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Report 2007: Rambling through Southern Andalucia

By kathyk from Michigan, Spring 2012

Page 9 of 11: In Ronda

Standing in the Plaza de Toros

With the car safely parked up in the streets, we got a taxi to take us to the Parador. There were no rooms for us there but right across the plaza was a hotel reviewed by other STs. I gave my favourable impressions of Hotel Don Miguel in the hotel review section. Suffice to repeat, good price, location and breakfast buffet.

We had two nights and a full day to explore Ronda. For me, the highlight was the bull fight arena, to be able to walk around the sand arena, to see the seating stands from the same perspective as the toreador does, to duck behind the barriers that are the last ditch safe place, if too close to the horns, well, one can let their imagination run wild here. The tour continues behind the scenes, the runways and rope pulleys, trap doors, that direct the bulls from their stalls to their final destination in the arena. There is a museum of all things taurino, art, apparel, tack for horses and the teams, all in the cool halls under the seating stands.

Right up along side the plaza de toros are extensive gardens running along the edge of the ridge, on to and all around the porch of the Parador, continuing along the edge of the gorge, and back onto the street and the bridge.

Palacio de Mondragon, a public museum, houses a strange collection of dioramas and artifacts from archeology finds in the area. But I found that the architecture of the palace itself, the three interior courtyards, fountains and gardens, far outweighed the contents. The gardens are right along the edge of the cliff with distant views of the Sierra.

We just did not have enough time to see other sights in Ronda, which once again points out the wisdom of true Slow Travel. I am still trying to conquer my old ingrained habit of wanting to see everything. And that is why we left Ronda the next day with the destination of...

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