Top O' the Rock

Marina Bay, Gibraltar: 3 October 2012

Itinerary Gibraltar.  A few days to recover from jet lag and take in the sights.  A chance to meet the neighbours and do a bit of monkeying around on top of the Rock…

BCK arrives at Gib's brand new airport

 

Having rescued BCK from her very long flight over from Aus, we had to make the most of our time in Gib.  We shopped, we rocked and we re-stocked. 

 

A little cutie...

Our trip up to the top of the rock had us clouded in for a time, so no views of Africa that day.  We walked a precipitous path to explore St Michael’s cave where BCK was keen to do a Dame Nellie Melba impression and yodelled a few bars up into the upper reaches of this vast space.  Then it was back along the track to run the gambit of frolicking monkeys (Barbary macaques actually and the only wild primates in Europe). 

 

Do you think this is loaded?

It was a day for walking and we quickly made our way to the hand-hewn Great Siege Tunnels (1779-1783). Having recently rained, the tunnels dripped; the realities of life in those times seemed even harsher.  Further down the hill BCK & GS stopped at the “Gibraltar, City under Siege” exhibition and then the Tower of Homage (1333), once part of a larger Islamic castle. 

 

Tower of Homage, airport runway & Gibraltar Bay beyond

Sadly, we seeing missed the WW2 Tunnels. These penetrate the rock for 70km, some large enough for roads, hospitals and huge water tanks.  GS & the Cap’n had previously taken a tour, expertly guided by Hans, and spent an hour wandering through these tunnels. Views from vantage points out over Gibraltar’s steep north face were incredible.