Thursday, August 4, 2016

Spain Trip: Day 13

Today's trip was to Ronda, a small city up on the hills just over 3,000 feet above sea level through winding roads. The view from the top was incredible, overlooking Gibraltar, the Med, and the Atlantic. Ronda is famous for its oldest bullring. The bullring was originally designed for the king's soldiers to practice their bull-hunting skills. Our guide on this tour, Enrique, provided us with so many eye-opening information about bullfighting.


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Enrique showing us where the bulls are kept before being released to the arena. 

 Ronda sits high up in the mountains with a gorgeous view of the valley below.

Tess next to an artistic rendition of a matador. 


Ronda is home to the oldest royal bull hunting training school and bullring and holds bullfights to this day. 

This art piece depicts how bullfights started - the king's soldiers honed their skills in bull hunting on horses; a skill needed on their campaigns to help feed themselves.  

A matador's outfit designed by the Spanish artist Goya. 

Tess on a view-deck next to the bridge separating the old town from the new town Ronda. 

 For lunch we had the local favorites - pig cheeks and as you might have guessed, bull (ox) tail.

On the way home we passed by a park in Marbella that centerpieces sculptures by Salvador Dali. 

Back in our condo at Caleta de Velez, this sunset greeted us.

Day 14