Gibraltar, UK

Today we went back to Great Britain- huh you say?

We set off on the long, long drive (of 30 mins 😃 ) to Camping Sureuropa at La Linea. It's a great campsite that was set up to help intellectually disabled people and has become quite successful. Lots of intellectually disabled people working around the site doing a good job.

We debated long about whether to bother coming down to here (which of course if you have been paying attention you will have already worked out where we are heading - the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar - right at the bottom of Spain - yep, that's right.) So we settle in to camp, have lunch and we catch a taxi to Gibraltar border a few kms down the road.

First things first, The Rock of Gibraltar - goodness it’s huge, imposing and very impressive when you first lay eyes on it, just shearing straight up out of the water at lands end.

The Rock of Gibraltar at entrance to Gibraltar

We pass through border security with little scrutiny being the model citizens we are (or perhaps they let anybody and everybody in).

Harassed by Pommie (Gib style) Tour tout as we approach the Tourist Information desk - convinces us to sign up for mini bus tour as the “the entry fees are £30, and lots of walking so for £50 you can get taken round in a group taxi ride” - okay sign us up!
We have to wait 15 mins for them to sign up some others, and we end up with a group of 7 Swedes (grandparents, parents, kids) so the van which can take 8 has 9 passengers!!

Old British telephone box as you arrive in Gibraltar

Old wall around the "old town" of Gibraltor

Old arched bridge in "old town"

Old cannon

Old building in Gibraltar

Lovely old building in Gibraltar

Another nice building in GIbraltar streets

Inside Cathedral - had to take one shot

British Mail Box

We get front seats as the first to sign up so that’s fine - although I try to send Bob to the drivers seat before he gently explains that , no, that’s where the driver/tour guide Alex will sit, we must sit in the passenger bench seat beside him that fits 2 people! Oopsie!

We are pleased we did it this way as Alex (Spanish origin but lives in Gibraltar) is quite entertaining, full of information, and a bit of bullshit thrown in.

First stop is the Pillars of Hercules (Bob swears he heard him call it Penis of Hercules) which is a monument on the headland depicting the ancient world as it was known and looking out over the ocean you can see the edge of Spain, 24kms over to Morocco and the waterway is of course the Straits of Gibraltar, the entry to the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa - thus obviously a very strategic place (Britain conquered Gibraltar from Spain in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. And in 1713 the Treaty of Utrecht formally ceded Gibraltar to Great Britain).

Map of the Ancient World as they knew it back then

Map of the "Modern World"

View of Strait of Gibraltar - port for fuel

Strait of Gibraltar - it's huge

Another shot of Strait of Gibraltar

Yet another shot of Strait of GIbraltar

The main driver of the Gib economy is fuel - ships refuel in Gibraltar due to its strategic location but also competitive tax-free fuel prices, and efficient port operations that minimize turnaround time. The port's deep-water access and central position on major shipping lanes make it a convenient and cost-effective bunkering hub for vessels transitioning between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Next stop is St Michael’s Cave. This is a massive cave complex that was once thought to be bottomless (since disproven) and also once thought to provide underground access to the continent of Africa (also disproven). The cave has a sophisticated lighting system which really sets off both the vastness and height and the stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, Drapes and Straws etc. It’s big enough that it was set up as an emergency hospital during WW2 but didn’t end up being used as such. Nowadays it is sometimes used as concert venue.

Stalactites in the cave

Good shot of stalactites in cave

Kerrie in the cave

Impressive shot inside caves

Wow - look at that huge stalactite!

We went to the Skywalk at the top of the Rock, which has magnificent views east and west. This is also where the Barbary Macaques (ie monkeys) hang out - the population is controlled to a few hundred by sterilization once a female has bred once - otherwise they would be rampant as the climate allows them to breed 3 times a year. They were originally introduced by the Africans (?) as pets but the monkeys seems to like it in Gibraltar and are fed fruit in the morning and veggies in the evenings - so all good. They are just gorgeous and pretty obliging as long as you don't touch them - they like to touch you but not the other way.

Mum with baby monkey

Kerrie saying "hi" to monkey

Monkeys having a close discussion about life in Gibraltar

Bob with monkey that jumped on his shoulder

Monkey jumped in Kerrie's arms

Our guide Alex with monkey that jumped on his shoulder

One more monkey shot

Overview of Gibraltar from the top of "The Rock"

Another view of city from top of The Rock

View from top of the Rock down to edge of city and Strait of Gibraltar

Last stop on the tour was The Great Siege Tunnels built in the 1870’s Which are considered to be one of the best man made defense systems and was instrumental in defeating the invading Spanish and French forces during The Great Siege.

Old cannon point in the Great Siege Tunnel

Kerrie saluting at cannon point in the Great Siege Tunnel

Couple of old guys digging in the Great Siege Tunnel - I told them to take "smoko" but they said they'd keep going!

Tour over we wandered up and down Main Street just like any other high street in a British town although more high end luxury goods due to tax free status apparently.

Finished off the day at the "Alls Well" British pub for pints and bangers and mash before getting a cab back to border and then on the other side and a cab back to the camp grounds.

Kerrie about to enjoy bangers and mash at the "Alls Well" Cafe

Good shot of The Rock of Gibraltar in the evening

Our conclusion- absolutely worth going to Gibraltar for the views, the history, and the quirkiness of Little Britain on the tip of Spain (as an aside, there have been 2 local referendums where the residents have voted overwhelmingly to remain part of Britain and not become part of Spain). We had a great day!

Mind how you go.