Gibraltar

November 1, 2023

Gibraltar was high on Barry's list of things to see while we're close to it in Spain. I figured it might take another four days to work it into the cycling trip. Or, we could take a round-trip bus tour from Malaga and do it in one. I want to wrap things up before it really starts to get cold here, so today we're getting on the bus.

We're out before 7 for the walk to the meeting spot on Avenue de Andalucia downtown. A crowd of twenty or so is already waiting and the bus is right on time at 7:15. We join more people on the bus who have boarded from points east, find seats on the sea side and watch the sun rise.

This is by far the darkest, earliest start to the day since we left home in September.

Not bad for a shot through the bus window on my weak phone camera

The bus makes four or five stops to pick up more passengers. Jorge, our guide, points out some sights on the way. In Benalmadena he gets quite excited about the elephants.

In Gibraltar the driver drops us off at Passport Control and picks us up again on the other side to continue into the City Centre, making the entry process easy.

Perhaps I wasn't paying attention on the way because my first full-on sighting of the rock is from the passport line. We cross into the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, the eighth country in our trip. From the centre, the cable car takes us up the rock.

Looking out on a beautiful morning from the cable car

Second breakfast is a warm, delicious Pain au Chocolat in the cafe at the top of the cable car.

We have a couple of hours at the top to explore the nature reserve, enjoy the breathtaking views and watch the antics of the Barbary Macaques that live here.

Across the Bay of Gibraltar to the west is the Port of Algeciras, one of the largest ports in Europe.

Barbary Macaques hang out hoping for treats from the tourists. We were warned not to feed them, but the taxi drivers were doing just that.

The little ones are pretty cute the way they drop from the trees and scamper back up

We do a rugged hike up to the highest point on Gibraltar - O'Hara's Gun Battery, at 1,398 feet above sea level. Built in 1890, the battery was named for General Charles O'Hara. He served as Governor of Gibraltar almost a century before, from 1795 to 1802.

O'Hara had ordered the construction of a watchtower here, believing it could be used to observe enemy Spanish forces in the Port of Cadiz over 50 miles away. This didn't pan out; the distance was too far. After being struck by lightning shortly after it's completion in 1791, the tower lay in ruins for most of the 19th century, and became known as O'Hara's Folly.

Looking out from the top at the Mediterranean Sea, and in the far distance, the Atlantic Ocean. The Strait of Gibraltar flows between Africa to the left and Tarifa, Spain, on the right.

The walk back down is more challenging than I expected, on steep ramps and long narrow stairways. More macaques are watching us right next to the steps. They are a little close for comfort so I don't take the time to pull out my phone.

We have time for a proper lunch of fish and chips from The Aragon Pub, named for Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII. Then we're off to meet the bus back to Malaga. There are more things to see on Gibraltar - a Moorish castle, caves, tunnels but the big show is really the rock. Great day.

Adios to Jorge, our enjoyable host on the bus

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Scott AndersonThanks for taking us back! The shot of my bike at O’Hara’s Battery is probably my favorite trophy shot ever: https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/iberia2013/gibraltar/#3218_1768390_pMiOmn_image
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6 months ago

Keith ClassenThanks for taking us up the Rock. Unfortunately we didn’t up there when we were in Gibraltar last year. Perfect day for it and great photos.
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6 months ago

Janice BranhamTo Scott AndersonWoooo! Thanks for putting the link in there. You have some fabulous shots of the apes, the views, the sunset, all of it.
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6 months ago

Janice BranhamTo Keith ClassenThanks Keith! Our luck with the weather has amazed me, consistently nice on the days when it counts.
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6 months ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesDo you remember which tour company you booked with? We do not have time to bike from Malaga, but a day trip might work.
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3 months ago

Janice BranhamThe company was called VisitandDo. We got the tickets through GetYourGuide.com, about 60 bucks for the two of us. Totally worth it, saved us what would have been days of biking there that would have meant scratching something else from the list.
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3 months ago