ANDALUSIA STAGE 5 - RONDA

Stage 5: Ronda, another example of a Pueblo Blanco, is built over and known for a large gorge dividing the town. Located in the Sierras, between Las Nieves and Grazela mountain ranges…a really amazing backdrop.

Typically full of history, a fortification from the Romans to the Moors to the Iberians….but visitors all flock to the Puente Nuevo - the New Bridge over the canyon that divides the old and new towns, with a 120m drop to the river below…designed and built by the same architect, who also built the Plaza de Toros, the bullring….and apparently where bull fighting started. Bulls were used to advance the skill of the soldiers on horseback, which became a spectator “sport”.

In the first rains of the journey, I toured the bull ring and museum, rather hypocritically as I’d defo vote to ban….was interesting though and it is part of their culture / history I suppose.

Close to the bullring was the Puente Nuevo, and how iconic….seen many times on photographs, and it didn’t disappoint…quite an engineering feat, difficult to take your eyes off it…You can imagine back in the day, “hey boys, I’ve got a job for you, can you build a bridge across that gorge?” What boss, seriously? You friggin joking….😂🤷‍♂️ The boys completed it 42 years later in 1793.

Looking over the bridge, one could see access to the gorge bottom, with not many takers…easy escape from the masses, off I went……it was lovely, nicer in isolation and better views.

In the evening, I attended a Spanish guitar recital….apparently going through several styles from baroque to flamenco….but as amazing as he was, it all sounded similar to my untrained ear…🤷‍♂️😊 Really good though, the man could really finger pluck, and with so much passion…

Less than an hour to the east is El Caminito del Rey (the short hike of the king)…once tagged the World’s most dangerous hike and it possibly was….too many people lost their lives, so access was banned, and eventually 4 plus million was spent on it, to reopen as a tourist hotspot. Bit disappointing for me, nothing dangerous at all about it, series of boardwalks through the canyons…very touristy, ok you need a head for heights…Although the scenery was mind blowing….I had to join an organised group, but as soon as the young guide started off with, “Are you all feeling brave today? “ , I can’t hear you, I said, are you all…..oh shut the f*** up! The Grumpy old git, whispered under his breath, so I stayed 30m behind on the whole walk, to take in the environment and have my own space (karma man! ).

Returning to Ronda, I justifiably broke my 2 night rule….an advantage of posting these, was that an old University pal was also in town and had seen my locations on FB. I hadn’t seen Eve, since the early 80s, now living in the USA, we had a great night of recollections, from days of old, although it was a little one sided, as I couldn’t remember most of the anecdotes….hardly surprising from my main university extra curricular activity….🍻🍻🍻 Really lovely evening with Eve and her hubby John, and thanks for the dinner (reyt posh too!).

Up early the following morning, to wizz over to Sevilla airport to collect a mystery pal, who was joining me for a few days in Sevilla….but who is it? 🤷‍♂️😊👍