Malaga Spain via Gibralta UK to La Linea Spain update

Monday 28th November 2022
Sorry this is so late!
We had a very busy day, we were still deciding where to go this morning as the last couple of days had caught up with us. Finally we decided we would head to Gibraltar. So off we went, the drive was about 2 hours from where we were in Torremolinos and was very scenic. The white buildings contrrasting with the landscape, it was very pretty. When we arrived at La Linea we parked in the Sta Barbara Parking station and walked to Gibraltar. This is part of the UK so we had to go through a border check and had our passport stamped for exiting the Spain. We continued our walk to the city centre, walking across the tarmac of the airstrip and up the main shopping street which had the usual boutique shops, lots of Christmas lights and decorations. After a quick stop at the tourist informations for a map we headed on our way to the summit of the Rock of Gibralta. We encountered a couple of obstacles along the road by the way of road closures and no entry signs which extended the start of our walk along the streets but we finally made it to the Nature Park (entry 16 pounds each). We started the walk at the Jewish Cemeterry and then went up the side of the cliff along a trail with amazing views of the ocean, passed wild macaques who were right on the trail rock walls. A bit too close for comfort for me. A local suggested we carry a rock in case they came to close or tried to get too friendly and to advance on them if they did. Nice hints for the unaware tourist. We contnued the hike up, I think it was about 480m of elevation by the time we reached the top. We enjoyed the view up there and got talking to a couple from Australia who had also made a quick dash from Faro in the south of Portugal to go to the tennis on Sunday as well. Not quite as mad as us as it is only about 4 hours, but very patriotic all the same. We then headed down the other side of the rock along road trails to the sights along the way. One of these was St Michaels Cave, which was a hig cavern with stalactites and stalagmites, an amazing light show and they even have performances in there. It was very interesting and pretty. It has a lot of history. We encountered some more monkeys that werre fed by the tour guide/taxi drivers to sit on tourists shoulders and they were very active. A bit too active for me. We the went to the skywalk which was a glass bottomed shelf out over the cliff. Then to the suspension bridge. Unfortunately by the time we got to the underground seige tunnels and the Moorish Castle they were closed. We then continued our walk back through the border control to the car. We hiked for almost 7 hours and 16km all around Gibraltar. It was a great day. We found some dinner at a local Chinese restaurant and headed to our hotel. We were both totally shattered. I couldn’t even download my photos nor type my blog. So sorry it is a couple of days late.

“Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory and headland, on Spain’s south coast and is self-governing in all matters but defense.. It’s dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar, a 426m-high limestone ridge. First settled by the Moors in the Middle Ages and later ruled by Spain, the outpost was ceded to the British in 1713. Layers of fortifications include the remains of a 14th-century Moorish Castle and the 18th century Great Siege Tunnels, which were expanded in WWII. Gibraltar is most famous for The Rock of Gibraltar, a 426 meter high limestone rock rising out of the sea. The rock can be seen for many miles. It is home to the Barbary Apes, a type of tail-less macaque which are the only wild monkeys in Europe. English is the official language of Gibraltar but many people also speak Spanish and the local language, which is called Llanito and has a mix of Mediterranean words in it.”

: Countryside a see head through Spain from Málaga in the south..

: ..the stark white houses along the way..

: ..a little mountain..

: ..and the varied terrain as we approach Gibraltar..

: ..our first sighting of the Rock of Gibraltar..

: ..the entry gates at the border of Gibraltar..

: ..as we cross the tarmac of the airport in Gibraltar..

: The Cradle of History is a monument which signifies that Gibraltar is one of the longest inhabited places in Europe..

: ..the Main Street of Gibraltar..

: The Gibraltar War Memorial commemorates the fallen of the First World War.

: The Cathedral of Saint Mary the Crowned is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Gibraltar. It is the primary centre of Catholic worship in the Diocese of Gibraltar..

: A guard marching in front of The Convent, which has been the official residence of the governor of Gibraltar since 1728. It was originally a convent of Franciscan friars, hence its name, and was built in 1531, and heavily rebuilt during the 18th and 19th centuries. Some tourists got in the way of his scheduled march back and forth at least 20 times and he roared at them so aggressively, if it was me, I probably would have cried..

: Polished cannon..

: Botanical Gardens

: Looking out to the harbour as we walk to the far end of Gibraltar..

: ..a lovely garden and house along the way..

: Information about Fort Canada..

: ..this is the fort wall..

: Jews’ Gate Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery located on Windmill Hill within a nature reserve in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Also known as the Windmill Hill Cemetery, it is the site of the earliest known Jewish burials in Gibraltar. The cemetery opened by 1746 and closed in 1848.

: A promontory in both Morocco and Gibraltar are called the Pillars of Hercules. This monument recognizes the Northern Pillar on The Rock.

: Looking out across the water to Africa..

: Information about the Mediterranean Steps..

: ..a synthetic althletics track and soccer field at the far end of Gibraltar..

: ..Some wild macaques at play..

: ..the baby exploring..

: ..as we walk up the Mediterranean Steps..

: ..towards some macaques..

: ..I am grateful to be passed them..

: ..as David stops next to them to take a photo, he is braver than me..

: ..looking back down the steps after a tough uphill climb..

: ..looking out from the sentry lookout..

: ..a magnificent view..

: ..as we continue the climb the sheer rock face in the background..

: ..as David continues up the steps..

: ..looking out across the harbour again..

: ..and to Africa..

: St. Michael’s Cave or Old St. Michael’s Cave is the name given to a network of limestone caves located within the Upper Rock Nature Reserve in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, at a height of over 300 metres above sea level.

: St Michael’s Cave was long believed to be bottomless. This probably gave birth to the story that the Rock of Gibraltar was linked to Africa by a subterranean passage under the Strait of Gibraltar. The famous macaques were said to have come to Gibraltar through this subterranean passage.

: ..they have an amazing light show in the cave, this depicts the Angel of ST Michael’s Cave..

: ..the seating for performances in the cave..

: ..the macaques at play on the taxis, encouraged by the tour operators..

: Looking out from the Skywalk..

: An interesting plaque – especially for my Star Wars fan husband..

: ..another interesting plaque..

: As we head back down the steps – some more macaque warning signs..

: ..once again making me a little nervous..

: ..such steep steps..

: ..again we had to pass the macaques on the narrow staircase..

: ..a baby macaque..

: ..giving mum a little bit of grief..

: ..more warning signs..

: The suspension bridge ..

: the Windsor Bridge suspends proudly over a 50 metre deep gorge – maybe not for the faint hearted!

: ..it is a 70m-long pedestrian suspension bridge..

: The cable car we could have caught to the top..

: ..another cannon along the nature park wall..

: ..looking down at the airstrip that goes from one side to the other..

: ..not much room for error, also with the cemetery in the foreground..

: Lookout near the Military Heritage Centre..

: ..another cannon at sunset..

: Gibraltar – A city under siege exhibition..

: ..display at the exhibition..

: The Moorish Castle is the name given to a medieval fortification in Gibraltar comprising various buildings, gates, and fortified walls, with the dominant features being the Tower of Homage and the Gate House. Part of the castle itself also housed the prison of Gibraltar until it was relocated in 2010..