Help, Help Me Ronda

I never pass up a chance to use a train. I have come to embrace train travel and use trains whenever the chance arises. I have heard it said that flying has become more like boarding a Greyhound bus with the only difference being is that there is little chance of a “hand frisk” when trying to board a bus. Although a nice “hand frisk” every once in a while, kind of makes me feel special. 

 

But I don’t get me started on flying, stuff for another blog.

 

 

I bring it up as RENFE (Spanish train system) had just started a regular train service to the mountain town of Ronda to carry the thousands of tourist who visit each year.

 

 

  

 

 

The area around Ronda has been occupied for over 2,000 years, but the town itself, was developed by the Romans in the 3^rd Century as a fortified village to protect and control the surrounding area.  

 

 

 

 

The village sits on three separate ridges and are joined by three really cool old bridges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

Ronda is also home to the oldest bull ring in Spain and the birthplace of the Romero family, renowned as the fathers of modern bull fighting. Bull fighting was first practiced by mounted soldiers who faced the charging bulls to prepare them for the art of war. In the 18^th Century Francisco Romero led the movement to face the bulls on foot. He invented the killing sword and cape.

 

 

 

His grandson Pedro is considered the best fighter (Hah!) of all time, killing over 5.600 bulls in his career. If you lined up all those bulls, nose to nose, they would keep a MacDonald’s in Quarter Pounders for a year. Ronda is a breeding ground for superior bull killers, whoops, inside voice, bull fighters.

  

 

 

Sangria has become our drink des jour since we landed in Spain. First it was our evening drink, then our go to drink for supper and before we knew what happened, it became our lunch drink. We need to deal with this before it starts getting poured on our Cheerios. It is an addictive little liquid and best of all, cheap.

 

 

 

Finally got to the bottom of things in Ronda which involved a long drop down a wet and slippery set of stairs that had been cut into the rock. People of the village used the stairs everyday to access water and carry it back up to the village. Now only crazy tourists risk their lives making the trip. The village was a beautiful place but I struggle to make sense of why they located it where they did. Those crazy Romans!