Day 34. Saturday 12 April.

A very slow start to the day – it had rained during the night & by the attire of those in the square, the day was cool & damp. But after a very late breakfast, washing & coffee, some sun broke through and a shopping trip to Aldi happened. Aldi was preferred choice as we knew parking would be easy and they play the best music…old Beatles, Peter Seeger (or someone doing his Turn, Turn, Turn)….Bruce Springsteen. The shopping involved a car ride through what is a popular tourist area: they were thronging, all over the road, everywhere, tour leaders with flags… It was a bit quieter on the way back, as siesta time had started early.

D strung up a clothes line in the parking courtyard, hoping for some later sun to dry those things that can’t go into the dryer. Wasn’t needed (as some hangers were found) so down it came.

Took a walk mid-afternoon along the lower paths. Ronda sits on a hilltop/ cliffs, with no access for an approaching enemy & climbed plenty of steps & vertical streets.

Came to the Banos Arabes, (13th century) and after a conversation with the very helpful attendant (who had the added bonus of understanding D’s dad jokes, but didn’t overdo the laughter) bought a Municipal Ticket that gave us access to a number of other attractions we’ll do on Monday. The baths were introduced by a very comprehensive video in English. A water wheel with ceramic jugs had brought water from the river below, driven by a poor donkey (going round and round, with no hope of promotion), which then travelled by aqueduct into the boiler to provide hot & warm rooms for bathing, socializing, and communicating.  With the mosque next door, residents were outwardly & inwardly cleansed. The baths were just outside the official entrance to the city.

Continued our walk up, up, up, arriving near the Puento Nuevo and decided that it was tapas or some other sustenance time.

We were both ‘starvy’ so headed for our local bar – for our first tapas. Started with anchovies in vinegar, decided to have something more, to find the kitchen had shut so could only choose from the cold selection. We had more anchovies. Interestingly, each glass of wine, reasonably priced by Oz standards, cost about the same as we’d been paying for a bottle. No complaint.

We adjourned to the up market establishment right next door for dinner, where the cook promised a New York rissole with a leek/tomato sauce & steamed vegies. The front door was opened during cooking, despite the cook’s concern that passersby might stick their heads in & ask for the dish of the dia but none did! Across the street was a group of ladies enjoying the sunshine, a shared bottle of wine and a meal from next door, but they weren’t tempted by no. 30 either.

Dinner. We enjoyed the New York rissoles with a tomato and leek salsa (couldn’t get a solo onion in Aldi), steamed vegies, followed by some local sweet treats.

Tomorrow (Palm Sunday) will be D’s birthday excursion….the Caminito del Rey (canyon hike) unless weather/re-think prevail