Leonardo, the seventh storm to hit the Iberian Peninsula this year, has dumped months' worth of rain in a few hours on parts of Spain and Portugal. Thousands have been evacuated, and road and rail lines have been cut. Parts of southern Spain and Portugal were facing severe disruption on Thursday due to torrential rainfall, floods and landslides brought by Storm Leonardo.
"Ronda is considered one of Spain's most beautiful cities due to its spectacular location, the deep ravine (Tajo), and the surrounding mountains, called Serranía de Ronda," says Maike Ange, a tour guide specializing in Andalusia. Puente Nuevo, or the "New Bridge," is one of the town's three bridges traversing the 400-foot gorge, which splits Ronda into El Mercadillo ("New Town") and La Ciudad ("Old Town"). The dramatic views, however, are still just a sliver of the destination's appeal.
The rain came early that winter and didn't stop. Scotland, where I live, is known for its miserable weather, but this was something different. The pavements were peppered with deep puddles, and grassy areas wilted into mud. It felt as though we hadn't seen the sun in months. I would sit in my apartment, watching droplets trickle down the windows, and find myself googling Andalusia-checking the weather there, looking at photos of sunny plazas and orange trees.