Hi Steemers,
As I said in my #introduceyourself post (https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@page-traveler/all-the-best-parts-of-traveling-the-world), there are a ton of tips and recommendations when it comes to making the most out of Ronda!
If you've heard of Ronda at all, you definitely know it for its gorgeous wildflowers.
Just kidding, it's the bridge.
If anything, it's even more impressive in person, and it's definitely worth a visit. With a little care and insider knowledge, though, you can take your visit to Ronda from 'good' to 'amazing.'
The first trick is timing. The secret about Ronda is out, and it can be very, VERY crowded. If you possibly can, go on a weekday, and make sure it's not a public holiday. I ended up traveling to Ronda twice (my husband and I took two different friends there while we were staying in Tarifa), and the difference between going on a weekday and going on the weekend was HUGE. If it's a choice between a weekend or nothing, go for it, but you really want to go on a weekday if you can.
With views this gorgeous and contemplative, it's nice if you don't have to fight crowds for them.
I'm afraid the next Ronda tip isn't for vegetarians and people who do not eat pork: Ronda has an absolutely AMAZING place to enjoy the jamon that Spain is famous for.
If you want some of this awesome jamon action, go to La Casa de Jamon, open 9-9 every day except for Sunday. They have a special deal where you get a jamon sandwich, a glass of fresh orange juice, and a coffee...for EUR 3.50. By European standards, that's absolutely bonkers.
Once you've fueled up with some jamon, you should be ready for an adventure.
Time to check out the abandoned village!
First thing's first: This is dangerous. Don't go here with children, don't go here if you are not in moderately good shape, don't go here alone.
Why should you go here? Well, it's pretty fascinating. My research didn't turn up much about what went on here, but it's clear from signs that there was a power plant here at one point.
Now the clearest messages are found in the graffiti. How many ghosts are here? I really couldn't say.
If you're ready and willing to go on this adventure, finding the ghost town isn't too hard. Take the trail down the gorge, past the spot where everyone's stopping to take pictures. As you keep going, there are two places where you can hike off the main trail and find the ghost village. The higher one is marked by some open stonework structures, and the lower is marked by nothing at all. Just turn off towards the bridge – if you dare – and see what you can see.
You won't just be rewarded by a fascinating mystery, but with beautiful views as well – and you won't have to share them with any other tourists.
If you want a bit of a rest after that, I highly recommend Al Zahra. It's a teahouse with absolutely gorgeous atmosphere, delicious tea, and great crepes.
Incidentally, they offer many tea that are said to have...aphrodisiac...qualities. I had a standard Moroccan mint, though, so I can't report on whether they work. I certainly did love my tea.
One last Ronda tip: If at all possible, stick around for the sunset light on the rolling green hills.
Thanks for reading, fellow Steemers! I hope you liked this virtual trip to Ronda, Spain – and please let me know if you've got any Ronda travel tips of your own.
The Page Traveler