Gibraltar

Hello from a very very wet UK!

I made a little mistake ... after Casablanca ... we set sail for the beautiful city of Cadiz ... but you wont mind if I skip the order and bring you Gibraltar today will you?

Now I warn you that there are a LOT of pictures ... 

Unfortunately as we sailed into port we hit thick fog ... Gibraltar looked very spooky ... like it had been bombed ...

This was all that was visible in the haze

To be honest it was so warm and I was pretty glad that the day was overcast ... it gets so uncomfortable walking around in the heat ... you have to understand we Brits are not used to heat ... It's the 6th July and the temp is about 60℉ 

Though I have been to Gibraltar before ... I had never actually been up the "Rock" so we took a tour bus and first headed up the rock stopping at this lovely Lighthouse

You can still see the mist and even this little guy decided to stay on land

This lighthouse faces a beautiful Mosque which cost £8m

You may be able to see what look like caves in the rock ... there are lots of caves ... but during WW2 Guns were installed in the Rock for defence ... there are also lots of tunnels which housed hundreds of troops ... we took a trip to one of the caves ... St Michael's cave ... where the acoustics are amazing and concerts are held ...

Just look at the amazing stalagmites and stalactites ... there were 69 steps to get out of here .. it is quite dark so I apologise for the poor shots

One of the highest points on the Rock stands the ruins of a Moorish castle or fort ... built in 711 AD ... the Moors occupied Gibraltar for around 710 years

Terrific view!

But by far ... the highlight for me was meeting the famous monkeys that inhabit the Rock

It is said that if these guys ever leave the Rock ... Then Gibraltar must be handed back to Spain ... needless to say they are the best looked after monkeys in the world! With a vet visiting every day

... and the cheekiest ... we laughed at how they pinched tissues and things from the visitors and jumped on unsuspecting people ... this guy was so laid back about it all ... inviting photo opportunities

The females had recently given birth and for the first time ever there was a set of twins born ... Just look at this cutie

Of course there is the shopping

And I love to shop ... That little tote was so handy

Many British shops here ... Marks & Spencer, Next, Peacocks, Bon Marche ... and even  an Apple store

Electrical goods Like most things in Gibraltar are much cheaper than back home ... hence my hubby treated himself to an iPad ... saved around £100

For those who don't want to shop ... there are lots of pubs, bars and historical places to visit ... even a cable car ... and canon's for the boys!

All too soon we returned to the ship ... where the RAF gave us a brilliant air display ... made my husbands day!

Gibraltar is not everyone's cup of tea ... my brother was stationed there for a few years whilst serving in the Royal Navy so maybe I have an affinity to it ... 

You can walk across right into Spain, the weather is lovely, there is no unemployment, no rape, pickpockets, muggings, murders, no illegal immigrants, goods are cheap ... what more could you want?

Have a lovely day ... I hope you enjoyed a little more of my trip

Till soon

~ Ros ~