Sunday, May 31, 2015

Help Me Ronda

Thursday morning, San Geraldo, Judyshannonstreetwhat (click here), and I took the train up to the mountain city of Ronda (population about 35,000... not counting tourists). It's less than two hours by train. A beautiful trip to a breathtaking destination. We stayed in the city and walked up and down the winding cobblestone streets all day Thursday and most of Friday.

The Guadelevin River splits the city, whose two sections are connected by three bridges:

  • Puente Viejo (Old Bridge, also known as Arab Bridge, 14th century)
  • Puente San Miguel (Saint Michael Bridge, 9th-century)
  • Puente Nuevo (New Bridge, completed in 1793)


I've got a lot more to share about Ronda in the coming days — where we stayed, where we ate, where we shopped, where we wandered.

If you're interested in the more than 8,000 years of history in Ronda, click here to check out the Wikipedia info. Otherwise, let's go for a walk together. (Click any image to be amazed.)

WALKING ACROSS PUENTE SAN MIGUEL, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ROMAN BRIDGE,
ALTHOUGH IT WAS BUILT BY THE MOORS IN THE 9TH CENTURY.
LOOKING DOWN FROM PUENTE SAN MIGUEL TO THE OLD BRIDGE.
(AND THE 13TH-CENTURY ARAB BATHS)
SAN GERALDO (LEFT) HEADING UP ANOTHER HILL
AFTER CROSSING THE "ROMAN" BRIDGE.
THE MINARET OF SAN SEBASTIAN (14TH CENTURY)
AFTER TOPPING OUT. A LONG WALK DOWN
(AND BACK UP AGAIN AFTER LUNCH).
ESPIRITU SANTO (HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH).
COMPLETED IN 1505.
GATE AND WALLS OF ALMOCABAR:
DURING MOORISH RULE, THE MOST HEAVILY DEFENDED PART OF THE CITY WALL.
RUINS OF THE ALCAZABA, PRE-11TH-CENTURY.


So much more to come from Ronda, but I'll only include this song once...

24 comments:

  1. Nice photos of a lovely place. I have always loved the name of the Guadalquivir River.

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    1. Michael:
      Thanks. A spectacular place. Sorry about my mistake in the river name. It's really the Guadelevin River. I'm so used to the Guadalquivir in Sevilla that I mistyped. I guess I also love that name.

      Delete
  2. Those bridges are amazing! When I was a child I had a major bridge phobia, but only when crossing them in a car, on foot was fine. I do see that SG is staying away from the precipice ...
    Your post-surgery chocolate therapy appears to have worked well for you - those hills look quite challenging! Looking forward to more of Ronda.

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    1. Wilma:
      I love bridges. San Geraldo is not a fan. But this bridge was no problem for him. The reason he's so close to the wall is because cars had a hard time making that sharp and sloping turn and he didn't want to surprise anyone.

      Delete
  3. Mitchell I love the mineret

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  4. So wonderful to be able to walk through history like that, where it seems almost untouched by time.

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    1. Bob:
      I had heard so much (good) about Ronda. But I was still amazed by the beauty.

      Delete
  5. Oh you make me want to come back to Spain.... we HAVE to start working on a plan.....

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    1. Sharon:
      There are 2-week intensive Spanish programs in Ronda... And culture programs... And history...

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  6. The village looks wonderful. I eagerly await more photos.

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    1. Andrew:
      I look forward to going back. And we were blessed with vivid blue skies most of the time for photographs.

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  7. What a beautiful ancient place with so much history.
    And all that walking too! Difficult to us 'new worlders' to get our heads around the age of this place.
    Great photos.

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    1. Jim:
      I was so excited to live in our town in Connecticut with its homes from the 17th and 18th centuries. This is just mind-boggling.

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  8. Ho-leeeeeee cow!
    What amazing stuff! Really, Mitchell, my life was lacking something before I found you and your blog :)

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  9. I am dazzled and enthralled; can't wait to see more... also in serious awe of your energy! How are you holding up?

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    1. Jacqueline:
      Admittedly, I was tired! But it was so much fun.

      Delete
  10. Are you sure about the name of the river? I thought Rio Guadelevin went through Ronda and Guadalquivir through Sevilla.

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    1. Peter:
      Thanks so much for catching that. My fingers were on autopilot. What follows Guad in a river name in Spain? Alquivir! You are, of course, right and I've made the correction.

      Delete
  11. You were so right, Mitch! This really is worth immersing yourself in ~~ unbelievable history and beauty!

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    1. Ron:
      Looking forward to our next visit. So close and easy to get to.

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  12. Wow, beautiful! Plus with all those hills I bet you burned tons of calories walking every day.

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    1. Cheapchick:
      That's how San Geraldo sees it. Justified all the treats along we had on our way there.

      Delete

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