DAY 10 - RONDA 

We made two days trips out of Cordoba, the first to Ronda some 150 km South of Cordoba.  We chose to travel by train which took the high speed line towards Malaga before switching to a non-electrified line to Ronda.  There was one stop at Antequera-Santa Ana at which point we changed to a diesel locomotive for the rest of the trip.  We didn't just change the locomotive but we also adjusted the gauge of the carriage bogies to a different gauge.  This took place as we slowly moved across a device that unclipped the wheels and adjusted their gauge before clipping them back into place.  This is one less than smart idea having two gauges!  It was quite a pretty ride. 

Ronda is a relatively small town but has one interesting feature, a high level bridge across a deep narrow gorge.The town was established in the 9th century and is one of Spain's oldest towns. It was an important Islamic cultural centre filled with mosques and palaces. Over the years it attracted a wide array of international artists and writers including Ernest Hemingway and Orson Wells.

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Obviously the bull ring


The El Tajo gorge
The bridge over the gorge
A view over the surrounding countryside
Time for lunch

He was friendly
The other "to prove we were there" photo

The principal church is the Iglesia de Santa Maria La Mayor which was the town's original mosque that became an elegant church.

The Iglesia de Santa Maria La Mayor


The ornate main altar
More baroque gilt
This is a cedar screen that separates the church into two sections - the aristocrats to the front and everyone else to the back.
A detail from the centre of the screen
An attractive lighting fixture
Close by the entrance to the church is this remnant of the original mosque.  We've sent this shape before.

This is the Museo Lara set up as a private collection.  He was a little eccentric and has been collecting since he was 10. It is chock a block with a priceless collection of clocks, weapons, radios, opera glasses, fans etc, etc.


A panoramic view over the surrounding countryside - Don't forget to click on the image

Back to Cordoba on the Talgo variable gauge train

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