Córdoba: Pollen Gets In Your Eyes

The Guadalquivir River runs north through Sevilla from the Mediterranean Sea and continues on through Córdoba. This was the river used by Christopher Columbus when he set sail to discover Ray Charles (click here). After lunch Tuesday (pictures to come), San Geraldo and I did a stroll of Córdoba's old city. That walk, the pre-lunch 2-hour exploration of the Mezquita/Cathedral (pictures to come), not to mention the 32C/89F heat, got to San Geraldo. I planted him in an air-conditioned café and I headed off on my own for another 1-1/2-hour walk. I'm paying for it now — allergies — but it was worth every stuffy headed, itchy eyed, respiration-limited moment. (Click any image for a closer look at the beauty... and, eventually, the pollen.)

ROMAN BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER GUADALQUIVIR.
BUILT IN THE 1ST CENTURY BC — MOST RECENTLY RESTORED IN 2006.

THE 12TH-CENTURY CALAHORRA TOWER AT THE FAR END.
RESTORED AND CHANGED IN 1369.

RUINS OF ARAB WATER MILLS ON ISLANDS IN THE RIVER.

CENTER OF IMAGE: WATER WHEEL OF MOLINA DE LA ALBOLAFIA (ALBOLAFIA MILL).
FIRST BUILT BY THE ROMANS MORE THAN 2,000 YEARS AGO.

LOOKING BACK AT THE MEZQUITA/CATHEDRAL AND MORE.

CALLE RONDA DE ISASA, THE STREET THAT PARALLELS THE RIVER.
I THOUGHT I WAS WALKING THROUGH CLOUDS OF LAUNDRY LINT.

UH OH... NOT LINT.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS IS? SOME TYPE OF ACACIA?

THE FALLING POLLEN STUCK TO THE STUBBLE (VELCRO) ON MY HEAD AND FACE.

The real reason I've been so teary eyed (San Geraldo)...