Page 11 - Untitled-1.indd

5 Things To Do
About 50km away from the bright lights of one of the world’s leading pleasure playgrounds – Costa del Sol’s beach resorts – time in the sierra takes on a different dimension. To join in the laid-back rhythm of life, try doing these:
1Walk along a former sheep drover’s trail from the village of Montejaque to the hilltop town of Ronda.
2Have a meal or drink at the clifftop Parador (hotel) in Arcos de la Frontera even if you don’t stay the night.
3For a wider panorama than the view from a hilltop castle, take a paragliding session. Begin- ners’ courses are available.
4If you get as far as Arcos, go on the last 30km to try one or more of the sherry bodegas in Jerez.
5Be a cowboy (or girl) for a day, riding out from a ranch where prime fighting bulls and horses are bred.
Ronda
Ronda is the place to catch up on a classic Spanish pastime – bullfighting. The town boasts one of the oldest and most beautiful bull rings in Spain. Opened in 1785, the arena houses a museum that traces the corrida’s history.
The ring is in the newer part of town, joined to the old by a stone bridge that straddles a 100m-deep gorge. On the far side is another original White Village with palaces that include the Mondragon, with its classic Moorish tiles and the Santa Maria la Mayor church, built on the site of a mosque and incorporating an original mihrab, an Islamic prayer niche.
South of Ronda are two towns not to be missed – Jimena de la Frontera and Gaucinv – which have strong connections to their Moorish past. Jimena is famed for its castle and a local sweet made from almonds, honey and pine kernels, while Gaucin offers sweeping vistas of the Rock of Gibraltar and Rif Mountains of Africa.
RCI Resorts In Southern Spain
• Club Delta Mar
• Club La Costa at Sierra Marina
• Club Bena Vista
• The Harbour Club at Duquesa
• Heritage Resorts Club Playa Real • Apartamentos Pueblo Quinta Dos • Club La Costa at Benal Beach
• Elite Apartments at Pueblo Evita
• Royal Oasis Club at La Quinta • Sunset Beach Club
• Club Playa Flores
• Hotel Guadalmar
• Club Oasis at El Capistrano • El Capistrano Village
ENDLESS VACATION 9
Albaycin is one
of the most well- preserved quarters in Granada. It used to be an Arab quarters centuries ago and offers great views of the Alhambra Palace.
EV Tips
WEATHER
A big advantage of Southern Spain is that you can invariably find warm sunshine here in winter when northern Europe is grey and cold. Bring a jersey and coat, just in case. Most people find it far more comfortable to travel here outside the peak European holiday months of late May through September when temperatures can easily climb above 30oC.
VISA
As one of the Schengen countries, a visa for Spain also covers entry to most European Union member states.
CONNECTIONS
The main gateway airports to Pueblos Blancos are Malaga on the east, and Jerez and Sevilla to the west. Malaga has good connections with major European hubs, avoiding the need to change plane in Madrid or Barcelona.
While buses connect the bigger pueblos (villages/towns), the best option is to rent a car to allow for stops around mountains that rise above 1,600m. Most of the roads are well paved, with many bends at higher points.
GOOD BUYS
Apart from leatherwork, the area is best known for traditional handicrafts such as forged ironwork (as can be seen in the window grilles of houses), woollen blankets and shawls.
SPANISH FLAVOURS
Rather than eat a full meal, follow the Spanish custom of eating tapas (or for larger portions raciones) to taste a variety of dishes at one sitting.
The province of Cadiz is famous for fishing, so you’ll find plenty of seafood even this far inland. Try bienmesabe (which literally means “it tastes good to me”), small nuggets of battered fish that have been eaten long before fast-food chains arrived on the scene.
More typical of mountain specialities are spicy sausages and cured hams, and a vegetable stew called berza gaditana. On hot days, a bowl of gazpacho, cold soup made from a blend of tomatoes, peppers and cucumber, is refreshing.
Andalucia is not a big wine drinking area as most people drink beer. An exception is sherry, which can vary in taste from the sweetest of raisins to bone dry.
The Jerez bodegas (wineries) also produce a brandy that has a smooth and distinctive caramelised taste, quite different from those made in France.
MORE INFORMATION
www.spain.info www.rusticblue.com/pueblos_blancos.htm www.andalusia-web.com/route_1.htm