WHERE ARE WE ANNE?: FOND OF A WANDER IN RONDA

TOP LITTLE SPOT. RONDA MEANS SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS

2nd NOVEMBER 2013

Based on a small amount of info from my research, I chose Ronda as a stopover for one night. We were delighted when we arrived to realise what a perfect choice it was.

Our airbnb room was great. Marble tiles and antique timber like an old Spanish hotel room in the old town. We were directly opposite a 14th century mosque and minaret. Pedro, our host gave us top tips as a local on the best tapas bar to go to and where to stash the car. We even did a load of washing.

Ronda old town is one of Spains oldest towns, it's linked to the new town by several bridges across a 100 metre deep ravine. The views are spectacular and with more time we would have explored more. We only spent one night here, but then again we can't do everything, we've only got eight months.

The highest bridge across the ravine, the Puente Neuvo is mentioned in Hemingway's 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' when in the Civil War fascists of a small town were rounded up, clubbed and made to walk the gauntlet between two lines of towns people before being thrown off the cliff. It's a long way down.

A couple of doors down from where we were staying is what used to be a hotel. The local matador bought it and has it as his own house now. The Ronda Bullring is legendary and reputed to one of Spain's oldest. Orsen Wells is buried here. And this is only one day's gleanings.

We had a great night in the very crowded tapas bar ordering things in Spanish and seeing what turned up. My only regret is I wouldn't have ordered the potato omelette sandwich had I known that was what it was.