Malaga of Costa del Sol, Spain

Birthplace of Picasso and 5th largest city in Spain in the region known as Andalusia. Malaga was named by the Phoenicians meaning 'Queen of the Sea'

We booked an excursion to La Rhonda. It so happened luckily that on this very day the Andalusian town folks of Rhonda were celebrating their annual Bandoleros Festival. This created a sense of being transported back in time especially given much of the ancient buildings setting the stage.
  

Out the bus window en route to Rhonda, we passed several quaint white villages known as 'Los Pueblos Blanco' .. here a view of the reservoir lakes used for watering the almond & olive trees so plentiful here.  Spain apparently supplies 40% of the world's supply of olives (green & black)

Lots of bright red poppies dotted the roadsides along our drive towards Rhonda

Outside Plaza de Toros, the bullfighting arena

Free treats from the Bandoleros

Ernest Hemingway was a regular visitor to Ronda ..in fact his novel 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' describing fascist sympathizers being pushed to their death in a deep gorge refers to true events which occurred in Ronda during the Spanish Civil War.  The alleged incident  took place here at the cliffs of El Tajo

'El Tajo' of Ronda and new bridge

Swimmers at the bottom of the deep gorge in emerald pool

Andalusian horses a.k.a Pura Raza Espanola is a horse breed from the Iberian peninsula. Since the 15th Century the Andalusians have been recognized as breeders of war horses much prized by the nobility

Visiting Casa de San Juan Bosco and its gardens. This building was built at beginning of 20th Century, located at the Tajo's edge. It belonged to the Granada family who willed it to the Salesian Priest Order as a nursing home of old and ill priets. The courtyard is nicely decorated with arab style ceramics and has a most magnificent balcony view

Different angle of view of the Puente Neuvo bridge from Casa Bosco

we had wonderfully freshly squeezed orange juices - look get them right here

Once Rhonda had been conquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1485, the Main Mosque was consecrated and transformed into a Christian church. Later during the reign of the House of Austrian it became a collegiate church and then into a High Parish in the 19th Century. Below is the Collegiate Church and we happened upon a charming pair of smartly outfitted el capitans

Andalusian bandits are much celebrated and have been romanticized through the ages. Bandoleros thrived in the Ronda mountains during the 19th century and much of the art and culture today still referred back their deeds since they were of the 'Robbin Hood' type robbers that gave to the impoverished ppl of the villages

 Church of Santa Maria la Major in distance

The Puente Nuevo bridge from yet another vantage point - we crossed the Rio Guadalevin and looped over to Jardines de Cuenca for this photo-op

Resting on the cliffside restaurant after the extensive walk about of Ronda - sampling local fare - tapas,  grilled sardine and the cured jamon sandwiches.

 Igesia de Santa Maria de la Encarnacion la Mayor in Plaza Duquesa de Parcent - bears testament to Rhonda's Moorish past - church was built on the site of a former mosque

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Back to Malaga 

City Hall 

Here are the purple trees we also noticed in Cartagena by the Puni Wall centre, called Jacaranda trees and flower twice a year - in spring and fall. These are lining the gardens of Pedro Alonso and front the Alcazaba fortress in the background

Night scene of Malaga from our cabin balcony