally, after an hour of waiting and Maggie convincing me the food is worth the wait, we were able to order food.  Maggie and I split a bowl of hummus, a lentil salad, and a veggie burger.  I was in Vegetarian heaven!

The next day, Maggie and I decided to explore a touristy part of Cordoba neither of us had seen yet.  We had a delicious breakfast at a local cafe (a cranberry muffin stuffed with vanilla yogurt!!!) and then headed towards Palacio Viana.  This palace was first built in the 13th century and over time additions have been added to it up until the 1980's.  The main attraction wasn't the palace itself but instead the gardens and patios that surround it.  So basically, you take a tour through each of the gardens (13 total) and throughout you can peek through the windows into the palace itself.  Just imagine the book/movie "The Secret Garden."  That is exactly what this place looked like...

 Stop and smell the... oranges?

 Mom! Look how long my hair is now!

 Being a little bit sassy

 Being the tour guide with the map

After strolling through fairytale gardens, Maggie and I headed back to her apartment.  It was a beautiful January day in Cordoba.  So we decided it was fitting to go up to her roof and read for a little bit.  We even got some color!  I love winters in Spain.

After getting in some Vitamin D, we headed to Cordoba's mercado.  The mercado in Cordoba is similar to a food court at the mall but a million times better.  We did a Salmorejo taste testing at one of the food stands before finally ordering some along with a piece of tortilla.  If you don't know what salmorejo is, google it; I have no idea how to explain it but it is delicious.  We enjoyed our lunch outside in the park.

After feasting, we headed back to the apartment to rest.  Our friends Katherine and Maura finally arrived around 9:00.  We spent about an hour catching up on our lives over bread and cheese since we hadn't all been together since our Thanksgiving feast.  Maggie's other friends eventually showed up, and we all hung out around the Bracero playing games and talking.  Her friends are a mix of Americans and people from the United Kingdom all of whom are here teaching English in some form or matter.  Most of them are here again for their second year.  Around midnight, we all headed to a rooftop bar called Soho.  We spent the night there dancing until around 5:00am when we called it quits.  However, the night's adventures continued because everyone wanted food (including myself) but the only thing open was the McDonalds.  So we all hopped into a taxi and headed towards the only open McDonalds.  Our taxi dropped us off and drove away before we realized that the drive thru was the only way to order food.  So we all walked thru the drive thru of McDonalds.  And ordered a disgusting amount of food (31 euros) to be exact.  

And that about sums up my weekend.  Next post, I promise will be about Rome!