May 8 Ronda to Alora

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The "Tour de Geezers" got started today. David and Rick rode from Ronda to Alora - about 70 kms mostly through the mountains. They said it was good. Several mountain passes and little traffic till they got near Alora. Might have been a little far for Day 1.



We're having trouble adjusting to "Spanish Time". At 3:30 this afternoon we went out to buy beer at a grocery store - closed for siesta. We asked the hotel clerk when the restaurant would open for dinner - about 8:00, he said. The old 9 to 5 doesn't work here. We need to sleep in, go to bed late and take a nap in the afternoon. Just like the Spanish.



The towns in this area of Spain are called the "pueblos blancos" - white villages. We went through several today, including Alora where we're staying. They've been occupied by one conqueror after another - Romans, Phoenicians, Catheginians, Moors for over 2000 years. They started as a hilltop castle with white washed houses collected around the base and remain that way today.

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Photos

The Grand Depart
Starting out from Ronda

Arab Castle
It was originally built by the Phonecians