CAKSUT 'ün Gezi Notları Travel Notes by CAKSUT: Endülüs 'de Raks

Endülüs 'de Raks / Dance in Andalusia
Day 01 : 14.06.2018
Istanbul - Madrid (via Turkish Airlines) and Cordoba with Motorcycle

My exciting motorcycle tour in Andalusia started early in the morning on June, 14th,2018 with the flight from Istanbul to Madrid. I had arranged my rental motorbike (BMW R1200 GS)
by the company IMT Bike in Madrid.
Today I fly to Madrid in order to take the bike. I have got my medium size suit case comprising my helmet, motorcycle boots, pants and summer jacket. There are also some auxiliaries which I think would be helpful during my trip.
After arriving at the Madrid Barajas Airport around 11:00 o'clock I took a taxi to the IMT Bike rental office. I paid roughly 45.-Euro to get there. The guys of IMT Bike are nice and friendly they had already prepared my bike. While finishing the paper work in 10 minutes, a member of the company shared his suggestions with me and drew my attention to the nice riding roads around Ronda. I noted. The nice guy, Javier is also very friendly and helpful. He is one of the Technicians at the company.
Meanwhile, I changed my clothing and put all my stuff into the side cases and top case.
These are all included in the price (approx. 840.-Euro for 8 days). I left my emptied suit case at the company and departed around 13:00. I followed the route which is shown below.

There is no spectacular view in the South of Madrid. The landscape is boring and mostly barren land. The temperature was more then 31 deg C. It is the best thing to run away to the Sur (South). Toledo is within 100 km from Madrid. It is a famous and nice city to visit.
Do not miss !!! I stopped almost at the top of the city Toledo. There is a look-out point to watch the city from top. Then I walked in the streets of the town where I found a place to get my lunch. The streets are from the old times. Narrow and with old looking buildings. Toledo is a famous place for production of steel arms production like knives, swords, etc. in the Medieval ages.

Right in the middle of the town Toledo.

Toledo Main Square

Sun shades on the top of the narrow streets in Toledo.

Picture taken from the look-out point at the top.

After 2-2 1/2 hour break in Toledo I continued my ride in the South direction. My next stop is Cordoba. I had taken the main route which took me in 2 1/2 hours to my Hotel in Cordoba.
I had booked the ARRIADH Hotel at Avenida de Cadiz N-58, on the South bank of the Guadalquivir river. I stayed there two nights in order to see Cordoba and surrounding.

As soon as I finished my work in my room I got out for the down town. It was hot outside. I walked on the south bank of the Guadalquivir river, which means broad river. There are also broad streets all along the river. I took the Roman Bridge in order to enter the old town. The bridge is roughly 200 meter and takes to the nearest point to the Mesquita (=Mosque) and Cathedral. It is an ancient building located at the city center. The Mesquita and its yard is free to visitors early in the morning. The temperature is also well in the morning. Therefore I planned to visit the Mesquita next morning.

I walked through the narrow streets of the town. I saw the ancient Jewish part of the down town.