Ronda, help help me…

no not really, couldn´t get the song out of my head though!

We have spent today lunching al fresco, in the delightful sunshine, admiring the view of the oldest bull ring, and then spending time not only in it, but on it.

Whilst I didn´t think the whole bull fighting thing would be remotely interesting… I was wrong, it was fascinating. The tradition, the history, the atmosphere, the colour were all palpable, even though the first bull fight does not start in Ronda until the 10th of April for this year. There is a whole season of bull fighting from then on. As to who lasts and is able to fill pending dates on the calendar depends on the bull, pretty much!

Spain_Ronda2001

Spain_Ronda2001

We had also spent time on a guided tour around the bull ring in Seville, however the Ronda one is older by 13 years, but who´s counting when we´re talking centuries! And we were able to walk on the Ronda one, which made it even more tantalising.

Spain_RondaBullRing

Spain_RondaBullRing

The daughter pretended to be a matador! (as you do) and had a wee crowd in the stands shouting “ole!”… rather humorous really

Spain_RondaBullRingOle

Spain_RondaBullRingOle

Interestingly enough, this year on the Seville program, there features one female (whoa!) and a non-Spaniard (German/French). Who´d have thought a form of globalisation and affirmative action could effect such a stalwart of tradition. Of course the other begging question is, why would you want to?

Spain_RondaBullRingProgram

Spain_RondaBullRingProgram

We continued to dawdle atop of the Puento Nuevo… no mean feat in bridge building I can assure you.

Spain_RondaPuentoNuevo

Spain_RondaPuentoNuevo

The other big deal happening both here, and in Seville (in fact I think its happening all over Spain), is the “Semena Santa“. Huge processions and festivities around Palm Sunday (of the Christian persuasion). A very impressive sight, although I don´t get it, but then I didn´t try to hard…click on this link for details http://www.sevillaonline.es/english/seville-city-centre/semana-santa_holy-week.htm

Tomorrow we´re off to Gibraltar, passports at the ready.
One night there, and then onto Morocco. Not sure what the internet access will be like there, we´ll just have to wait and see…

Good red wine!… adios!

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