cwstravelnotes2014: Day 30. 29 Nov. Gibraltar (Eng. Territory)

Twice before I have passed by here, once with Julie. This third time will be ashore. Before dawn the sea was thick with shipping. Some rain squalls came over then the sky began to clear. At 1204 we tied to the pier on our portside with a grand view of …. the Costa Fortuna and its wall of white steel, glass and balcony cabins lined with people watching us. Actually, we could see into their cabins as well, so that was a trade off. But, we closed our curtains anyway. They seemed a happy lot and were on their way to the Caribbean.

The Lido dining area was a madhouse at lunchtime as so many tables had been commandeered earlier by many passengers from the smaller cabins that finding a table to set one's lunch was difficult.

Noon report: 36º 08.56'N, 005º 21.86'W at the pier. Temp 14c/57f. Distance covered 7,263 nm. Last run was 249 nm. Sunrise 0811, sets at 1807.

1245 we left the ship and took a mini-bus up the hill. Rock that is. And an old rock. 200,000,000 years old and once a part of Africa. Today would be a walking tour of the Rock of Gibraltar. The best way to walk a tall site is from the top down so we climbed aboard a gondola that whisked us up to the top. Once out and about we were greeted by a few of the famous Barbary Apes that populate the rock. Currently there are about 280 of these curious beasts in residence. Julie was convinced each and every one wanted to get in her hair. The guide was convinced every one would go through your bag or pack if you set it down. I was convinced every one would ask for “one dollah” for every photograph. Julie and I were wrong and I never set my pack down to find out what the apes would really do with that. So we got a good view from the top. The rock is not an island but is at the end of a peninsula, which is Spain. Access from Spain to Gibraltar is via a busy highway that bisects the runway of the airport. Each time an airplane lands or takes off the highway is closed and huge traffic jams take place. Fortunately there are only 4 flights a day.

Next we walked down the hill on the narrow St. Michael's road with the apes everywhere and came to a massive cave, St. Michael's, for a walk-through.

View from the rock of the Straits of Gibraltar with Africa in background


Caves of St. Michaels

A short mini-bus hop took us along Queen's Road across the rock to the siege tunnels which date back to 1779. Now we could look down on the city and up at the peak. It was practically raining inside the tunnel complex due to water seeping through from high above. The caverns were too low and small for umbrellas. Raincoats.


The airport; notice the highway crossing the runway

Defense of Gibraltar in the 21st Century

Siege tunnel

Other tunnels are nearby which we did not see this trip. Those are some 80 miles of tunnels dating from WWII. That's saved for our return. We were driven back down to the old town and released at the Arch of Casewaters Square. We immediately found a pub and sat outside for fish 'n chips with Ralph. A cab ride back to the ship terminal had us aboard at 1700.