We found Córdoba to be a city of two halves.  We were situated in the neighbourhood of Neuvo Córdoba, an affluent, local, student area, with shops, cafes and a relaxed, cool vibe.  Young people wandered the streets, shoulder to shoulder with tourists, who were there for the museums, Jesuit churches and flea markets. 

A bus tour around Córdoba though showed us the rest of the city, as we parked high on a hill and looked across at the vast expanse of buildings that stretched for what seemed like miles across a natural basin of terrain.  What felt like a city very similar to Edinburgh suddenly became a much larger place and we realised we had only touched the tip of it.  

We visited the oldest cathedral in Argentina, not being religious, only interested in the architecture.  We entered the vast room and immediately looked skyward to the impressive, expensive interior.  We wandered further in and found various statues of different saints and immediately felt awkward as we found not one person, but many lone people, praying and outrightly crying.  The few snaps that we were able to take without intruding on people's grief were done and we quickly left the building back into the sweltering heat. 

We bought a museum ticket that for only $20AR (£1) each, gave us access to three galleries.  A modern art gallery in a very cool, new building, an art gallery with everything from traditional to contemporary art in one of the oldest "family" houses, and a photography gallery in another old grand house.  There was so much for the eye to feast on for a good few hours, and if we didn't have children walking at a hundred noughts, we could have quite happily spent an entire day wandering the halls, looking at all on offer.  All three museums were situated around one square too so we were grateful not to have to walk too far in the heat.

Talking about walking in the heat though, on our first day, my internal compass nor my google maps was working too well so we ventured forth, thinking we were heading to the main plaza and ended up instead in the opposite direction and straight onto the University grounds.  

The university is the oldest in the country and what a grand space it was too.  Single or two storey buildings spaced out on lush green land, trees dotting the walkways, a couple of cafes and shop for the student.  The area was huge and green and quiet, not at all like The Kings Buildings in Edinburgh.  Statues of philosophers adorned one walkway, Socrates, Pythagoras, Aristotle, to name but a few.  They had their share of graffiti on the lower plinths, but none the less, gave the place it's air of grandeur.  After completing our walk of the university, a quick bus took us back to the square where we had previously intended to be, and lunch in a lovely cafe.  

It has to be said, apart from Lorne's adventure in the phone shop, everyone from bus drivers to waiters to Airbnb hosts have been remarkably friendly and always keen to talk to us, whether they want to try out their English on us, or allow us to attempt our broken Spanish.  (I think having cute kids helps too!) 

I loved Córdoba and the people there and would definitely recommend it as a place to visit.  It has that European chic feel about it that anyone who has been to France or Spain will know.