My sit spot is one of Cordoba’s unique green spaces; it is not a park or plaza in the midst of the city, nor just a place next to the river. Rather, it’s within a protected feline habitat. The spot was intentionally created as a place of confluence between humans and animals. Although it’s certainly a bit isolated, sitting here, I still feel connected to the community of Cordoba. Locals sit on nearby benches reading and chatting, families walk by holding hands, runners jog past. Wild cats skirt around the edges of the pathways, pigeons coo from a distance, insects wizz from all directions, ducks paddle slowly through the overflowing river, which is higher than it’s been in years thanks to all the recent rain. Birch trees loom over me, a canopy of green half-obstructing the dark water and the life around me. It’s rare to find a natural space that feels so diverse and dynamic in the middle of a bustling city (albeit Cordoba is not necessarily a large city), one where I feel not just like a person enjoying nature, but a member of a larger community.

Because I came all the way from California and, quite honestly, chose my flights based on the cheapest price rather than environmental impact, the carbon footprint of my travel to Cordoba is hefty: 2.01 metric tons of CO2e. In terms of small, personal ways I can offset the carbon emissions of my travel, I have been (/hope to emphasize more) eating local and organic foods, composting, using reusable shopping bags (as well as shopping locally), and walking or taking public transportation (which is easy here, since I have no car and my daily activities are all within walking distance). In terms of the greater Cordoba community, however, a good possible local project could be some sort of program to emphasize bringing reusable bags and bottles to establishments. In just the past few years, Spain instituted a law which imposes a small fee of a handful of cents upon any purchase of a plastic bag. But unlike many establishments in the United States, in Cordoba there seem to be less advertisements encouraging people to bring their own reusable bags or thermoses into stores or cafes (particularly less so with thermoses/bottles). Perhaps a program creating signage or even offering benefits with local stores could actually make a difference!