My friend Sophie won a holiday to the Costa del Sol in Spain on a scratch card in Geographical Magazine and asked me to come along. We flew to Malaga and had a scary drive along the coastal road to the hotel Grangefield Oasis, where we were given a free self catering apartment and use of the swimming pools, jacuzzis, mini market etc.
The coast was a 20 minute walk past villas and golf courses. It was very quiet in June, a bit of a ghost town. Sometimes there was only a few people on the beach and in the sea.
I have always wanted to go to Ronda up in the hills. I remember an old art teacher who taught me life drawing being a bit obsessed with the place and David Bomberg. Anyway I persuaded Sophie to drive. The hills were more like mountains and the drive was very steep and winding. The passing scenery was stunning and dramatic but frightening when I looked down. We passed a few wild boar.
When we arrived we had a walk around Ronda. It is very picturesque with a dramatic gorge. We walked around the bridges, churches and bull ring and took some photos. In the town we had a hot chocolate coffee and some tapas. We walked past a a lovely old building with ceramics displayed outside and were invited in by a strange artist. He told us in pigeon English he was squatting there and it belonged to the monestry and they didn’t mind. He showed us around upstairs which was filled with antique wooden furniture and junk. Sophie bought a few pots but felt uncomfortable so we left.
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