The first place we slowed down during the trip was the little town of Ronda where we bunked up for x-mas. It was a cute little old town in a location that must have been selected by some mad bastard as the town is divided by the giant Tajo gorge. At the end of the 18th century they built a bridge (that you see below), and linked up the sides of the city which previously required a long roundabout trip to a smaller bridge which is practically outside of the town.

The town was naturally photogenic. The gorge was stunning from above and below, and even though it rained a good deal of the time we were there, the weather added to the beauty – a couple of rain induced pictures are after the jump.

If you’re looking to unwind in Andalucia, this is the place to do it. Just settle in, see some views, and enjoy the hearty local eats. It doesn’t pack in all the cultural sights of the major cities, but it a beautiful spot to find yourself for a couple of days.

In just about every city in Spain, there was a fantastic cathedral to be explored and photographed. There were more than we had time for, but here are some of my favourites. Starting with Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, pictured above. Just opposite the royal palace in Madrid, Almudena is a clean neoclassical cathedral, a sort that doesn’t normally get me to excited. However, the placement at the far end of the palance court yard allow for every open views of the facade, which made for some powerful contrasting shows in the afternoon sun.

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