The next morning we woke up excited – the overnight spot discovered in last evening's darkness revealed itself in a whole new light at dawn. The sun rose on the horizon, reflecting off the sea surface and casting a golden glow over the Spanish cityscape.
After breakfast we decided to head toward Marbella, as our route passed right by it. Using the Park4Night app, we found a quiet parking spot a little outside the city center. The place turned out to be perfect – completely empty, lined with beautiful pines, and right next to a large dog park. The safe, nature-close setting made camping feel almost like a wilderness experience.
Marbella
After setting up camp we cooked clam pasta from fresh clams bought in Chulilla and then headed out on foot to explore Marbella. We started our tour at the modern Puerto Deportivo, which exuded luxury and opulence. The area had stylish restaurants and shopping centers, and for a while we browsed the shops at Jessika's request.
Next we moved on to Marbella's old town, which charmed us immediately. Its narrow streets, historic buildings and the delicious aromas drifting from restaurants created a wonderful atmosphere. The day's walking began to whet our appetite, so we ended up at a taco restaurant. Although the portions were small and expensive, the flavor was second to none.
As evening fell the old town's calm atmosphere turned lively and the streets filled with people. Churro restaurants were everywhere, so we decided to taste this Spanish treat. We ordered a giant churro spiral and overly sweet hot chocolates – at first we enjoyed the flavors, but very quickly the feeling changed and the over-sugary treats no longer went down. The experience was so cloying that we didn't crave churros for the rest of the trip!
A concert was about to start in town, but we decided to head back to the van and go for an evening walk along Marbella's luxury area beachfront road. Next to the grand luxury hotels, living in a motorhome felt completely different – but at the same time incredibly free. The hotels offered luxury, but the motorhome made adventure without limits possible. We went to sleep eagerly anticipating moving to new places the next day.
Ronda – mountain town magic
With Marbella seen, we decided to head back to the mountains. We had both long wanted to visit the magnificent Ronda, known for its dramatic landscapes and historic atmosphere.
The route from Marbella to Ronda wound along serpentine roads, curving steeply upward. Along the way we saw several wonderful spots where we could have camped and just admired the unfolding scenery. Since our time was limited and we had to get home before Christmas, we continued straight to our destination.
The previous evening we had researched campsite options and decided to spend the night outside the city, but first we headed into the center of Ronda. The streets were magnificent, and soon we were driving across the famous Puente Nuevo bridge. It was incredible to drive a motorhome across a 250-year-old stone arch bridge with a deep gorge opening beneath it. We found a parking spot near the center and set off to explore the city on foot.
Ronda's old town consisted of narrow, ancient alleys lined with old stone houses. The atmosphere was lively, with many people about. First we headed to one of Spain's oldest bullfighting arenas, Plaza de Toros de Ronda. We didn't go inside, but continued on to the city's main attraction, the Puente Nuevo bridge. On the way we paused to watch a wedding taking place at a beautiful celebration venue at the edge of the gorge. Spanish wedding tradition and the joyful atmosphere added their own touch to this memorable day. From the bridge, breathtaking views opened up deep into the gorge and the surrounding valleys – it was fascinating to think how the bridge and the city built around it had been constructed back in the day.
From the western end of the bridge, a path led us down to the Puente Viejo bridge, from where we got another perspective on the scenery. After wandering for a while, hunger began to growl again, so we stopped at a local café to enjoy tapas and the warmth of the sun.
Campsite with cats
At the end of the afternoon we headed to Area Autocaravanas Ronda campsite, where it was time to service the motorhome – fill the fresh water tank and empty the toilet cassette and grey water tank. In the off-season, the price was reasonable at just €18 per night.
The campsite was clean and well kept, and crowned by the resident cats! The evening was perfect – we cooked fresh Spanish fish, rice, asparagus and feta salad, and enjoyed a glass of local wine as the sun set.
This was exactly what motorhoming at its best is – freedom, new experiences, and unforgettable scenery. The next day our journey would continue to new adventures!
