Ronda

Ronda is a very pretty little white city. It actually reminded me a little of Santorini because both are situated atop cliffs. Ronda is divided by the Tajo Gorge and surrounded by plains with mountains on the distant horizon. It is one of the Pueblos Blancos, known for their small streets and white washed buildings.
The Casa del Rey Moro looks out on the gorge. Christian slaves cut out steps in the rock down to the river to collect drinking water. If I remember correctly, that may be how Ronda was conquered during the Reconquista- cutting their water supply. We crossed the Puente Viejo to visit the Arab Baths, or rather their ruins. We walked around, crossing the Puente Nuevo. This bridge has a little prison room a little below the top. The only escape was down... and no one survived that.

In the bullring- the space back there was tiny. No fat matadors allowed..

The Plaza del Toros (with the Riding School) is quite ancient and holds very few but prestigious fights, mainly due to cost. Putting on a corrida can cost tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the quality of bulls and matadors. It is a lot different than the one in Sevilla. All the seating is shaded, for one thing, and it is much smaller. We got to go "backstage" and see the bull pens. Passing the riding school made me miss riding soo much. That was one great indoor arena! With some free time, Yilin and I wandered through the Alameda del Tojo. It has a little balcony jutting out from the cliff. The view is breathtaking- the fields surrounding the city for miles and mountains far off.
A sunny, hot day in Ronda was well spent. A very charming little town with a bit of a Greek feel.