... and living on a prayer

July 5, 2008 5:21 PM

Living on the EdgeWelcome to Ronda, a beautiful city in southern Spain which is split in two by el Tajo gorge. As a result, certain buildings have been perched on the edge of the gorge’s vertical walls, enormous cliffs bridged by the 200 year old Peunte Neuvo.

Now, although living on the edge of that gigantic 130m crack would give me the shakes, I'd much rather live there than Bonifacio…

posted by bwg (12 comments total)

My wife and I visited Ronda on our honeymoon a number of years back -- it was as gorgeous (pun intended) as these pictures indicate. Thanks for the reminder!
posted by scblackman at 5:28 PM on July 5, 2008

suddenly my home near the top of a 27 story building doesn't seem so high-up.
posted by seawallrunner at 5:41 PM on July 5, 2008

Thanks, bwg!
posted by Dizzy at 5:55 PM on July 5, 2008

This city was also featured in the Madonna video "Take a Bow" (link to youtube). It's really lovely, and known as the birthplace of modern bullfighting.
posted by tractorfeed at 6:27 PM on July 5, 2008

>it was as gorgeous (pun intended) as these pictures indicate

Hey, that can also refer to "gore," as in what bulls do to unlucky matadors.

GORGEOUS...1000
GORGE.............5000
GORE................25000
________________________________________________
TRIPLE ENTENDRE BONUS TOTAL: 31000
posted by Grimp0teuthis at 6:42 PM on July 5, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Ronda is absolutely beautiful. Getting there is frightening as hell, or was when I went--a long, long trip along a winding road with regular unguarded plunges where you could occasionally see the wreckage of an unlucky traveler. The city, the people, the food and the history are fantastic. On my wall, I have a photo of a Spaniard riding his horse across a culvert or old Roman structure of some sort. What a great place.
posted by etaoin at 7:07 PM on July 5, 2008

Great, now I have Aerosmith and Bon Jovi stuck in my head. I hope you're happy, bwg.

Whoah-oh, we're halfway there...
posted by Horace Rumpole at 8:37 PM on July 5, 2008

known as the birthplace of modern bullfighting

You don't have to worry about the bull coming back at you after he charges your cape.
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:47 PM on July 5, 2008

Great, now I have Aerosmith and Bon Jovi stuck in my head. I hope you're happy, bwg.

Well, we aim to please.
posted by bwg at 10:16 PM on July 5, 2008

Ooh.. Ooh.. Now I can post bonifacio pictures.

I went out there with my wife a few years ago. The whole place is amazing. Plus there's a kickass restaurant near the harbor that will make you a killer 40 euro bowl of Bouillabaise.

It's neat because it's not just a big, gorgeous, dangly city. There's some stuff built in the outside of that cliff face.

Specifically, a HUGE set of stairs (187 steps I think).

Called the "Steps of Aragon" and apparently carved in a single night. Something to do with the King of Aragon, but I haven't done any major research into the topic.

Either way, they're awesome. Huge, treacherous and scary with a killer view.

Long view from the water.

Top of steps.

Looking left from the top. Bonifacio proper is left of this area.

Looking down the steps.

Looking up the steps. Note the rusty and rickety handrail.

At the bottom you get to a really narrow path.

Path left

Path Right

Walking along the open area leads to an inlet.

Inlet with tourist(me)

Continuing along leads you to a cave.

Creepy Cave

You can't see it in the picture, but inside the cave is a giant set of rusty metal bars. The cave went back pretty far. It was either storage, or a tunnel system like you get in some of the other islands.
posted by Lord_Pall at 1:26 AM on July 6, 2008

We stopped for a beer in Castellfollit de la Roca on the way back from a hike this past February. The view from the church tower at the end of the town is pretty seriously amazing. But it didn't feel dangerous or scary or anything, just really pretty.
posted by smeger at 4:31 PM on July 6, 2008

There's an autopista to go to Ronda now. Definitely worth seeing, beautiful bridge.
posted by nicolin at 2:17 AM on July 7, 2008