Gibraltar that iconic rock and British Territory at the tip of the Iberian Peninsular and once known as the Pillars of Hercules. It is certainly imposing and can be seen from 60 miles away but is only small, covering less than 35 square miles. Composed of Jurassic Limestone it is more than 200 million years old and is famous of course for its Barbary Macaque Apes that range free on its upper levels.
Gibraltar is one of those ports that I have visited on at least 3 occasions before and always a ‘bunkering’ call for a Fred Olsen cruise before the final run home to Southampton. It is not one of my favourite ports of call although there is much to see such as St Michael’s Caves, the Fortress and of course the Apes. It is too like any high street you can find in the UK, including a very small Marks and Spencers which everyone says to visit because of course everything is tax free, well true but it is tiny and only has the most conservative of M & S ranges available. Otherwise it is just electronic and camera shops, jewellers with ‘special deals for Black Watch passengers!’ and endless stores selling cheap booze.
A walk in the sunshine up and down the high street was enough to convince me that the camera deals were in fact no better than can be had at home and that I didn’t need another leather jacket – although I was tempted. So you will guess I had a quiet day in Gibraltar but I thought I would use this posting to recall some rather more interesting aspects of previous visits.
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