Saturday 18 March 2017

Happy Birthday Jamie – 2 years old today!

We've got the sun back today, bright and clear but it took a little time to warm up. A leisurely breakfast then got a few things together and set off with Jamie to explore Ronda – well the lady at reception was most enthusiastic and it would be rude not to listen to her advice!

City gate

About 1500m downhill took us to the walls of the city, “capital” of los Pueblas Blancas then we climbed slowly into the old town, basically just following the road until we came to the touristic centre, Puente Nuevo or new bridge. This spans a gaping river gorge that divides Ronda between the old and new quarters and is very impressive in it's own right. The Rough Guide tells us that it was originally the town prison (above the central arch) and last saw use in the Civil War when Ronda was the site of some of the south's most vicious massacres. Hemingway, in “For Whom the Bell Tolls” recorded how prisoners were thrown alive into the gorge!

Looking into the gorge from the bridge

Of course, this being Saturday all the tourist coaches from the Costa del Sol were in, evidenced by the numerous “crocodiles” of camera-toting parties of different nations as well as dozens of independants, many Spanish. Ronda has quite a few things to see but we just wandered, coming across the Plaza de Torros and the bull ring where we stopped for ice-creams. 

City walls acrioss to the modern quarter

Plaza de Torros and bull ring

Cathedral de Santa Maria La Mayor

The Cathedral de Santa Maria La Mayor, pictured above in a lovely square, was originally the Moorish town's Friday mosque, With Gothic and Renaissance styling, the belfry now sits atop where the minaret used to be.

There are various museums and exhibitions in the old quarter but having Jamie with us limited us a bit so we started a slow stroll back to the campsite for a late lunch. Chairs and awning out as the sun was now high and hot, but away from the protection of the town a cool breeze was blowing, precluding sitting out for long. So an afternoon of relaxation followed by showers and a latish tea before planning our next move.

Sculptures outside campsite reception