Gibraltar is at the narrow neck that separates Europe from Africa, and it is the only place where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Ocean. Its geographic location makes it the “Gateway to the Mediterranean”. The Rock of Gibraltar, is the major landmark of the region and dominates most of the territory. About 30,000 people live in the area. It is a tax free port with the main economies being financial services, internet gambling, shipping and tourism.
We rode the cable car up to the top of the 1,400 foot Rock of Gibraltar.
Most of the upper portion is a nature reserve, which provides sanctuary and protection for 230 native Macaques (Barbary Macaques), the only wild monkeys found in Europe. They look kind of cute until they start attacking you and ripping your bag out of your hands! (which happened to two people while we were there.) However, in general they seemed pretty peaceful, just walking amongst the crowd.From the top, we could see Morocco, in Africa.
It was a hot day so Charlotte and I took the cable car back down (we haven’t experience any rain since we left England almost a month ago!) Jimmy did a nice easy walk down the rock, about 2 miles, past the tunnels from the wars, most of which are still operated by the military and closed to the general public.
Back down, we took a ride to Europa point, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and from where the coast of Africa can be seen.
There were a lot of ships in the ocean, many just stationary, probably waiting to dock / pick up or deliver. It is a very busy shipping lane.
That night our dinner table was by the window and we had a great view of Gibraltar as the ship sailed out, and into the Atlantic.
