We are pleased to republish “Spanish Tile Journey,” a travel column originally written by our company president, Naoyuki Yamauchi, for The Times Housing Newspaper, a local publication covering housing and lifestyle in Okinawa and part of the Okinawa Times Group.
One of the World’s Great Resort Destinations
“What beautiful eyes you have. Beneath your brows, they gaze at me without even blinking. Enchanting woman of Málaga, how beautiful you are.”
These are lines from La Malagueña, a song that celebrates the beauty of the women of Málaga, a port city in Andalusia.
With their dark hair and dark eyes, many local women seem to embody the classic image of passionate Spanish beauty.
Along Spain’s southern Mediterranean coast lies the Costa del Sol, or “Coast of the Sun,” one of the country’s most scenic and internationally known resort areas. Visitors come here from around the world to enjoy its beaches, sunshine, and relaxed atmosphere.
The main gateway to the region is Málaga, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso.
I sometimes wonder whether the intense sunlight and open, easygoing character of this place may have influenced the work of the great artist who was born here.
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From Málaga, I boarded a bus and headed west, watching glimpses of the coastline and palm trees appear between the buildings.
About two hours later, we arrived at the hillside village of Mijas.
Even though it was November, the sunlight was dazzling.
Narrow streets were lined with two-story whitewashed houses, many with cafés and souvenir shops on the ground floor. Parasols opened over balconies, creating the unmistakable atmosphere of a southern European resort town.
Flowerpots hanging from the white walls seemed to welcome every visitor.
Step into the backstreets, however, and the crowds quickly disappear.
From a second-floor window, an elderly woman with white hair quietly looked down at the street below.
Seeing the contrast between the lively tourist area and the simple everyday life just behind it reminded me of my hometown, Okinawa.
Eventually, I reached a viewpoint.
Far beyond the horizon, I could just make out the coast of Africa.
“Beyond the Pyrenees lies Africa.”
Those words, often attributed to Napoleon in reference to Spain, came to mind.
Across this sea, people and cultures from many different lands have arrived over the centuries, leaving their mark on Spain.
Across the Fields and Along the Cliffs
There was no bus from there to my destination, Ronda, so I hailed a taxi.
The driver, a heavily bearded man in his forties, took my suitcase, but it was too large for the trunk to close. He shook his head, so I pulled out the rope I always carry when traveling and tied the trunk lid down.
“Okay, let’s go.”
On the way, we stopped in a small village called Casares.
Long ago, the village was built high in the rugged hills as a place of refuge from religious conflict. Even today, its whitewashed houses seem to huddle closely together, as if supporting one another, while people continue to live there much as they have for generations.
The taxi kept climbing deeper into the mountains.
At times we drove through olive groves, and at others along roads perched above steep cliffs. There were few cars, and hardly another person in sight.
Ronda, the city built along dramatic cliffs, still seemed far away.
As dusk settled over the reddish mountains, I began to feel uneasy, wondering for a moment where exactly I was being taken.
By the time we finally reached Ronda, night had fallen.
Expecting to be overcharged, I asked the driver how much I owed him.
Instead, he pulled out the official fare chart and carefully explained the price.
Everything was completely straightforward.
Sorry for doubting you—and gracias.
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Ronda’s history stretches back to ancient times. Built above a deep gorge, the city has passed through Roman, Islamic, and Christian eras.
The Puente Nuevo, which connects the old and new parts of the city, rises about 100 meters above the gorge and is one of Ronda’s most impressive landmarks.
An Okinawan painter I have known for many years fell in love with this view and has returned several times to paint the bridge.
Ronda is also home to one of Spain’s oldest surviving bullrings.
At a small restaurant near the bullring, I once had foie gras with blueberry sauce. It was surprisingly affordable—and absolutely delicious.
About the Author
Naoyuki Yamauchi was born in Okinawa City, Okinawa. After studying in the United States, he worked for an American trading company before founding Pantech Corporation, a Spanish tile distributor, in 1995.
He enjoys fishing, music, and collecting jazz records from the 1950s and 1960s.
