Somebody posted recently on Facebook that Ronda (Malaga) is boring and there's nothing to do there!
I think this chap was in the town for a couple of hours on a day trip. But, even so, he must have seen the potential of the place, arguably the most stunning place in Andalucia, if not in the whole of Spain.
Ronda's Puente Nuevo [Photo: Fenix]
Me and Ronda
As far as I am concerned Ronda is the best place in Spain. After 50-odd years of travelling throughout the country, I chose the City of Dreams (Ciudad Soñada) as a place to settle, when I retired.
Balloon flight over Ronda [Karl Smallman]
Other places that stood out during this half-century odyssey were, in alphabetical order, Arcos de la Frontera (Cadiz), Baeza (Jaen), Barcelona (Catalunya), Cadiz (Cadiz), Cordoba (Cordoba), Cuenca (Castilla La Mancha), Granada (Granada), Jaca (Aragon), Olot (Girona), Salamanca (Castilla-Leon), San Sebastian (Guipuzkoa), and Santander (Santander), but Ronda was the one for me, so that's where I went.
Arcos de la Fra. [Turismo de Cadiz] Cadiz [ABC de Sevilla] San Sebastian [Civitatis]
Other places I discovered since emigrating to Ronda
During the time I've lived in the Serrania de Ronda, first in Barrio San Francisco (Ronda) and Barrio Padre Jesus (Ronda), then in Montejaque (Malaga) and finally in the campo just outside the City of Dreams (a total of some 20 years), I have also discovered the delights of lots of other places, mainly in the south.
Montejaque Square [Karl Smallman]
These are Almuñecar (Granada); Bolonia, Caños de Meca and Chipiona (all Cadiz); Competa (Malaga); Conil de la Frontera (Cadiz); Frigiliana (Malaga); Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz); and Nerja (both Malaga); Salobreña (Granada); Torrox (Malaga); Ubeda (Jaen); Velez-Malaga (Malaga); Zahara de los Atunes (Cadiz).
Bolonia [Wikipedia] Frigiliana [Malaga Hoy] Nerja [La Sexta]
We must not forget the two Spanish island groups.
Places we liked were Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca (Balearic Islands) and Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, Lanzarote and Tenerife (Canary Islands).
But only for holidays.
Mount Teide, Tenerife [Wikipedia]
Most of the mainland places are on or near the coast but not all. Great for day-trips or short holidays, but not to live.
I shall continue to reside in Ronda until I die and my body will be laid to rest here in Spain. I've already reserved my "niche" at the cemetery in Montejaque.
Montejaque cemetery [CharryTV.com]
Links:
Features I - Serrania de ronda - SERRANIA DE RONDA - Help me, Ronda
Features II - costa del sol - COSTA DEL SOL - Help me, Ronda
Features III - costa de la luz - COSTA DE LA LUZ - Help me, Ronda
Features IV - REST OF SPAIN / THE WORLD - REST OF SPAIN / THE WORLD - Help me, Ronda
My Top 10 places in Ronda - Secret Serrania de Ronda
Ronda - City of Dreams - Olive Press News Spain
The Story of El Rincón in Ronda 2005 - 2010
© Pablo de Ronda (Paul Whitelock)
With thanks to:
ABC de Sevilla, CharryTV.com, Civitatis, Fenix, Karl Smallman, La Sexta, Malaga Hoy, Turismo de Cadiz, Wikipedia
Tags:
ABC de Sevilla, Almuñecar, Aragon, Arcos de la Frontera, Baeza, Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Barrio Padre Jesus, Barrio San Francisco, Bolonia, Cadiz, Canary Islands, Caños de Meca, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla-Leon, Catalunya, CharryTV.com, Chipiona, City of Dreams, Ciudad Soñada, Civitatis, Competa, Conil de la Frontera, Cordoba, Cuenca, Fenix, Frigiliana, Fuerteventura, and Tenerife Girona, Granada, Gran Canaria, Guipuzkoa, Ibiza, Jaca, Jaen, Jerez de la Frontera, Karl Smallman, La Gomera, Lanzarote, La Sexta, Malaga Hoy, Mallorca, Menorca, Montejaque, Formentera, Nerja, Olot, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Ronda, Salamanca, Salobreña, San Sebastian, Santander, Serrania de Ronda, Torrox, Turismo de Cadiz, Ubeda, Velez-Malaga, Wikipedia, Zahara de los Atunes