ONE DAY TRIPS FROM SEVILLE: RONDA

Ronda, a small town in the Sierra of Malaga, is one of the most beautiful and packed with history places to visit in Andalousia, after the better known larger cities. Founded in the stone age, it has had an important historical role that took off when it become one of the last moorish cities standing against christian reconquer, back in the 15th century.
In adition, it is located on the top of an impressive natural 100 metres deep canyon cut by river Guadalevin,

Ronda's bulfighting ring can be visited on days without actual bullfighting, and should be visited, as it is one of the most impressive ones in Spain (leaving out what actually goes on inside).

Appart from its cultural offer, Ronda has a strong active tourism side. Hiking, bird watching, canoe routes, caves...The land around the town has 3 natural reserves to explore.

To have a deeper look into how much Ronda can offer you, please check out their own visitors web: www.turismoderonda.es


HOW TO GET THERE
Ronda can be reached from Seville by car (ask your GPS) in one hour and a half.


Bus service from Seville (Estación de Autobuses Prado de San Sebastian): SEVILLA-RONDA (12,70€ - 2 h. No stops) From Monday to Friday 9:00-10:15-16:00-18:45-19:30 Saturday, Sundays and Bank Holidays 10:15-16:00-18:45

Return from Ronda to Seville: RONDA-SEVILLA (12,70€ - 2 h. Direct) From Monday to Friday 10:30-13:00-15:00-18:00 Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 10:30-13:00-18:00.

ANDALOUSIAN BREAKFAST

This is a photo of the typical andalousian breakfast, when breakfast is had in a bar. At home we may have cereal or basic toast, but if we have breakfast out we will almos always go for a variety of this. Standard version consists in coffee, orange juice and non-loaf toast. I mean toast made with baguette or similar bread. Favourite topping is tomato (either sliced or tomato puree freshly made with a hand mixer, NEVER BOUGHT OR FROM A TIN!!).

If you have breakfast in a local bar you will see other toppings, such as:

-The same as before, with serrano ham (some skip the tomato in this case)

-Oil only

-unsalted or salted butter (CAREFUL WITH SALTED BUTTER!! It can make you drink like a camel for the whole morning...)

-Foie

-Sobrasada (it will get it's own post)

-Manteca (lard)

-Manteca colorá (paprika lard with some other spices)(it will get its own post)

One last warning: we get 2 versions of oil in bars. We chose the normal one or the garlic infused one (this is Spain! We LOVE our garlic!). Make sure you pick the right one.

CHURROS BREAKFAST: Most of us percieve churros as a treat. They are usually very well priced, but aaaaaaall that oil makes us feel guilty... So churros are usually had on weekends or special ocasions. At home, we only have churros on Christmas morning, when churros' guilt is duleted among all other.

WHAT TO DO IN SEVILLE: NOCTURAMA LIVE MUSIC IN CARTUJA ISLAND

Nocturama is one of the best kept secrets in Seville's live music scene. The monastery of La Cartuja, now Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo (CAAC) (art museum) holds a series of gigs in its beautiful patios and gardens that are worth considering.

Starting around 21:30 or 22:00, running on wednesdays and thursdays, live bands will play during july and august evenings in a big patio with grass. There is a well priced bar and some food stands.

Tickets on the door are around 10€, appart from special artists like mexican Julieta Venegas, visiting this summer (2015), wich are priced a bit higher. Tickets can be bought in advance through Nocturama's web, which seems to be in a mission to earn the Least Updated Website title year after year. I am posting this in August and the listings are still not out for this month!

Ambiance tends to be relaxed (there are always some children around!!!), laid back and festive. Temperature in the Island of La Cartuja (where the monastery is set) is slightly lower than in the city centre, and you are allowed to bring your own food. The general feeling of every night is "picnic on the park with live music".

The party goes on after bands end with different djs, and a further after-after-party is held in a bar in town.

This is one of our own favourites to spend a summer evening in Seville!

(Photos reproduced without permission of the friends who took them , who I hereby promise a beer in return for letting me use them).