OUR NEWEST PICTORIAL: UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CATS

​Last month, we set off for another European adventure that included capturing memorable images of Mediterranean cats. We found a wealth of lovely subjects in two Andalusian UNESCO World Heritage towns: Ubeda, located in the heart of perhaps the highest-producing olive oil region in Spain, and Ronda, one of Spain's most-visited scenic towns. Battling unusual temperatures of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, we found the feline residents seeking relief in the shade and hedges of  lovely parks.
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Ubeda

Just steps away from the Parador of Ubeda, a former 16th century palace, is Ubeda's main square and its colony of cats. From their little "caves" carved from park hedges, the kitties ventured out morning and evening to explore, say hello to visitors and, yes -- pose for photos! It took a lot of restraint not to put one of the little ginger fur babies in our suitcase. However, it was heartening to see that they were being cared for with bowls of food and water strategically placed for their use.

Ronda

The Paseo Blas Infante, a great strolling park with magnificent views overlooking Ronda's deep gorge and situated next to the Parador de Ronda, is also home to an ever-changing parade of cat colonies that benefit from leftovers of nearby restaurants. We found mamas, babies, and young adults resting in the heat and looking out for handouts at just the right time of evening when the restaurants were at their busiest.