Seville
The coach parked by the River Guadalquivir in Seville and I walked into and around the city centre.
In the past C and I have climbed the bell tower of the cathedral, which used to be the minaret of the mosque, that was rebuilt as the cathedral. But as it was Palm Sunday, the cathedral was closed
Cadiz
I’d been to Cadiz before with C and only had a brief time in the city, as I took the tour to Seville from the ship.
Note the bridge to nowhere or La Pepe bridge! Is it one of numerous infrastructure projects in Spain, caught up in the recession?
Summing Up Gibraltar
Gibraltar to me, was a bit like a cross between an old-fashioned and well-kept British sea-side town and Hong Kong before the handover. although, the only thing Chinese I saw in Gibraltar was a couple of restaurants.
The real problem with Gibraltar on this trip was the weather, as it was atrocious after I’d got to the top of the Rock.
In fact, I’d once suggested to C, that we fly in my plane to Gibraltar, as I wanted to try out the unusual approach. But she wasn’t keen and I think at the time, it would have meant a roundabout route to avoid Spanish airspace. So we went elsewhere!
So would I go back? I think the answer could be yes, if the right circumstances arose, such as being just over the Spanish border with a friend, who was driving.
But I doubt they will ever arise!
Lady Moura
This super-yacht was docked in front of us.
Lady Moura
It’s funny, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a yacht like this, owned by someone I respect.
Lady Moura is owned by Saudi businessman; Nasser Al-Rashid.
Climbing The Rock Of Gibraltar
I didn’t walk up, as there is a cable car.
The views are fairly spectacular, but be warned, that there is only tourist attractions at the top and I needed some tissues and some chocolate and couldn’t buy them.
As you can see, I saw the Barbary macaques, but many who went up later in the rain didn’t, as just like us, they probably don’t like rain. The macaques are true monkeys and not apes. Although unlike some species of monkeys they didn’t seem to be trying too hard to steal from and annoy visitors. I didn’t hear one human alarm call, whilst on the Rock.
Visiting the macagues is a very different wildlife experience, as you just walk around them, whilst both species observe the other. I even saw a couple in the town below.
It was quite a long walk on the top of the Rock, but as it was generally downhill, I managed it. However, because of the rain and my rhinitis, I was having difficulty with maintaining a good pace. Luckily, there were a few places to sit.
Eventually, I found a bus stop and got a bus back to the main bus terminal, from where I took a shuttle taxi back to Oriana.
A Gibraltarian Surprise
If you asked me a month ago, which side of the road cars were driven, I’d have said that it would be the left like Britain.
Gibraltar Drives On The Right
As the picture shows, I was wrong and all cars are left-hand-drive and they drive on the right.
The Worst Of British In Gibraltar
If there was a lot of good things from Britain, there were also some that I consider a bit tacky or down-market.
Quite a few of the shops would be familiar to British visitors and there was also a Morrisons supermarket by the docks.
There also didn’t seem to be too many shops selling the usual junk aimed at tourists. I bought nothing in Gibraltar except for a coffee.
The Best Of British In Gibraltar
Gibraltar has lots of things that we would recognise as some of the best of British icons, standards and design.
I also liked the main shopping street, which was tidy and neat and reminded me of some of those shopping centres in seaside towns. It was even a bit like how I remember Hamilton Road in Felixstowe in the 1960s.
It was certainly, a well signposted place and I must have counted six or more of the large street maps. To contrast, I’ve never seen one in Blackpool.
The Royal Gibraltar Police incidentally, are the second oldest force in the Commonwealth.
The Evacuation Of The Gibraltarians
I knew little of the history of Gibraltar in the Second World War, although I did know little bits about its role in naval activities and as a place, where evading servicemen aimed for, to get back home.
But I knew nothing about, what happened to the people of the colony during the war.
As I walked towards the centre of town after landing, I noticed this statue on a roundabout.
It is called the Evacuation Of The Gibraltarians and there is more about the true story here in Wikipedia.
I feel, the story goes a long way to explain, why Gibraltarians want to determine their own future.
The Anonymous Widower 