Tuesday, 26th November 2019 Due to its position and its dramatic geology Gibraltar has been a strategic military and naval base for centuries and many of the tourist sights reflect this. Testament to its importance is the determination of other nations to gain control of the Rock and Gibraltar. It had faced fourteen sieges in a 500 year period by the end of the eighteenth century. We took the easy option and rode the cable car again to the upper station at Signal Hill Battery. At the top we were enveloped in clouds, so there were no panoramic views today. We took a different route down this time, to the Great Siege Tunnels where the entrance is still guarded by ancient artillery. . . As we admired the impressive views across the airport, we overheard a local guide saying that Gibraltar is the fifth most dangerous airport in the world. As we would be flying out from there the following day, you can imagine that this was not the most welcome news. The Great Siege Tunnels were excavated through the solid limestone of the northern end of the Rock by the British during the Great Siege. The tunnels were the […]
Gibraltar
Monday, 25th November 2019 Matilda, having thrown up on the ferry the crossing the Straits, was particularly disappointed to be feeling under the weather on the first morning in Gibraltar where the breakfast reflected “The Rock’s” close links with the UK and tempting “full English” cooked fare was on offer. However, she contented herself with some plain toast and enjoying the views from the dining room, hoping to be able to do the meal justice the following day. We felt that the management might wish to update their “rogues’s gallery” in light of recent royal developments and we offered to help. Despite feeling fragile, Matilda was determined to see some of Gibraltar so we went on the cable car, passing almost directly above our hotel . . . . . . to the upper station at Signal Hill Battery, on Gibraltar’s second highest peak. Signs as you queue for the cable car advise you not to take food or plastic bags with you as the infamous apes will make these a target. Sure enough, as soon as we disembarked, an ape leapt onto the cable car to assess the pickings and then, having spotted a carrier bag, made friends with […]
Sunday, 24th November 2019 As we left our hotel for the next leg of this trip, we told the gentleman on reception where we were going. “Ah, home from home,” he commented. The ferry to Gibraltar leaves from Tanger Med, a new port which is benefitting from an extensive development programme and which is about an hour’s drive from Tanger Ville. Ferries leave Tanger Ville more regularly but serve mainland Spain, not Gibraltar. Robert’s original plan was that we would be able to catch a train to Tanger Med port, but this is part of the massive infrastructure project and the line is unfortunately not yet running. When we arrived at the port, we could see the tracks already laid, directly into the terminal building. It was almost deserted although those few who were travelling seemed to have an inordinate amount of luggage in comparison to the two of us who like to travel light. Buses take passengers from the building to the dockside but the schedule seemed to be rather unpredictable and haphazard. It was nearing sunset when we boarded the boat and Matilda, who had been feeling unwell all day managed to climb the steep stairs up from […]