Friday 29 November 2013

Taomi Sports event

 A brilliant morning spent supporting the Taomi sports event at the indoor sports centre.
 We arrived at just after 10.30 and the warm up session was in full swing. Teams from Olvera, Algodonales, El Gastor, Torre Alháquime and Arcos de la Frontera were all here to compete and enjoy the day.





A short video here showing the fun of the event. I dare you not to smile!!.
Brilliant and vociferous support by local school children.


Team Olvera. 
 Students from the IES Zaframagón senior school giving their support.
A strong squad from Arcos were the first opponents for Olvera in the football contest.
 A group photo before battle commences and a team talk below for Olvera.

 Our friend Antonio filming the event for local TV.

 Game over and a 1-3 defeat for Olvera but congratulations and good sportsmanship all round.

 The basketball competition.




 What's that saying. "It's not the winning that matters but the taking part"!. Never more true than today. Well done to all who took part with such skill and enthusiasm and many thanks for giving us such fun and entertainment.  

Wednesday 27 November 2013

A morning stroll

Just a few pictures taken on a morning stroll to the bottom of town.

The view of Calle Llana here and below on a crisp 9.4°C morning.

The Christmas lights have been strung across the streets, here and below in Calle Calvario.

Could this be where our lives change, the lottery kiosk in Avenida Julián Besteiro, where we hope to purchase our winning ticket for "El Gordo" (the fat one) in this year's Christmas lottery draw. Last years total prize amount was €720 million distributed among 180 winning tickets. Now, where's that lucky rabbit's foot?

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Ronda

 A trip to Ronda today with our pampered pooch to re-stock on treats from our favourite pet shop. So, after parking the car in the underground car park at the top of Calle Espinel (or as it's popularly known "Calle la Bola"), we headed to the pet shop in Calle Cruz Verde.

Warm in the sun but freezing in the shadows, we stopped for a coffee in the sunshine of the Plaza del Socorro.



A new addition to the square since our last visit is this statue dedicated to Blas Infante, founding father of Andalucia.
A quirky but really interesting shop is this one at the bottom of "la Bolla" street, exaggerated pottery models of vehicles and caricatures of working people. Brilliant to stop and look...always brings a smile.
The oldest bull ring ring in Spain is in Ronda, open to the public for 6€ including access to the museum.



A pleasant stroll through the "Alameda del Tajo" that leads to stunning panoramic views at the end of the avenue of trees. 


  Another new addition since our last visit is the "Paseo de los Ingleses" (the English walk), where you can stroll along the clifftop whilst admiring the staggering views.


Onwards, across the Puente Nuevo into the historic old part of Ronda and its narrow, cobbled streets and beautiful palaces and houses.









Whilst it is possible to take the path down to the bottom of the gorge from the Plaza Maria Auxiliadora, we chose to drive and take a couple of pictures of one of the iconic images of Ronda, the El Tajo (gorge) spanned by the Puente Nuevo bridge.