We got to the “Rock” on a beautiful morning. The storm we encountered on our way had passed through the day before and left a clear sky with brisk temperatures. Our excursion on Gibraltar started early to avoid the crowds and took us by bus immediately to the cable car that would lift us to the top of the Rock.
We had some free time to collect photos and see the view but you had to bundle up as there was a fairly cold wind up top. I got the views as photos and combined some into the photo one panorama. The view is from the cable station toward Spain. The border with Spain is just beyond the airport runway seen jutting out to the left past the Rock. To the left is the Atlantic Ocean and to the right the Mediterranean Sea where we had been sailing for the past three weeks or so.
We did have a couple of adventurous monkeys join us at the top but our next stop was the midway point where the cable car stopped, we exited to one of the towers and then made our way down a narrow ramp to visit the main area where the monkeys lived. It was also an area where the road was sufficient to handle the small buses we were using to get around. There were a number of buses waiting and the monkeys, looking for food, started to come. We had to stay away from the railing as that was their territory and if we violated their territory it could become a problem. The monkeys also frolicked on top of the buses. One of the babies tried to jump onto a bus but could not and so tried to climb the back of the bus. Come to the Photo Club show for this area to see if it made it. An “I don’t really care” photo is number two.
We were then driven to the area where we could tour some of the 30 miles of siege tunnels dug into the Rock. The walk up to the entrance was a very long incline up at about a 60 degree angle. The tunnels started to go down and part way down I asked if we were coming back that way. Getting a “yes” answer I turned around to meet the group at the entrance. (A few others later joined me I noted.) I knew there would be another long ramp up to get out and was getting tired of having to bend over just to stand in the tunnels. While waiting I had a good view of the airport and managed to get a photo of an airplane landing. With the main road from Spain to Gibraltar crossing the runway (a tunnel is being built I was told) when a plane lands or takes off the road is closed. You can see that in photo three.
We then made our way through town and around to the south side of the Rock. This is the point where you are closest to Africa and is the southernmost point in Europe. Photo four shows the view from Europa Point. The mountain in the distance is Africa and one of the pillars of Hercules. Gibraltar is the other pillar (in myth Hercules grabbed each and thrust them apart to form the strait).
Finally, we drove around the other side of the Rock, crossed the runway, and stopped briefly to see the Rock from the same view that most photos and Prudential’s logo show it.
Then we returned to the ship via town where some people got off to do their shopping or just walk around.
Speaking of shopping, there are some odd collectors. A few of the people carry some stuffed animal around with them and have it appear in all their photos. Oddest are the folks who always look for a Hard Rock Cafe to get a t-shirt or to a Harley Davidson dealer to do the same. Amusing. (I’ve given up shopping for magnets or t-shirts as I realized I would not have a use for the collection or that it was taking up space I will not have in my suitcases.)
That evening, we left Gibraltar and headed toward Cadiz, Spain, our next stop.