Malaga, Rondo and Granada

Very early morning today. Up at 5:45, breakfast at 6:45 and on the bus at 7:15. We had a 30 minute ride to the airport, very new and modern. The streets of Barcelona were mainly empty except for delivery trucks. We passed the various ports before getting to the airport.

We got on our flight to Malaga the gateway to Andalusia. With no luggage to pick up we were quickly on our way to Ronda a typical Andalusian town, narrow winding streets with whitewashed houses.

We traveled from the flat coastal land, where they were growing citrus, into the more mountainous area where they grow grains and olives. The country is very committed to being energy green and there were many windmills along the way. On the ride there our tour director, Alicia, gave us some information about Spain.

Upon arriving in Ronda we had lunch in the Parador de Ronda. The restaurant was lovely and looked out on part of the gorge that surrounds the city. After lunch we met Pepe our tour guide and he led us around the old town. We saw the quaint streets and went into a traditional house. Unfortunately it started to rain and we did not walk as far as we might have. Then we went to the bull ring. It is the oldest in Spain and the largest in the size of the area where they fight. It is on their national heritage list and is only used 3 times a year.

We learned about bull fighting and how the men are trained to fight the bulls.

The town used to host many famous writers, actors and composers. Washington Irving, Ernest Hemingway, Orion Welles and John Singer Sargent all came here. The opera Carmen was composed here. Here is a link to the Sargent painting done here in Rondo.

https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/el-jaleo/PQHv7QgAV-VL6w?hl=en&ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.5%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22z%22%3A9.55488805267977%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A1.161744855967078%2C%22height%22%3A1.2374999999999996%7D%7D

When we left Ronda we traveled to Granada. We had a sumptuous dinner and now are off to sleep.

The new bridge in Ronda from 1751

On a terrace overlooking the gorge which surrounds Ronda just before the rain started

Looking out from the dining room to the terrace in a traditional Andalusian house

In the central patio of the traditional house

Overlooking the gorge and valley area

Outside the bull ring

The toreadors clothing and weapons

In the bull ring

Another statue outside the bull ring