Jan 6, 2013 - Spain, Britain and Africa in 3 days…

The last 2 weeks have been simply splendid, and it is wonderful that Sally and Chris have been able to join us since December 24th. We have spent the holidays in Seville and the south coast of Spain. Seville is a magical place, especially as the apartment we had was right in the old town and a stroll away from all the major sights. We have seen the tomb of Christopher Columbus, toured the Seville bullfighting arena, seen Flamenco in its place of origin and drunk beer with the locals. No sign of a recession here – the opposite in fact. We...

Dec 5, 2012 - Gibraltar

We did a day trip yesterday to the Rock of Gibraltar. It was a lovely day and we got some magnificent views of both the Mediterranean and Atlantic oceans and could see the coast of North Africa. We walked through St Michaels caves where the stalagmites were very impressive and there is also an area here where they hold concerts. The apes on Gibraltar were very cheeky and jumped onto the wing mirror of our mini bus, and the roofs of passing cars! From the Rock we also got a great view of Rosia Bay which is where Lord Nelson's body was...

Apr 1, 2012 - Cadiz to Gibraltar via Barbate

We finally managed to leave Cadiz, having got to know it pretty well – we had an amusing tour of the city from the camera obscura in Tavira Tower and found a café run by a French lady which has a huge range of different teas, served in teapots, which makes a welcome change from a glass of hot water with a tea bag on the side! As we left the marina at Cadiz, we found ourselves in the midst of lots of yachts loitering in the harbour entrance. It turned out that a four-masted tall ship was about to leave harbour and sail around the world, so...

Oct 15, 2011 - Gibraltar

Here we are lounging around the hotel room after our last visit to the beach. It was slightly cloudy today but still very hot and the sun beaming down on us - 26C today. Yesterday we took a bus trip down to Gibraltar. A long ride down there with stops to pick people up on the way. Gibraltar is a funny combination of British and Spanish. It has a whole bunch of UK stores but with Spanish speaking people. It is supposed to be duty-free but we didn't notice any real deals except for alcohol which doesn't do us much good. It was a nice day...

Feb 15, 2011 - Gibraltar

We thought we'd check out the rock of Gibraltar and take the ferry to Morocco from there. It poured all day, we didn't go up the rock and we were informed on arrival that the ferry we booked online (and had e- tickets for) didn't exist. We were advised to travel to the Spanish city of Tarifa where we could catch a ferry the next day if the weather settled. Got a refund in Tarifa and crossed to Morocco same day with another ferry company. Got scammed in Tangier on arrival. Welcome to Morocco! Likes: 2 pints in 2 British pubs. Watching the...

Jan 24, 2011 - Gibraltar

A new experience for me and a must do to prove that all is not lost in the interest of the English for Keita’s father. We hurtled along the coast past Puerto Banus and all the white apartment blocks with their antennae waving in the stiff breeze blowing off the Mediterranean toward the last bastion – Gibraltar. We drove closer and closer looking for the first road sign which appears not long before you get to the grossly over industrialised border of Spain and Gibraltar. The tall red and white chimneys of large scale commerce litter the...

Oct 16, 2009 - Gibraltar

Gibraltar After a few days of lazing around, we were ready to do a little more exploring. Gibraltar was only 45 mins down the road, so we decided to check it out. We were both excited to be going for a bike ride again. I even took my I pod so we could have some tunes for the trip. Gibraltar has been a been a possession of Great Britain since 1704; but earlier belonged to Spain, the Moors, the Romans, and seems to have been inhabited since the beginning of mankind. In 1848, remains of Neanderthal Man dating back between 60,000 and 120,000...

Sep 29, 2009 - "The Rock" - Gibraltar

At 11am we re-entered the Straites of Gibraltar (30 miles long, min width of 7.5 miles). The Straites connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and separates the African Coast to the southern extremity of the Iberian Peninsula. Came into port while in the dining room - the "rock" (a huge lump of limestone, 5km long & 1km wide with 143 caves and miles of tunnels) looked so impressive. I took a tour to see the main sights of Gibraltar. We drove to the base station of the Cable Car and up we went to the very top of the rock -...

Jan 28, 2009 - Gibraltar

Today we ventured into a little part of the UK in Spain, Gibraltar. Being that is part of the UK, you do have to go though customs and show your passports, although they do not stamp them. As two Canadians, they didn't even look in our passports; the navy booklet with the gold seal is enough to get you though to the other side! Gibraltar has historically been an important base for the British Armed Forces and is the site of a Royal Navy base. The name of the territory is derived from the Arabic name meaning "mountain of Tariq". Today,...

Jul 9, 2008 - Spain (Camping Parque Tropical - Estepona)

Today we will finally get to visit Gibraltar. Having planned it, booked it, hassled over it, today we do it. First thing we have to do is get to the local bus stop and catch the bus to the “McDonalds Stop”. That’s right the “Golden Arches” has a bus stop named after it. Two in fact, one either side of the road. What in great heavens prompted anyone to name a bus stop after that restaurant? There must have been a Spanish name with some significance to the area? What happens if the “Golden Arches” move? Will they name the stops “used to be...

Feb 24, 2008 - The Rock of Gibraltar and Monkey friends!

Hello again! You would really think that after a great weekend in Morocco that I would be ready to take it easy for a weekend, but this just isn't so! This Saturday, some friends and I grabbed our passports and hopped on the bus bound for Gibraltar, the southern-most point in Spain. Unknown to me, Gibraltar is a UK territory, and so even though it is a part of Spain, we had to have our passports ready. The Rock of Gibraltar itself reminded me a lot of St. Thomas, the USVI. Lots of small, winding roads up to the top of a gigantic, well,...

May 23, 2006 - Gibraltar!

With extra time on our hands before John and I depart from one another we decided to spend a day in Gibraltar. A small, random peice of rock at the end of Europe, after several battles, now claimed as a British Colony. I have to say at first we were a little shocked with the prices (it converts to Brittish pounds) but it turned out to be a great day. We took a tram up to the top of the rock this morning, it had spectacular views of Africa, the Mediterrean, and Andalucia. Oh, and also tons of Monkeys. They where everywhere, actually called...