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Ronda is a mountaintop city in Spain\u2019s Malaga province in Andalusia that\u2019s set above a deep gorge. A gorge (El Tajo) separates the city\u2019s new town from its old town (circa-15th-century). Puente Nuevo, a stone bridge spanning the gorge, has a stunning view. The views are magnificent. One can even adventure down into the deep gorge on dirt trails. Gazing through the glasses of loving, the love affair of Spain continues.<\/p>\n
Next is the Bull Fighting Arena. The ‘Corrida Goyesca’ which is a unique and historical bullfight that takes place once a year in Ronda in the\u00a0Plaza de toros de Ronda, the oldest\u00a0bullfighting\u00a0ring in Spain. It was built in the\u00a0Neoclassical style\u00a0by the architect\u00a0Jos\u00e9 Martin de Aldehuela. The Romero family\u2014from Francisco, played a principal role in the development of modern Spanish bullfighting. In a family responsible for such innovations as the use of the cape, or\u00a0muleta, and a sword especially designed for the kill, Pedro (a grandson to the Romero line of children) in particular transformed bullfighting into “an art and a skill, and not simply a clownishly macho preamble to the bull’s slaughter.” Ronda was heavily affected by the\u00a0Spanish Civil War, after which much of the population emigrated elsewhere. The famous scene in chapter 10 of\u00a0Hemingway’s\u00a0For Whom the Bell Tolls, describing the 1936 execution of Fascist sympathizers in a (fictional) village who are thrown off a cliff, is considered to be modeled on actual events at the time in Ronda. We spent time walking about in the Bull Arena. Standing in the middle of the arena, one’s imagination can take over very easy in picturing a day at the arena.<\/p>\n
The group gathers to participate in another spectacular meal. This time we all meet at the Parador de Ronda Restaurant. We have a lovely lunch of either veal or sea bass. I opt for the Sea Bass.<\/p>\n
After lunch, we board the bus and head to Puerto Jos\u00e9 Ban\u00fas, which is a\u00a0marina located in the area of\u00a0Nueva Andaluc\u00eda, to the southwest of\u00a0Marbella,\u00a0Spain\u00a0on the\u00a0Costa del Sol. It was built in May 1970 by Jos\u00e9 Ban\u00fas, a local property developer, as a luxury marina and shopping complex. The area attracts the rich and famous. I strolled the streets and found some vanilla ice cream to my delight, quickly dipped my fit into the Mediterranean Sea and jogged back to the bus just in time.<\/p>\n
Next stop is Granada for a night’s rest.<\/p>\n
Love & Light Julie<\/p>\n
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