Round to Ronda

We awoke early and breakfasted in the hotel balcony, looking out at the start of a rural day.....horses, farmers, flocks of birds stretching out in the morning...... and the swifts swirling about us with their amazing aerial contortions.

We got our car and drove to Ronda. The drive was again up and down mountains, though very pretty countryside and some lovely villages. The pass between valleys was up around 1100 metres, so nothing to be sneezed at. The road were a little scary, but at least in good condition. The narrowness and lack of verges has me wanting to close my eyes and pray when a truck comes around a bend.

We got lucky in Ronda, someone pulled out of a free parking space as we came in, so we pulled in and walked to the Plaza del Socorro for a second cuppa for the day. Lovely space to watch the world go past.

We were soon checking out the Puente Nuevo (new bridge), and yes it is a long way down. The bridge has some gruesome history, with both sides in the Civil War using the rooms in it to torture captured opposition and then to hurl them out the windows. Ahhh the joys of war!

We did our normal aimless wandering, though some pretty streets. We liked that Ronda had a few plazas with trees and shade. It broke the heat down a little and provided some pleasant changes for the eyes as well. Soon enough we found ourselves down the hill having a different look at the bridge. We met a Melbourne couple and exchanged 'couple photo' duties.

For Laura, this is what a Spanish waterfall looks like! You can see how they are channelling the water along the right hand wall.

Had a drink at one of the plazas, in the background a musician from the academy playing some lovely Spanish guitar. Could have stayed all day, but they charged 5 euros for a wine and a water. Outrageous!

More aimless wandering around the old town, a building visit or two, some drinks, some lunch, some more aimless wandering. I had a chat with a bloke at the cathedral who insisted that Spaniards discovered Australia but left because they did not find gold or silver ........ who am I to argue .... real Spaniards know it all after all!

There was a bloke in one of the plazas/parks playing something familiar ....Spanish guitar....but........aha it was the Beatles. Sounded good.

Eventually we came back across the river via the Puente Viejo (old bridge) ….. to more views of the New Bridge and the incredible gorge that separates the 'old' town from the 'new'.

Whilst at Plaza del Socorro Marjan had spotted an interesting cake shop....aren't they all? Whilst contemplating cakes, we bumped into the guy from the cathedral. Turns out he is a teniente (lieutenant I think) in the Spanish army. His name is Jesus and his job is to escort visiting military folk from around the world, who stay at a military hotel in Malaga, and make sure there is no trouble. He was escorting a small group of Romanians. He is not their tourist guide, but hovers nearby ..... and obviously chats to strangers like me ...... so we chatted a bit more....about the state of the Spanish economy, and the difficulty in finding meaningful work ......... meanwhile Marjan pondered cake.......we eventually left Jesus and Marjan, bought and ate cake.

Eventually I wondered about Jesus' bona fides and checked my wallet....all there! Suspicious bugger!

On the way back to Arcos we took the wider, safer, faster but slightly less picturesque road. We were much faster, and my heart rate was almost normal all the way.....slightly elevated due to the presence of my true love!