February 29th 2008 Ronda 1
Written by Geoff Forster
Friday February 29th 2008
We're up early and heading down the A369 to Ronda.
As usual the recently improved road is quiet and we get there to Ronda in around twenty five minutes.
We parked near the Plaza del Barrio de San Francisco just outside of the city walls.
The sky was blue and it looked like it was going to be a warm end to February. The Iglesia Espiritu Santo inside the walls can be visited for 1€. You can go up the bell tower. A noisy event as it strikes every fifteen minutes. Visitors at midday get free tinnitus for a week if not longer.
We walked up into the old town. This is a view looking East.
We crossed the famous 'Puente Nuevo' the magnificent bridge across the gorge. We went for a tostada and coffee in the 'Bodega de Verdad' part of the Hnos. Macias Hotel in Calle Pedro Romero. Always worth a visit. It was good to see the owner Juan whom we first met over four years ago whilst house hunting in the area. He has always made us very welcome.
This is the view east from the top of the Puente Nuevo.
We split up after coffee.
Jane went shopping in Carrera Espenil. Ronda's long main shopping street.
I went to the Plaza Socorro and listened and photographed a political rally held by the Partido Popular (PP). Javier Arenas the Andalucía candidate was giving a speech. It was an interesting experience. I'll put the photographs on a separate blog.
Full of pork lard and jamón and a new found belief in the guaranteed future prosperity of Andalucía. (Election promises are the same the world over) I wandered around the back of the bullring. This bronze is excellent.
I walked around the back of the parador hotel and took some photographs looking out westwards and buildings on the the cliff in the old part of Ronda
The Puente Nuevo in Ronda. It is stunning. If you have never had the pleasure of visiting Ronda ... you must!
Back to views to the West.
I walked through the old part of Ronda. Calling into the Municipal Museuem in the Casa/Palacio de Mondragon. I'll put the photographs on a separate blog.
This is the tower of the Iglesia Santa María
I think this tower is part of the Santa Clara de Asís convent, but I'm not 100% sure. The convent is next door but opens to the public 9:30 - midday and then later in the afternoon. I'll check on our next visit and try to time it to pay a visit.
This plaque is inside the entrance to the convent.
I met Jane in Café Capri. We like this small bar between the puente nuevo and the bullring. Miguel the owner always shakes hands and serves us with a smile. He's from Alpandeire and likes it that we love the Genal Valley.
We left Ronda calling into a garden centre at the East end of the City. It was closed 2-5pm the traditional Spanish lunch hour.
We drove passed the Cueva del Gato on our way towards Benaoján - Cortes de la Frontera and the Alcornocales forest. I'll do a separate blog for our photographs of our walk in the forest.
We're up early and heading down the A369 to Ronda.
As usual the recently improved road is quiet and we get there to Ronda in around twenty five minutes.
We parked near the Plaza del Barrio de San Francisco just outside of the city walls.
The sky was blue and it looked like it was going to be a warm end to February. The Iglesia Espiritu Santo inside the walls can be visited for 1€. You can go up the bell tower. A noisy event as it strikes every fifteen minutes. Visitors at midday get free tinnitus for a week if not longer.
We walked up into the old town. This is a view looking East.
We crossed the famous 'Puente Nuevo' the magnificent bridge across the gorge. We went for a tostada and coffee in the 'Bodega de Verdad' part of the Hnos. Macias Hotel in Calle Pedro Romero. Always worth a visit. It was good to see the owner Juan whom we first met over four years ago whilst house hunting in the area. He has always made us very welcome.
This is the view east from the top of the Puente Nuevo.
We split up after coffee.
Jane went shopping in Carrera Espenil. Ronda's long main shopping street.
I went to the Plaza Socorro and listened and photographed a political rally held by the Partido Popular (PP). Javier Arenas the Andalucía candidate was giving a speech. It was an interesting experience. I'll put the photographs on a separate blog.
Full of pork lard and jamón and a new found belief in the guaranteed future prosperity of Andalucía. (Election promises are the same the world over) I wandered around the back of the bullring. This bronze is excellent.
I walked around the back of the parador hotel and took some photographs looking out westwards and buildings on the the cliff in the old part of Ronda
The Puente Nuevo in Ronda. It is stunning. If you have never had the pleasure of visiting Ronda ... you must!
Back to views to the West.
I walked through the old part of Ronda. Calling into the Municipal Museuem in the Casa/Palacio de Mondragon. I'll put the photographs on a separate blog.
This is the tower of the Iglesia Santa María
I think this tower is part of the Santa Clara de Asís convent, but I'm not 100% sure. The convent is next door but opens to the public 9:30 - midday and then later in the afternoon. I'll check on our next visit and try to time it to pay a visit.
This plaque is inside the entrance to the convent.
I met Jane in Café Capri. We like this small bar between the puente nuevo and the bullring. Miguel the owner always shakes hands and serves us with a smile. He's from Alpandeire and likes it that we love the Genal Valley.
We left Ronda calling into a garden centre at the East end of the City. It was closed 2-5pm the traditional Spanish lunch hour.
We drove passed the Cueva del Gato on our way towards Benaoján - Cortes de la Frontera and the Alcornocales forest. I'll do a separate blog for our photographs of our walk in the forest.