Life begins in Andalucia Blog Entry 2

Andalucía, España

Hola a todos!! 😊

Up early one morning, Linda and I drove high up into the mountains, here behind the house, to a Moorish mountain stronghold, called Ronda. 

Although it had snowed quite heavily there the previous week, Enrique and Rosa, our landlords and “trip advisors”, assured us that prudent driving was all that was needed.

The drive up was beautiful. 

Sure, there were patches of ice and snow that the winter Mediterranean sun hadn’t reached...

.....but nothing that the Spanish transportation department couldn’t remove with…shovels!!!! 

Prudence and good tires were the key and was it all worth it?

Hell, yes!!  Sitting in a fertile inland plateau surrounded by yet higher mountains, Ronda sits at the very edge of both sides of a 100-meter gorge called “El Tajo”. 

The superbly dramatic location of the town makes it, even as I write this, the region’s thus far most spectacular town.

Established in the 9th century BC, this is one of Spain’s oldest urban sites. 

The existing “old town” though, largely dates to Islamic (Moorish) times, when Ronda was an important cultural centre filled with mosques and palaces.

Its wealth as a trading depot made it an attractive prospect for bandits and profiteers, and so, ...

...its natural fortifications, beauty and history provide the town...

....with a colourful and romantic past in Spanish folklore.

In fact, Ronda is a place that leaves you yearning to return and....

.....I know we’ll be meeting again, many times.

Our home is a cute little place...two bedrooms, one bath,......

.....a stone’s throw from the beach,......

....and, without a doubt, a place to share

.....and it wasn’t long before we had our first guests ! 

Our friend, Jeremy, and his partner, Jo, both of whom live and work in London, were our first guests. 

Since they were flying into Malaga, we all took the opportunity to spend the day together, touring this big port city with its Roman ruins and Moorish castles,....

.

...warm sun, and of course, tapas and wine. 

Time with Jeremy and Jo was all too short but plans were made for a trip to London and, of course,.....

.... some get-away trips back here to the heart of Andalucía later on.

I’ve begun an “interest course”....

.....not in bull fighting....

...but in Spanish. 

Far less rigid and demanding than my Mexico City experience at La Salle University, it seems to suit my temperament (and perhaps “age”) perfectly this year.  For starters, classes begin at noon and the number of participants changes as we all pursue other interests involving travel or family.  Curiously, the more that show up (a maximum of 10) the longer the class lasts.  One day, we didn’t get out of class until 2:45….a huge surprise for someone's bladder contending with 3 morning coffees. 😊

And speaking of coffee…the best part of the course, has to be the beginning.  Just meters from our class, there is a beautiful, quiet, sunlit plaza. 

At one end, a small white church stands with doors wide-open, as it has for centuries, while in front, a marble terrace, babbling fountains, and fruit-bearing orange trees, provide the perfect setting for a few well-placed café tables. 

It is here, 3 times a week, that Francisco parades proudly and professionally, towel on arm, out of his little coffee shop facing the square, with my steaming cup of “café con leche”, perched proudly on his platter.  And with a happy “Buenos Dias”, I begin the ritual surrounding this first cup of ambition…drinking quietly, and intentionally, even reflectively, until duty calls and it’s time to turn to the books.  What a joy!

Until next time!  Hasta la proxima!