La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
During my 2-hour+ walk around town Sunday, I finally headed into the old Jewish Quarter for a bit more exploration. Next door to the old synagogue, I came upon a house/museum called Andalusian House. The house was a typical design of homes in the Jewish Quarter in the 12th century AD and was lovingly restored with the addition of original Moorish details and furnishings from the area. Like most houses from that period, there were beautiful courtyards filled with flowers and plants.
Included was the basement with its tunnel connection that led under and outside the city walls. Apparently, that basement area is an exact match for the one under the synagogue next door. At that level could be found Late Roman or Byzantine mosaics as well as Visogothic brickwork dating from the 6th and 7th centuries AD. In the charming gift shop was a stunning gold twisting column that I would love for between our living room and dining room. It’s not for sale. Lucky for me!
I saw The Kid Brother last night. He was in a great mood. We had a fun visit and then he said, “I’m broke!” I told him to go to the office today and tell them he needs help. I said, “I’m too far way to be able to help you with that immediately.” I don’t want to have to subsidize him any more than we already do (nor can we afford to). I hope they can help him better manage his money, especially now that (or while) he’s not working and no longer able to supplement himself. Of course that has me stewing.
Durante mi paseo de más de dos horas por la ciudad el domingo, finalmente me dirigí al antiguo barrio judío para explorar un poco más. Junto a la antigua sinagoga, me encontré con una casa-museo llamada Casa Andalusi. La casa tenía un diseño típico de las casas del barrio judío del siglo XII d. C. y fue restaurada con esmero, añadiendo detalles y muebles moriscos originales de la zona. Como la mayoría de las casas de la época, tenía hermosos patios llenos de flores y plantas.
También estaba el sótano, con su túnel que conectaba con las murallas de la ciudad. Al parecer, ese sótano es idéntico al que hay bajo la sinagoga de al lado. En ese nivel se podían encontrar mosaicos romanos tardíos o bizantinos, así como ladrillos visogóticos de los siglos VI y VII d. C. En la encantadora tienda de regalos había una impresionante columna retorcida de oro que me encantaría tener entre el salón y el comedor. No está a la venta. ¡Qué suerte para mí!
Anoche vi a El Hermanito. Estaba de muy buen humor. Tuvimos una visita divertida y luego dijo: “¡Estoy sin blanca!” Le dije que fuera hoy a la oficina y les dijera que necesitaba ayuda. Le dije: “Estoy demasiado lejos para poder ayudarte con eso ahora mismo”. No quiero tener que subvencionarlo más de lo que ya lo hacemos (ni podemos permitírnoslo). Espero que puedan ayudarlo a administrar mejor su dinero, sobre todo ahora que (o mientras) no trabaja y ya no puede complementarse. Claro que eso me preocupa.
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The stonework and mosaics in this house/museum are incredible. Thank you for sharing.
Sounds like the ‘office staff’ need another nudge from you….good luck.
Jim:
I’ll check in again tonight with Chuck and then may call the office. This is more him and his insistence on spending his own money on things like groceries when he is given special funds (on a card) for that.
Spectacularly beautiful house/museum — and wow, that underground passage area!
Debra:
I loved the underground passage. It would be fascinating to see beneath all the houses there. The tunnel that led outside the city wall was blocked off, as I’m sure they all must be now. The house is built right against the city wall.
Gorgeous ornamentation. No need for art on the walls when the whole building is art. I’m curious about the tunnel leading to the outskirts of town. For a quick getaway? 6th picture…flowers floating on water?
ellen abbott:
I think the tunnels were for, yes, quick getaways, but also for bringing in and out goods without being taxed. In their defense, Jews were taxed at a higher rate. And, yes, real flowers!
What a lovely – and fascinating – place! I’d love to see it.
If the column wasn’t for sale in the gift shop, what did you come away with? Pray tell…
Jx
Jon:
Bubkes, as they say. I was tempted to buy a number of things. But none of it was necessary and we have so many “things” already. Merchi would kill me.
Amazing to think what all lies “beneath”. Well, maybe not where I live, but certainly in the Old World.
I hope KB can get help with his budgeting. It doesn’t make matters any easier that everything seems to cost more now.
Kelly:
Chuck spends cash on groceries that are covered for him. I think that’s where he goes wrong. I’ll check in again today and maybe talk to the office to see what they think.
Beautiful spaces! I especially like the Moorish alcove with bench (#16) and the horse fountain. Your time was well spent, Scoot!
Tundra Bunny:
Yes! Those were two of my favorite spots in the house.
I honestly do not thing anything being built today is as beautiful as what I am seeing in these pictures. The horse fountain is my favorite because of those beautiful blue and green tiles and he way the flowing water recreates their shapes. Or so it would seem.
And like Ellen- I want to know. Are those actual floating flowers?
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
I love that fountain and how, thanks to the flow of water changes the shape of the tiles. And, yes, those are actual floating flowers! SG used to do that sometimes with ONE flower when we had cut flowers and a stem had broken.
I am always amazed by the tile and stonework; just incredible. And who doesn’t want a secret passage???
Hopefully the KB gets some help from the office and you won’t need to worry.
Bob:
Yes, a secret passage would be an entertaining thing to have. I’m also awestruck by the plaster work created in molds. I’ll check in again with KB today.
What a treat it is for us to get to see these photos that you share, Mitchell. They’re just a joy.
Glad you got to see and talk to Chuck! I hope he straightens out his money issue… oh boy.
Judy C:
I’m so grateful to have you to share it with. It makes my life much more interesting. As for KB, yes, oh boy.
The underground passage sounds cool.
Kirk:
And apparently under all the houses.
Ah! So lush, so colorful!
walt the fourth:
Yes. So rich and energizing.
There was a blocked off tunnel from the lower level of the building my last office in Lexington was in. It was a passageway for the Nuns when there was a hospital across the street.
David:
Only for the nuns? Interesting.
That house looks amazing. “Visigothic” — now THERE’s a word you don’t get to use every day! (Unless maybe you work at Casa Andalusi.)
Steve:
I come across Visigothic a LOT here in Córdoba!
How wonderful to have such a feist for the eyes wherever you go, over a millennia of life and people, homes and institutions. Even on a dull day you have something to look at and be amazed.
larrymuffin:
You’re so right. On my good days, I remember that!