Seville to Ronda
Today we took a day trip via bus from Seville to Ronda, an Andulsian white hill town southeast of Seville. Photo of the New Town of Ronda.
Seville to Ronda
San Sebastian Bus Station
It was only about a 15–minute walk from our hotel to the bus station. Photo of the San Sebastian Bus Station.
San Sebastian Bus Station
San Sebastian Bus Station
Close–up of one of the murals on the walls of the station.
San Sebastian Bus Station
San Sebastian Bus Station
Close–up of another mural.
San Sebastian Bus Station
San Sebastian Bus Station
The Mercedes bus that would take us to Ronda. The bus ride took about 2 1/2 hours, but it was faster than the train trip which would have taken about 4 hours. The bus travels from Seville all the way to Malaga on the Costa del Sol via Ronda and quite a number of other stops along the way. The one–way bus fare was 9,90 euros––quite a bargain.
San Sebastian Bus Station
Seville to Ronda
Scenery along the way, looking very much like California.
Seville to Ronda
Seville to Ronda
Spanish farm house.
Seville to Ronda
Seville to Ronda
An Andulsian white hill town in the background. We didn’t stop at it.
Seville to Ronda
Seville to Ronda
Close–up of the hill town.
Seville to Ronda
Seville to Ronda
A lake and many olive groves.
Seville to Ronda
Seville to Ronda
One of the white hill towns that we stopped at to let off/pick up passengers.
Seville to Ronda
Seville to Ronda
Another white hill town that we stopped at.
Seville to Ronda
Seville to Ronda
We are now nearing Ronda.
Seville to Ronda
Ronda
The bus station is at the bottom level of this building. I took a photo of the building so, if need be, we would be able to recognize it on our return here.
Ronda
Ronda
Ronda is divided into two towns: La Ciudad, the old Moorish town; and El Mercadilla, the new town which was built after 1485, so it is only “new” compared to the older “old town.” The bus station was in the new town. We followed Rick Steves’ directions of how to get from the bus station to the city center. He told us to turn right on this pedestrian street: Carrera Espinal. We took one look at the crowds on it and decided to find a quieter street on which to find a cafe to eat lunch at.
Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
This square looked like a restful place to eat at. What a menu the cafe had: chili, nachos, hamburgers, etc., and our waiter spoke perfect English though with a British accent. We asked him where he had learned English and, surprisingly, he told us California. He had lived with a woman in Oceanside, CA, I think as an exchange student. This woman also owned a home in Alhambra (that is, Alhambra, CA), which is one of the cities bordering Pasadena, where I live. He told me how much he liked our Old Town Pasadena. Small world! I ordered the hamburger and again found that the Spanish really know how to make American hamburgers.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Looking the other way from the square.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
A window was left open so that this dog could go in and out. I am sure that it was enjoying all the cooking smells in the square.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
It really was a very cute dog.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Our waiter gave us directions as to how to find the Old Town and we headed that way.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
We had to walk back to Carrera Espinel, the pedestrian street, but it wasn’t as crowded as it was previously. Photo: ice cream shop on Carrera Espinel.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Carrera Espinel.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
On Carrera Espinel.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Statue on Carrera Espinel.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Store on Carrera Espinel with a sign in front indicating that it is an Authorized Dealer of the Comic Art of Guillermo Forchino.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Pottery store on Carrera Espinel.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Spanish dolls for sale.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
A store selling Mexican crafts offering an interesting reason for people to go into the store.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
The Roman ruins.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Ronda’s Plaza de Toros. This 18th–century bullring was Spain’s first modern bullring. We didn’t visit it as I, at least, was still recovering from the bullfights that I saw in Madrid.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
A statue of a bull in front of the Plaza de Toros.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Building across the street from the Plaza de Toros with matador banners.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
A view of the valley at the end of the New Town.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Another view of the valley.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Ronda’s parador, a state–owned luxury hotel overlooking the valley.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
The New Bridge
The parador also overlooks the New Bridge, built in 1793. It is called “new” as it replaced an older bridge. The bridge spans a ravine called El Tajo which is 360 feet high and 200 feet wide. The bridge connects the New City with the Old City.
The New Bridge
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Buildings on the New Town side of the ravine.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
Another view.
El Mercadilla, New Town, Ronda
The New Bridge
More of the buildings on the Old Town side of the ravine.
The New Bridge
El Tajo
View of El Tajo.
El Tajo
Ronda’s Old Town
We walked over the New Bridge to the Old Town. I have put my photos of the Old Town on a slide show on this website: Go To Side shows, Western Europe, Spain–2, “Ronda: Old Moorish Quarter.” We did much walking up and down hills here and, of course, stopped in some of the stores. It was a very enjoyable walk except for the noise from cars and cycles. I was surprised that in Spain it had been very easy to cross streets as the Spanish drivers are very courteous and even stop if they see that you want to cross a street. But not here in Ronda––they drive like the Italians: fast and pedestrians beware. Photo: Taken in the Old Town.
Ronda’s Old Town
Going Back to the Bus Station
Merrie and I were exhausted by the time we crossed over the New Bridge back to the New Town. We decided to splurge and take a taxi back up the hill to the station, but we didn’t see any taxis. However, we did see this horse and buggy and decided to splurge even more. It was quite a ride and I discovered that you can’t take photos while riding in a buggy as the horse is going too fast.
Going Back to the Bus Station
Going Back to the Bus Station
But before we got in the buggy, Merrie went to pet this horse. The horse had another idea––eat Merrie’s hat. Photo of how much the horse got to eat of the hat.
Going Back to the Bus Station
At the Bus Station
Our horse and buggy driver. We did get a lot of stares from people waiting at the bus station when we arrived via horse and buggy.
At the Bus Station
Seville
We got back to Seville after dark but had no trouble walking back at that time from the bus station. After depositing our purchases at our hotel, we went out to eat. We ate across from the Cathedral––actually we ate at a table on this sidewalk. This photo was taken after we finished dinner. When we got here, all the tables but one were occupied and there was much pedestrian traffic walking past our table. The meal was good.
Seville
Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower
One reason that we chose to eat at this restaurant was because we wanted to take night photos of the Cathedral, which was only a few steps away from our table. Giralda Tower and the Cathedral at night.
Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower
Seville Cathedral
The Seville Cathedral lit up.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
More of the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower
The Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower.
Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower
Seville Cathedral
Horse and buggy in front of the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
The Alcazar
The Alcazar and square lit up.
The Alcazar
The Alcazar
Another view of the Alcazar and the square.
The Alcazar
Cathedral Square
The square in front of the Cathedral. It was a long day but not yet over. We still had to pack as tomorrow we were to say good–bye to Seville and fly to Barcelona
