Wednesday 12th September 2018
Alcazar de Los Cristianos: The Royal Stables:
The ‘Passion and Spirit of the Andalusian Horse’ Show
After breakfast this morning we walked to the Alcazar de Los Cristianos, (Fortress of the Christian Monarchs). The medieval fort has beautiful gardens with rectangular ponds and fountains. A few trees have been sculpted by topiary experts into shapes of jugs and urns. There are grand statues dotted throughout the pretty gardens.
We watched the fish in one of the ponds for quite some time and attempted to photograph them with their mouths open.
Next, we went to the nearby Royal Stables to purchase tickets for the equestrian and flamenco show this evening. While there, we were fortunate enough to see one of the performers with his beautiful grey horse. They were parading up and down posing for an official photographer.
The show is on for just three nights, this evening is the first show which coincides with our last night in the city so we are lucky to have the opportunity to see it.
When we purchased our tickets, we were informed that the ticket permitted us into the training area between 11am and 1pm and again between 6pm and 8pm.
We meandered over the wide stone bridge, there was just one busker this morning, a middle aged man sat playing his accordion. A young female tourist was having fun, dancing and swirling around in tune to the music. She was holding her flared blouse out with both hands as if it was a dress and her partner was videoing her.
We took some photographs of the Mezquita and its reflection in the Guadalquivir River.
After a coffee stop, (unfortunately without a view of the extremely close by river and the backdrop of the Mezquita) we decided to return to the Royal Stables to watch the horses training.
Many of the horses were outside in the small stables that surround the training arena. We walked around greeting and stroking the beautiful animals. Then we watched a few being trained, they were walking and trotting and then galloping up and down the arena with their sweat drenched trainers leading them. One or two of the thoroughbreds were walking diagonally. There were many greys and a statuesque white horse with its tail tightly plaited. We also saw a magnificent bronze coloured horse.
At one point loud music came through the speakers. One of the greys that Dave had been stroking for quite some time, (also the one I had told was my favourite!) started to neigh and dance in the small space that it was confined to. It was obviously eager to be free and to dance without restraint.
Although the elegant creatures are usually referred to as Andalusian or Spanish horses, the correct title is Pura Raza Española. This name is often abbreviated to P.R.E. and means purebred Spanish horse.
The Royal Stables in Cordoba were originally built in 1570.
Our lunch was a variety of tapas in a small bar in one of the many narrow paved streets. We chose Russian salad, pork & tomato, pork in white sauce, chorizo in white wine and ratatouille. The dishes were served with ciabatta bread.
After a siesta we walked once more through the narrow maze of streets, as always attempting to find a different route. We came across the old city walls; a black cat was walking above us along them. After following them for a while we made our way to the Royal Stables for the evening’s performance
The ‘Passion and Spirit of the Andalusian Horse’ Show
We enjoyed the show. A wooden board was placed in the ring for the flamenco dancer to perform her percussive rhythmic steps. Later she danced with one of the horses, the pair responding to each other’s movements and circling one another. The skilled horses performed high stepping and other dressage movements. Their uniformed riders led them around the ring in synchronised movements that were coordinated to the music.
After the show we stopped off at a small bar, and sat on high stools with a glass of wine and watched the world go by.
Oh yes, I had an ice cream afterwards, just a small one! It was called ‘Cordoba Cake’ and yes it tasted just like cake!
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