Along Main Street and its connecting streets, are many duty-free shops, restaurants and pubs with. Being a British enclave since 1704, English is the predominate language. Bobbies, red pillar post boxes and red British phone booths all contrast with mainland Spain. Food menu selections and…Read More

Along Main Street and its connecting streets, are many duty-free shops, restaurants and pubs with. Being a British enclave since 1704, English is the predominate language. Bobbies, red pillar post boxes and red British phone booths all contrast with mainland Spain. Food menu selections and specials are listed on chalkboards with prices in pounds sterling. We went for a lunch of traditional English Fish and Chips downed with a Newcastle.

A good place to get a sense of the history of this strategic and geopolitical hotspot is the Gibraltar Museum located in the Bomb House building that is actually built on the Moorish baths of the previous occupiers. There are audiovisual presentations and several galleries displaying original artifacts, bones, coins, stamps, old prints and photographs on two floors and downstairs is the preserved Moorish Bath House. Of interest is a study of the prehistoric history where Gibraltar was believed to be the last refuge for Neanderthal man.

Continuing along Main Street, past the convent that is the Governor’s Residence, there are numerous photo vignettes of Spanish squares and colonial-style architecture on the way. Exiting the walled old town through the South gate we continued to the Grand Parade. Within the parking lot at the Grand Parade is the base of the Cable Car Station that you can take to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.

The promenade around the Grande Parade is the Alameda Botanical Gardens. This free and open to the public garden park is nestled along the sloped base of the rock and is well maintained. Numerous interconnecting pathways tinted by the local red sand meander through terraced beds constructed with the native Jurassic limestone rock. There are water features and monuments amongst a combination of native and others brought in from abroad plant and tree species. The common tree here is the Wild Olive that is the ancestor to the cultivated olive tree. There are fine examples of the Dragon tree, Stone pine, Nettle Tree, Canary Island Date palm and Solitaire palm. Numerous beds of Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Daisy and Geranium plants are framed by backdrops of climbers, creepers and scramblers. The air is filled with the scent of honeysuckle and Jasmine. There are also many specialty displays of Succulents, Cacti, Aloes and wild plants.

Departing from our base resort at the Club Playa Vista at Lubina Sol along the coastal highway just south of town of Fuengiola we encountered delays due a lot of new construction underway just past Estepone. At La Linea de la Conception there is a…Read More

Departing from our base resort at the Club Playa Vista at Lubina Sol along the coastal highway just south of town of Fuengiola we encountered delays due a lot of new construction underway just past Estepone. At La Linea de la Conception there is a very nice beach with a great view of the rock that could not decide whether to be part of Europe or Africa. At beach level one can see a rolling slope into the sea while the highest peak with the sheer drop-off faces the mainland. This is the rock of Gibraltar.

After clearing customs with just a wave of our Canadian passports, the road suddenly widens enough that you can land an airplane across it. That’s right Mr. Bond, you are driving on an operational airport runway. There was nowhere else to put it, so the solution is for cars and planes to crisscross each other. This experience alone is worth the trip; I mean where else can you do this?

Gibraltar is a very small place by car. Most roads are one-way narrow streets with few possibilities of stopping. Parking is limited to car parks at Grand Parade, Eastern Beach, Catalan Bay, Queensway, and the International Commercial Centre. If you’re lucky, street parking is also available on Line Wall Road, Corral Road, Devil's Tower Road, and Rosia Road. We opted for the multi-level parking garage near the bustling Main Street shopping area.

Don't Feed the Apes!---Do Not Feed the Apes! Please, don't feed the apes. Signs all over the place, each one shouting the same refrain, DON'T FEED THE APES. So, what did I do? I fed the apes. Right, I did it!…Read More

Don't Feed the Apes!---Do Not Feed the Apes! Please, don't feed the apes. Signs all over the place, each one shouting the same refrain, DON'T FEED THE APES. So, what did I do? I fed the apes.

Right, I did it! I fed them and I know it was wrong. However, it was not totally my fault. Our friend and guide Reynaldo gave me permission. He said the apes really expect the tourists to feed them and of course, they might also be hungry.

The famed tailless Barbary Macaques apes are Gibraltar's most famous residents. They were brought to Gibraltar from Morocco and Algeria many centuries ago and today they are the only free-living monkeys in Europe. Currently the apes are most frequently found in the area of the Great Siege Tunnels and at the Ape Den, midways up the Ariel Tram Ride.

According to legend, the monkeys must roam free, and when the apes leave the Rock, the British will also go. When the population dwindled during World War II, new members for the colony were imported from Morocco.

OK, ok--I know I should not have fed them. They ARE wild animals and I could have been bitten. But - I'm not sorry I did it!

Getting tired, we walked back to get the car to continue our exploration hopefully around the whole peninsula. We passed near the Shrine of Our Lady of Europa and through the Keightley Tunnel, a single lane tunnel with about a 12-inch gap between our mid…Read More

Getting tired, we walked back to get the car to continue our exploration hopefully around the whole peninsula. We passed near the Shrine of Our Lady of Europa and through the Keightley Tunnel, a single lane tunnel with about a 12-inch gap between our mid sized car and the walls. Along the road one can see the mountain peaks of northern Africa that are only 15 miles away. There is a constant procession of merchant ships and tankers crossing the blue Mediterranean and green Atlantic boundary. Unfortunately the Dudley Ward tunnel at Governor’s bay that connects to the road on the cliff side was closed, so it took about an hour to snake back through to the Spanish border.

In hindsight, we should have obtained a proper road map to make a complete tour of this peninsula. The roads are winding at different elevations with the connections only know by the locals.

We left our coach to go through Customs at Gibraltar and hopped into two mini vans to tour the Rock and it's environs with Peter....born and bred on Gibraltar. We had a great tour of St. Michael's Caves and visited the Barbary Ape Colony. This…Read More

We left our coach to go through Customs at Gibraltar and hopped into two mini vans to tour the Rock and it's environs with Peter....born and bred on Gibraltar. We had a great tour of St. Michael's Caves and visited the Barbary Ape Colony.
This is where Queenie got it again...
Last stop before shopping was the Barbary Ape Colony. Winston Churchill had visited long ago and said that as long as there were apes on Gibraltar it would remain under British rule
....so when the ape population gets low more are imported from Morocco. Spain wants Gibraltar, but the Crown intends to hold on to this territory
....which suits the natives just fine.
Our van arrived at the viewing spot just as a small monkey jumped on to Queenie's back and began to pick through her teased, blonde mane. We were in hysterics at the sight! Monkeys were jumping from car to car, using tourists as springboards.... stopping to snatch earrings and sundry from our coachmates. What we in the second van (and you can BET that Stir did not leave her van and demanded that the door be kept closed tight) did not know was that a small monkey had jumped onto Jen's (the Lady-in-Waiting) shoulder and snatched her bright gold earring.
As it traveled to the monkey's mouth, Queenie grabbed for the earring. Queenie is.... aside from her big mouth, big self, and big hair.... really a tenderhearted person and she didn't want the little monkey to be hurt... so, as any mother would do... she grabbed for the earring. As she reached, the BIG MAMA monkey came over her shoulder from behind and took a bite out of her forearm....through her coat and linen shirt. The bruise began to turn black right away.
By the late afternoon as we winded our way along the Costa Del Sol the bruise got bigger and blacker, but at least Queenie had a story to take home about the Barbary Apes. Then we went shopping. Close

The Alameda(The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens) The Alameda Gardens were created in 1816 under the instruction of the Governor, General George Don, in order to provide a recreation area for the residents of Gibraltar. Situated just outside of the city walls, this is a botanic garden…Read More

The Alameda(The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens)
The Alameda Gardens were created in 1816 under the instruction of the Governor, General George Don, in order to provide a recreation area for the residents of Gibraltar.

Situated just outside of the city walls, this is a botanic garden full of plants from the Mediterranean and the rest of the world. This is a very peaceful place to enjoy a stroll, shaded from the sun in a picturesque location. In the very early days, this park was used as a graveyard, so take the time to read some of the grave stones dotted around because they make a very interesting read. The gardens are made up from interconnecting paths, with flower beds on either side, bordered with local rock. There are many places to sit and soak up the atmosphere, other historical sights include canons stone gates and gun emplacements.

The gardens have:

• An open-air theater with performances during the summer evenings.
• Mini golf
• Children's play parks
• Sandpits Tennis Club
  

The Cable Car The bottom cable car station is situated in the car park near Alameda Gardens. There is a stop at the Apes’ Den and the top of the rock. Apes’ Den: I never tire of seeing the apes; it amazes me how like each other…Read More

The Cable Car
The bottom cable car station is situated in the car park near Alameda Gardens. There is a stop at the Apes’ Den and the top of the rock.

Apes’ Den:
I never tire of seeing the apes; it amazes me how like each other we are. My advice is don't feed the apes, but enjoy watching others who have not taken my advice!

The Top of the Rock:
This part is actually in the middle of the rock, not the imposing, eastern-facing part, which is a military location. From the top, you have amazing views of Gibraltar, Spain, and Morocco. You can enjoy a walk round to see more Barbary Apes and have refreshments in the cafe. Take a camera for some spectacular shots!

You have the option of the return trip, or you can walk down the steps and eventually back into the city (my recommended option).

The most amazing thing that I saw in Gibraltar was the air-force jets screaming across the runway, which was part of the road onto the island. The traffic is stopped, just like a level crossing for a train and the jets scream off. It was…Read More

The most amazing thing that I saw in Gibraltar was the air-force jets screaming across the runway, which was part of the road onto the island. The traffic is stopped, just like a level crossing for a train and the jets scream off. It was one of the strangest sights I have ever seen in my life - although pretty cool.

One of the hardest decisions you will have to make if you go on just 1-day trip is what duty-free to bring out. There is a huge selection of off-licenses and a massive variety of drink and cigarettes to choose from!!!

Food won’t be a problem. There is plenty to select from, including a Burger King

First thing this morning, on the way to Gilbraltor form La Linea, we were stopped by a man wearing a uniform that resembled those costumes Nixon put on his armed guards in the White House. He told us in broken English that we would need…Read More

First thing this morning, on the way to Gilbraltor form La Linea, we were stopped by a man wearing a uniform that resembled those costumes Nixon put on his armed guards in the White House. He told us in broken English that we would need to buy a visa to cross over from Spain in our car. He put an official looking ticket on our windshield. Fifty yards down the road, another policeman stopped us, removed the ticket from our windshield, and informed us that it was a used lottery ticket. Scammed for 2,000 pesata. This is a fairly common trick for gypsies.Close

Our first sighting of land after 9 days at sea on a transatlantic crossing from Fort Lauderdale on a Princess Cruise. We sail in - in the morning darkness - a sliver of a moon shining above. As dawn breaks, we…Read More

Our first sighting of land after 9 days at sea on a transatlantic crossing from Fort Lauderdale on a Princess Cruise. We sail in - in the morning darkness - a sliver of a moon shining above. As dawn breaks, we catch a glimpse of the "Rock" - impressive but not as high as I had expected.
We dock at a very industrial port - a quick breakfast and we're ready to disembark....but.....oh goodness - back to the room for umbrellas - a bit of fog and light rain. Hope it doesn't last too long.
After a short walk to town (1/2 mile perhaps)...vendors approach us selling tours and taxi cabs are eagerly awaiting their passengers. We heard that there were shuttle buses but we didn't see them. It's early - 8:15 AM - the shops not yet open. We take a local bus (12 pence round trip) to the cable car. We're just about first in line.
Cable car tickets are $18/per person and admission to Michael;s Cave and the tunnels is $15/per person. They sell a combo ticket including the ride - cave - apes den and tunnels for $30/per person. Tour operators in minivans were offering 1 1/2 hour trips of the "Rock" for $37/per person.
A quick 6 minute ride to the top takes you to an area that overlooks Morocco and Spain - the views are usually incredible - not so today because of the clouds - but still spectacular with a rainbow appearing now and then. A small snack/gift shop as you exit the tram, selling mostly "monkeys"...of course.....there are also a few viewing terraces to offer you good Kodak Moments.
We walk along a downhill road toward St. Michael's Cave - probably 15 minutes, but we stop along the way to enjoy the monkeys' antics - eating veggies and wild flowers, the little ones never wandering far from Mom's side - playing and jumping while others are trying to get into the tourist vans and sometimes jumping on someone's shoulder or stealing wiper blades and playing with antennas - cute but somewhat pesty is you encourage it.

Arriving at St. Michael's Cave you can spend a few minutes in the gift shop - the toilets are clean and a 1 Euro fee is collected unless you've purchased a combo pass at the cable car entrance. This 700 foot cave is quite amazing - cool, damp and dark - as expected. The steps are many and dimly lit - the hand rails are appreciated. The spectacular highlight of this cave is the large area that has been converted into a concert hall....classical music is playing...the acoustics are great and the lighting subdued - would be wonderful to attend a concert here.
Then....on we go for another downhill walk of 10 - 15 minutes to the "Apes Den", Again watch for the frolicking monkeys and have a few laughs. this is near the mid-way station of the cable car - we had planned on riding down to town from here, but it's already considered summertine (May) and it no longer stops here. OK well....we'll continue on down rather than attempt the uphill walk......On we go.....Oh NO......the shortcut path down is closed (reason unknown - we see a car backing up...let's not take the chance - we've already walked much too far.
So we continue to follow the road toward the The Great Siege Tunnels .....another 15 minutes or so. Very interesting to see - the lookouts, gun enplacements - scenes have been set up depicting their various activities, rations and even a jail cell....but once you've eplored the caves, you must walk back up hill to exit the war tunnels. Thank goodness it's only a short walk downhill from here to the city center.
City center basically consists of two street and a plaza lined with shops, outdoor cafes and pubs. We spent a few minutes browsing the shops but quickly ducked into a pub for shelter from the rain and a "reward" for our exercise - a couple of beers and snacks.
In hindsight, we should have taken the minibus tour due to the weather and the mid station being closed (we did not know that until we got to mid-station) We enjoy exploring on our own rather than with 50 or our new "best friends" from the cruise ship. The four of us had fun - no one whined - we slipped and slid and even fell down the hill....we did get to see the tunnels - had not planned to because the walk was going to be too long. And now it's a memory and great story to retell. All in all, it was a rather enjoyable experience - my pedometer said that we walked 7 miles that day.
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