The traffic getting into La Linea (Spain) was as bad as predicted: Long lines of cars and gridlock before we could split off to find underground parking in La Linea near the McDonalds. Once we parked, it was a long walk to one customs station and then a short hike across the airport runway (it must be the only runway in the world with a traffic light!) and past another customs station, and then into downtown Gibraltar.
our first look at Gibraltar
the airport runway of Gibraltar
crossing the runway
What a transformation from Spanish to British culture!
the familiar British phone box! I know - completely dorky pose!
Gibraltar, as all of Europe, has a long history of occupation by different groups (Neanderthals, Visgoths, Moors, the Hapsburgs, Spanish, British). Its strategic location at the mouth of the Mediterranean has been very important for the Brisith since the early 18th century.
early fortification on Gibraltar
modern day police action in Gibraltar
The Brits have managed to hang on to it, but not without some protest from Spain. We grabbed lunch, in pounds, at a fish and chips restaurant, which seemed only appropriate, and headed toward the cable car which could take us to the top.
The weather continued to hold but looked threatening. We were getting close still had a ways to go, when we bumped into a tour van selling seats for the ride up, stops at 4 destinations, and the ride down – 20 euros. As we glanced at the gathering clouds it seemed like a good idea. So we abandoned our idea of the cable car up and the 4 hour hike down and jumped in! We had great views, (Morocco somewhere over there through the fog!)…..
we saw nearly everything we could (including the aggressive monkeys and Barbary apes),
the caves on Gibraltar
(Can you believe people actually let the monkeys climb on their children’s heads! )
why is this child smiling????
(On the other hand, maybe this an idea for a new ‘hat’ style!)
(Others preferred giving the monkey/ape “the High 5”!)
High-5's all around. Monkeys are paid in farfelli pasta!
and most important, we stayed out of the absolute deluge that began soon after the first stop.
Other highlights of the tour included:
tunnels left over from the Great Siege in the 18th century
The early miners were suffocating so made windows to be able to breathe.
Which they soon realized were perfect for cannons!
There is still a large military presence on Gibraltar. But maybe they are not so busy anymore, or they stay in good shape by playing football (soccer). We counted no less than 4 soccer fields!
The commercial airplanes take off between stoppage of traffic between La Linea and Gibraltar and also after the birds nearby have been scattered with explosives.
plane taking off, birds getting scattered
Meanwhile the weather continued to worsen, provided rain isn’t your favorite.
And up there in the sky, those black specks are some kind of eagle (the birdwatchers we saw at the previous stop told us so!)
With a last view of the Union Jack, we descended by van (van being the operative word here). Sometimes you just have good ideas and need to act on them! This was one of those times! We were still congratulating ourselves as we slogged through the constant downpour back to La Linea and drove in the rain toward Sevilla.
lots of wind farms in this part of Spain!
Thank you, as always, for reading! Cheerio!