Mighty view over the Ronda vally
The
airplane landed, roughly yet on schedule. The Sierra
Nevada beneath us grew bigger and bigger, and the huge fields of
tonsil trees came closer. But Malaga
isn't the place one likes to stay for a long time. Here the roads are dirty and
the streets noisy and crowded. We take the train to Ronda, with beautiful
views. The mountains are all around us, scorched and dry, but oh so overwhelming.
Deep canyons gaze at me as we race over them. Beneath us shimmer lakes and are
bridges clinching the mountains together. This trip is magnificent.
The endless tree fields we saw from the air have replaced the mountains now. Though
we can still see the Sierra Nevada, here the
landscape is waving and coloured by sunflower fields.
I can't find the words to describe what I see.
It is breathtaking, just because
it's so different. In one way or another it is more 'earthly', more natural it
is for sure. Houses are nowhere to be seen. It feels like we are the only ones
left on the planet. I wish I could describe the beauty I'm seeing. Poppy's all
around.
(...)
Street dogs in Spain
don't haunt cats, here it's far too warm for that.
For the first time since my arrival I watch the Sierra
Nevada, not from the air or a train, but from on top of this
mighty bridge. A huge, deep gap lies beneath us. Waterfalls refresh the flora
in it. I think I took way to much pictures...
We descend the small path into the cleft and walk our way to one of the falls. We
climb the old remainings of Arab architecture and enjoy the sight. And then, we
climb back up again slowly.
The bridge that divides the city in two
..
The market square
of Ronda is cosy. In this
time of the year there arn't many tourists around, and so locals are sitting on
the terraces enjoying the sunshine. It must be so wonderful to wake up with a
view like this. In fact, many houses are build on the side of the cliff, and
there backdoor leads straight into the deep!
It was only a short visit. No time to see the famous bull fight arena... we
catch another train before the night falls.
Since there was a problem with our tickets, we can ride this train in first
class unexpected.
Spanish businessmen don't like it when you smile at them, it seems to make them
angry, but who cares. This is first class (including air co) for free! Outside
the sands are red. Red as cavemen’s drawings on the rocks. Scorched by the sun
and scattered by the wind.
The Spanish people here are used to this sights. The don't find it anything
special. They know how it looks. In autumn and winter, spring and summer. When
misty, when cloudy, when twilight falls... Everything surrounding them seems
familiar. But for me Andalusia is a sliding mystery,
so I keep my eyes wide open.
They don't... They sleep or read the paper. They don't even stare outside. For
them these endless fields of flowers have become meaningless...
It is already dark when we arrive in Cordoba.
