OUTBOUND WITH RON

Ronda, Spain

You don’t have to love bullfighting, or even like it, to be impressed by Ronda’s bullring, among Spain’s oldest, which opened in 1785.

Once home to some of the country’s greatest matadors and romanticized by the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles, the bullring nowadays is an open-air historic monument and museum.

Bullfighting takes place there only once a year, during the Feria de Pedro Romero (honoring Ronda son and one of Spain’s great matadors of all time) in early September.

It sells out months in advance.

But bullfighting has been steadily dying in Spain for years. Although the national government officially still protects traditional bullfighting as part of the country’s heritage, it is banned in many towns and cities and in entire regions.

Most telling, the public has turned away. Polls show nearly four in five Spaniards object to it, and among those under 35 an astonishing 80 percent are actively opposed.

A useful example of what travelers frequently find to be true: Stereotypes are often at odds with reality.

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2 days ago | [YT] | 7

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Ronda, Spain

Ronda may be the quintessential Andalusian town and is among the most picturesque destinations in southern Spain.

Perched above a gorge of the Guadalevin River, it has long inspired artists, writers and travelers.

Ernest Hemingway came here for many years and used Ronda as a leitmotif in two of his non-fiction works, Death in the Afternoon and The Dangerous Summer, each involving bullfighting.

Actor/writer/filmmaker Orson Welles was so smitten by Ronda that he chose to have his ashes buried on the estate of longtime friend and famed matador Antonio Ordóñez just outside town. (Ronda’s bullring is among the oldest in Spain, having opened in 1785.)

So what is it about this place?

For starters there’s breathtaking scenery, gorgeous architecture, historic bridges spanning the gorge and a relaxed atmosphere that harkens to a bygone era.

As you would expect of a town founded by Romans two centuries before Christ, there’s also rich history here.

On the south side of the gorge in the old Muslim town (referred to locally as La Ciudad) you’ll find well-preserved walls and a main gate as well as medieval Islamic baths from the Moorish era.

1 week ago | [YT] | 10

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Granada, Spain

This is my second time in Granada. The first time, in my twenties, I knew little about Spain but enough to be impressed, maybe even a little awestruck.

I mention this because as part of the déjà vu effect I recall not just how little I knew back then but how little I was able to pick up on the fly as I tried to make sense of the place.

It’s a challenge curious travelers have always faced. So here I am many years later once again surrounded by large crowds who’ve come as I have to see the Alhambra and the rest of this incredible city.

In this age of cell phones and selfies I wonder if maybe people are losing the ability to be curious about what they’ve ostensibly come to see.

This I know: Granada and the Alhambra are an Instagrammer’s dream.

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2 weeks ago | [YT] | 14

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Granada, Spain

Granada is among the loveliest cities in Andalusia and one of the most captivating in Spain.

It’s home to the spectacular Alhambra, the best-preserved medieval Islamic palace complex in the world and one of the great cultural monuments of Europe.

Set in the foothills of the lofty Sierra Nevada, the city is a must-visit destination not only for culture and history but for its sheer physical and architectural beauty.

As the last stronghold of Muslim rule in Spain, its architecture reflects the legacy of Moorish kingdoms that flourished here for centuries. Besides its historical monuments one can wander the steep narrow streets of the Albaicin neighborhood, with its white-washed houses, to appreciate this.

Granada was also greatly influenced by Jewish and Gitano legacies, the latter giving us flamenco.

In the picturesque neighborhood of Sacromonte one can stroll among Gitano cave dwellings that adorn the hillsides, including ones devoted to flamenco performances.

Add lively plazas, historic monuments (including the royal mausoleum of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella), panoramic viewpoints and the youthful energy of a university town, and there’s a lot to like here.

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 6

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Córdoba, Spain

As soon as I unpacked and hit the streets of Córdoba I knew I was in for a treat. That’s an exhilarating feeling as a vlogger.

Every travel destination worth its salt has places you know will be worth your while, but genuine authenticity relies on a broader metric—what the totality of a place is like.

Córdoba's expansive historic district passes that test in a breeze.

I need only step into the alleyway outside my guest house in the Jewish Quarter and be in the thick of a charming, authentic, well-preserved medieval neighborhood.

Yet exploring the streets I soon realized that almost any random location here offers a similar experience. In Córdoba, you don't have to go searching for charm.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 10

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Córdoba, Spain

Córdoba is among the most beautiful cities in Spain, which as anyone familiar with Spain’s abundance of beautiful cities knows, is high praise.

It’s a city of 360,000 on the banks of the Guadalquivir River whose Old Quarter offers wonderful remnants of past civilizations. Roman, Islamic, Jewish and Christian cultures each left extraordinary imprints here.

Córdoba's narrow streets, flower-filled courtyards, centuries-old monuments and lively plazas make it a favorite among travelers.

But even some of its admirers may not realize that in medieval times, under Islamic rule, Córdoba was one of the largest and most sophisticated cities in Europe.

In the heart of the Old Quarter one can visit the most prominent symbol of that era—the Mezquita—the great Islamic mosque left behind by the powerful 10th-century Umayyad Caliphate.

After the re-conquest, Spanish kings chose not to devote the mosque to destruction. Instead, they plopped a 16th-century Roman Catholic Cathedral into the middle of it.

It endures as one of the world’s grandest—and most peculiar—religious edifices.

1 month ago | [YT] | 8

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Toledo, Spain

A lot of people come to Toledo as day-trippers since it’s a breeze to hop a fast, comfortable train in Madrid and arrive at Toledo Station in as few as 34 minutes.

I confess to turning up my nose at some day-trip destinations for reasons that have nothing to do with the place and everything to do with drive-by tourism.

Yet I don’t claim moral high ground just because I shelled out for a few nights in a hotel.

I feel sympathy for everyday folks in Toledo and similar places inundated by throngs of warp-speed sightseers who barrel through like a swarm of locusts.

One can’t help thinking about such things here, especially in the evening, after the crowds have left town in a kind of reverse rush hour.

It's then you truly appreciate what a terrific place this is.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 9

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Toledo, Spain

My journey through Spain continues with a visit to one of the country’s most fascinating cities—Toledo.

Often called the "City of Three Cultures," Toledo was once a place where Christians, Muslims and Jews lived side by side, leaving behind an extraordinary blend of architecture, art and traditions.

Around almost every corner you'll find a reminder of that rich past, whether it's a centuries-old church, a beautifully preserved synagogue or the remains of a mosque hidden in the maze of narrow cobbled streets.

The winding lanes, hidden courtyards, panoramic viewpoints and impressive stone buildings make every walk here a discovery.

Toledo is famous for its connection to the painter El Greco and author Miguel de Cervantes, whose classic tale, Don Quixote, draws upon his Toledo experience.

Of course, no visit would be complete without seeing the magnificent cathedral and legendary Alcazar and taking in the sweeping views of the countryside across the Tagus River.

1 month ago | [YT] | 7

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Madrid, Spain

As a traveler there’s often tension between places you feel obligated to see—iconic landmarks and locations—and other places, however unsung, where your heart says you’d rather be.

Tourists with a short vacation horizon often prioritize the former for fear of somehow not getting their money’s worth.

As a vlogger I face a similar challenge. I must cover the basics, because that’s what viewers understandably expect of a travel video, especially if they’re watching in order to figure out an itinerary of their own.

Madrid, however, is one of those places where that tension tends to disappear.

As those of you who’ve been here might agree, there’s so much variety in the streets and neighborhoods and plazas of this city it’s easy to enjoy both aspects. That’s even if one does—as most people do—organize their visit around “the major sights.”

In Madrid, there’s a lot to discover and appreciate on the fly between those sights. And if in the discovery a couple of things on your "list" fall off, chances are you'll be happier for it.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 10

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Madrid, Spain

Madrid is the perfect place to begin my new series of videos from Spain.

Spain’s capital and largest city with some 3.4 million people—quite literally in the geographic heart of the country—has a way of making a first impression.

Renowned for its royal palaces, museums, elegant boulevards and a lifestyle centered on its lively cafes and tapas bars, Madrid is a place where bustling plazas and inviting neighborhoods seamlessly co-exist.

It’s a major magnet for expats.

From the plaza Puerta del Sol you're at Spain’s symbolic "Kilometer Zero," where, historically, the nation's major roads began.

What’s especially impressive, however, is the city’s energy. People linger over coffee; parks fill with families well into evening, and every plaza seems to have its own personality. Madrid doesn't rush you. It invites you to slow down and enjoy the moment.

In this series I’ll explore not only Madrid but other incredible destinations across Spain, and the culture, history and local character that make them unique.

If you've been to Spain, I'd love to hear which place stole your heart. And if you’re planning your first visit I hope the videos help inspire your travel list.

2 months ago | [YT] | 8