– Handcrafted by Heather Daveno –
We are on the road to Marrakech. You can almost hear everyone humming the famous Crosby, Still & Nash song to themselves …
I would have happily stayed in the Red Dunes for a few more days, but we have more camels and kasbahs to see… and Doug’s friend Said!
I’ve been waiting the entire trip to see the Qarawiyyin Library. Established originally as a mosque by Fatima Al-Fihre in 859, it houses 4,000 rare books and manuscripts, and is the oldest working library in the world.
We arrive in Rabat, founded in the 10th century, now the second largest metropolis in Morocco. We proceed past the Kasbah of the Oudaias and through the medina to our riad.
A red-headed cowboy leaning against a pillar in baggage claim, looks up from his phone. He offers to assist with luggage, and looks around for mine. “I’m traveling light this trip.”
Cordoba is almost as much like OZ as Istanbul was. My introduction to this city is a drive through a very crowded street, along a stone wall which I would discover is the Mezquita, a model of which I saw at the Islamic Science… Continue Reading “Andalucia 2012 – Cordoba’s Mezquita…”
Having become enamored of Islamic arts and architecture, my next travels take me to Andalucia, in search of the remnants of medieval Spain when it was under Moorish rule .
“See what is outside of Istanbul for a couple of days. Cappadocia perhaps. Or Ephesus.” He offers to find a tour that I can afford and make those arrangements. I chose instead, the ancient Ottoman capitol of Bursa.
Today is my last day in Istanbul. My first stop this morning is Ayasofya, another architectural wonder whose design elements I would replicate as a hat…
The final step is being led to a pool of cool water that did not smell of salt but which made me feel more buoyant than I know I am. There are shafts of light coming through the dome and piercing the water. I am floating as much in shafts as in the cool water of the pool…
I hurry on to the Islamic Science Museum, eager to see how it compares to the Galileo Museum in Florence. There are world globes in the entryway, but unlike the ones in Florence, these are not enclosed in glass. The first room is filled with astrolabes!
It’s overcast outside, much like my mood. I’m exhausted. I cannot get onto the WIFI. I am ready to buy a return plane ticket if I can ever get online…