Everyone has heard of Gibraltar right? The rock of Gibraltar, one half of Hercules’ pillars, the gateway to the Mediterranean… While Gibraltar may have a modest footprint on the grand scope of the world it is both huge and iconic. Visiting Gibraltar is a bucket list port of call for any traveler.
The Rock of Gibraltar
The Dog and Dragon adventure arrived at the UK territory of Gibraltar on November 3rd. Dragon was working that day and unable to go ashore. Dragon’s mom had signed up for an excursion leaving Dog to explore on his own. Dog set off on foot, intent on at least a hike to the top of the rock at 1398ft (426m). The hike up was a great experience. Dog passed through town along narrow, steep streets towards the Gibraltar Nature Preserve. He passed the Moorish Castle and the Great Siege Tunnels. He wandered into and explored a random abandoned tunnel along the way, eventually arriving at the top where the gondola dropped off the excursion guests including Linda. The view was phenomenal and totally worth the hike up.
Europa Point
From the top of the rock, Dog hiked out via a different route towards the south. He encountered dozens of Barbary macaques, the only wild monkeys in Europe. One monkey jumped on the back of a tourist and rifled through his backpack while the man was wearing it. Beware the monkeys!! The hike down took him past St. Michael’s Cave which Linda gave rave reviews after her excursion. Dog eventually arrived at Europa Point where he had a clear view of Africa across the straight. Europa Point is the southernmost point of Gibraltar and is home to the Europa Point lighthouse, the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe, the Ibrahim al Ibrahim Mosque, the Sikorski Memorial, and Harding’s Battery.
Further Exploration
Dog made the return trek to the ship via the Keightley Way Tunnel covering over 18k on the day. Along the way he passed a multitude of interesting sites, including Parson’s Lodge, Camp Bay with its amazing man made waterfall, a variety of street art like the Battle of Trafalgar mural, the Windsor Suspension Bridge, Jumpers Bastion, and the evacuation memorial just to name a few. As the Visit Gibraltar website states, the territory is “a treasure trove for avid historians”. Despite being only 2.6 sq miles / 6.7 sq kms, Gibraltar is a hugely interesting place to visit and one Dog would like to return to in the future. We’ll be planning a trip that includes visiting Gibraltar again sometime down the road.
Amazing. Just amazing. I wish I could have walked it all with you.