travel diary | córdoba spain photo diary

Amara Amaryah | travel + books + poetry, always poetry. a platform for story-telling, visuals, positive self-talk and empowerment. | Cordoba, Spain. photo diary.

hello loves.

this autumn i was blessed with an opportunity to combine my two favourites: travel and poetry. I was invited to cosmopoetica’s 16th edition of cordoba’s literary festival and had the best time. my short stay in Cordoba was spent (almost exclusively and exhaustingly) using my Spanish tongue, eating good food and enjoying the pace of southern spain. i spent most of the time being a poet but I had one afternoon to wander and enjoy the city. here is my photo diary.

September 29 – October 1. Cordoba, Spain.

málaga. I flew to malaga and then caught a train with a gorgeous view to Cordoba.

málaga.

september 30. stopped for silver jewellery, found this place to admire. and yes, the craftsman was inside making the beautiful art as I admired.

just outside of this craft store an older couple from Canada apologise for interrupting my picture taking to ask where I’m from. we get talking and I learn that they’re travelling around their chosen parts of the world in retirement. hearing all the adventures they’d taken in spain for the last few months and even the UK was a joy. seeing them share new adventures together as they age helped me appreciate and manifest that life for myself.

my favourite part about travelling is the streets that distract you from your destination.

fun fact, the cosmopoetica festival had these napkins with the invited poets’ words in several cafes in the city.

the south of spain is steeped in islamic history, architecture and culture and I think this is what sets it apart from the rest of the country.

when strangers appreciate the colour palette and ask you if they can take your picture. we’ve come a long way.

coming to a city near you. PC | Katie Griffiths.

la mezquita.

serenity | a southern spain aesthetic.

wandering around a city solo leaves you vulnerable. vulnerable to honest interactions, vulnerable to new truths about yourself, vulnerable to not so nice interactions and vulnerable to quiet. you learn lots about yourself in quiet places that are not home to you. my advice is to lean into that quiet.

I didn’t do my homework before I travelled to Cordoba. I also barely dusted off my Spanish. and the trip was better for it. when I got to spain, I made friends and they told me what I should see. Jose in particular told me to check out la mezquita (the mosque), the river and something else. I eventually only made my way to the mosque after wandering somehow in the right direction. always take recommendations when you can. never follow them exactly.

postcards from cordoba, spain. september 2019.

an hour before my first international poetry set.

postcards from cordoba, spain. september 2019. if there are flowers, i will stop to enjoy.

the end.

thank you for reading what I write. I hope I’ve convinced you to visit cordoba with only few hours worth of documentation of the city. if I am honest, nothing can capture the fullness of this city. it is not the place you create an itenary for. I think you go to Cordoba to be. I’ve made friends here so I’ll definitely be back and have more to document and more space to just be. head over to the travel page to read about my recent travels, until next time.

Yah bless.

Amara Amaryah.

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