Córdoba

What does God look like?

Daniel in 550 BC and John in 95 AD both saw God in vision and both were told not to be afraid.

Eyes of fire. Both describe the figure’s eyes as torches/ flames of fire symbolising divine wisdom, knowledge and judgement. ( Daniel 10: 6 , Revelation 1:14 )

Bronze feet: Daniel describes the figures arms and feet as burnished bronze. John describes them as bronze glowing in a furnace. This representing strength and judgment.

His voice like a voice of many people says Daniel and John says a voice like many waters. (Waters sometimes represent people.) A powerful loud sound.

There is so much more… because Moses asked God to let him see Him and He showed Moses His back and spoke to Him in a quiet voice. Then there is this verse

Jesus speaking:

‘ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.’ Revelations 22: 13

Many places are for the worship of God and then there is the gentle quiet presence of the Almighty when we are still, alone and quietly pray. It is all so awesome. Let us now look a Córdoba.

First, it is with sadness we read this morning of the dreadful train crash here in Spain. From where we were parked we heard the singing of the 1,000 Malaga supporters and Córdoba local supporters but then later police car and motorbike sirens and then much later ambulances whaling. It is a sad day here in Spain and we pray for all those involved in this major train accident. We spent two nights in this city and experienced its warmth and we are sad for the people.

The sun warms this city from 7 C to 25 C in sheltered sunny pockets. It is a January, winter city where some leaves hang on golden while other trees stay green.

We notice the grey of the Guadalquivir river with the silver sparkle of sunshine and the people dressed warmly enjoying a Sunday afternoon strole over the Roman bridge. An iconic place to notice architecture, vegetation and people experiencing winter.

It is then to the Mezquita which has a timed entry with tickets bought in advance at € 13 for Old Aged Pensioners, us.

One of the ornate doors to this vast area which holds 700 years of history and is a sacred place to many. Today, it is functioning as a Cathedral, too.

Once inside I notice sun coming through coloured glass, a reminder of outside. We were once warned by a guide that it was easy to get lost in the faint lamp lit areas of red and white striped arches.

Double arches, 856 columns. These give height and space for the vast hall to be a place of prayer. A hallmark of Moorish architecture.

Some columns recycled from ancient Rome and Visigothic buildings.

Then another painting with so much detail and symbolism captures ones attention. Mary being told of her time of carrying and giving birth to Jesus.

Intricate patterns and details from walls to vaulted ceiling in greys, blue and gold. The fine white lines enhancing the layers of workmanship.

To get to this vast place of worship we walked through what once was the Jewish Quater. Here there are hidden courtyards and charming squares and the famous De Patio route where private courtyards filled with plants are opened by their owners to the public.

This is winter so we admire a 20-year- old lemon tree that has grown against the internal wall of a patio garden. Its lemons large against other greenery such as geraniums in pots with ferns, a wonderful display of leaf shapes. One owner is happy to tell us that seven families once lived in the space called her home. There is the wash house, the kitchen and an alcove all around the well on the ground floor, with bedrooms on the next floor not open to public eye.

We enjoy the owners sense of humour as she prepares us to see how she gives water to plants potted high above our heads. A light bucket that swivels on a thin cane filled from a reservoir of water at ground level.

Summer must be vibrant with colour here in these patio gardens but we are pleased that we have met two owners and looked at three of these vertical gardens.

The owner of the lemon tree told us this was her father and brother hanging plants on the wall.

Symmetrically trained to grow over an arching space opposite the lemon tree.

The lemon tree…

Another garden has the owners art work on a table. A fan in the process of being painted.

The large space filled vertically with plants.

How delightful these streets are night…

and day…

Old town Córdoba. How filled with texture, colour and with a simple backdrop of white. History in layers and streets well used and worn. One can say there is always more and much more to enjoy but really like food enough is plenty and we travel on…

Some sayings with arches:

‘ An arch consists of two weaknesses which leaning against each other, make a strength.’

Leonardo da Vinci

And

‘All experience is an arch to build upon.’

Henry Adams

Simplicity and strength. An arch.

Take care,

Sandy 🙂