Marbella, Ronda and Cádiz

February 25, 2024 2:26 pm

Marbella: February 18 – 20

Our tour of the south coast of Spain continues to amaze us!

Marbella is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, between Málaga and the Strait of Gibraltar. The city has a population under 200,000 and is one of the most important tourist cities of the Costa del Sol. With its subtropical Mediterranean climate and tourist infrastructure, most of the year it is an international tourist attraction. We were told this is a ‘life styles of the rich and famous’ place and it was evident in the real estate and yachts.


The city’s Centro (old town) was small but packed with great restaurants.

On our last night, we dined on Italian and we commented to the restaurant owner about the early arrival of warm weather. She said they are already experiencing a water shortage and if the drought continues, they will shut off the water, forcing more than just restaurants to close. We hope they get rain!

We stayed in a boutique inn and spent most of our full day here in Ronda.

Ronda

We took a 1.5 hour bus up the windy, narrow roads in the Ronda Mountains, to the town of Ronda. It was a white knuckler! Ronda is in a mountainous area about 750 m (2,460 ft) above sea level.

Ronda is a mountaintop city in Spain’s Malaga province that’s set dramatically above a deep gorge, El Tajo. El Tajo separates the city’s circa-15th-century new town from its old town, dating to Moorish rule. Several bridges cross the gorge, notably an arch structure 300 feet (90 metres) high built in 1761.





Spain’s oldest bullring, a stone Neoclassical structure (1785) and now a museum, is also found in Ronda.

Cadiz: February 20 – 23

Cádiz, with a population of 125,000, is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe. The founding of Cádiz dates back to 1100 BC.!! In the 16th century it was home to the Spanish Navy and was a booming port. It has more than 100 watchtowers and many well-preserved historical landmarks.

Cádiz has a unique location – it sits on a narrow slice of land, surrounded by several bodies of water. The Gulf of Cadiz is on the North Atlantic Ocean, to the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. To the east is the Strait of Gibraltar, and the west borders the Mediterranean Sea. The result? The waters are ‘swimming’ with fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Cádiz is famous for their fresh fish (red tuna is one) and the market had some fascinating options!

We stayed at the Parador Hotel, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Our room had an amazing view and was next door to Park Genoves, a park filled with exotic plants and giant trees.

We each chose a restaurant for dinner in Cádiz; both were small, packed and lined up. Joe’s pick was a popular Tapas restaurant. There was only space at the bar, and were at arms length from a chatty couple from Switzerland. The Tapas were amazing.


My choice was a Spanish/Asian fusion restaurant, again we were seated at the bar – right near the action! We love eaour way through Spain! Keep in mind these are all small portions and we shared them!

Cathedral Candelaria Populo with a Crypt

Cat homes on the beach looking down from the walkway!

We are enjoying our last in Seville and are heading to Cordoba tomorrow. Time is going too fast now. We hope we are making you hungry!

Thanks for following along!


8 Comments

  • Bonnie says:

    Glorious! Love all the Rick and huge buildings- amazing and no universities- and they were built to last 1000’s of years!
    I saw a special picture through an arch and then another ?
    The food looked amazing. The fish except for the dried ones looked very good – Hope they had cooked samples for you!

  • George and Helen says:

    We again are following your latest European adventure. Wonderful photography…you have a gift for framing a picture in way that tells a story and invites the viewer to think beyond what they see. Ronda has special memories for us so it was exciting to see your ‘take’ on this lovely place. Did you learn of Ernest Hemingway’s connections to Ronda?

    George and Helen

    • paula says:

      Hello you two – I hope you are well! I did read about Hemingway and also Orson Wells – pretty easy to love Ronda!

      Thanks for following along!

  • Irene Thompson says:

    So happy you are seeing all these wonderful parts of
    Spain. Enjoy every minute of your wonderful trip.
    We are enjoying the pictures ?️ as well Great job of letting us be part of your adventures

    • paula says:

      Thanks Irene and Clarence! It has been quite the adventure. Every city is full of surprises and wonder! Thanks for following along!

  • Lindsay Thompson says:

    That park looks super cool! Glad you are not sick of the food by now 🙂

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