The Rock of Gibraltar - An Excellent European Tour Day Trip

The Rock of Gibraltar lies on the southern edge of Spain and it is one of the two Pillars of Hercules that guard the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea. The other pillar is Jebel Musa in North Africa. A tour up the rock will take you to breath taking views. You may take a tour by van, taxi, or cable car; below is a picture of the cable car on its way up to the top of the rock. In the background you can see the small city of Gibraltar. It is a city of thirty thousand people with a unique style and outlook on life. I'll come back to the city and its charm.

Once you reach the top of the rock you can stand where a plaque defines the Pillars of Hercules and look out at the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, Spain to the north, and North Africa to the south. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to take another route to the top. My friends in the Royal Navy got permission to take me on a hike that followed a path up the rock. As my good friend Ken Dodd had told me, "Be careful this trail is a bit dodgy." For all you Yanks, he meant that the you have to watch your step because the trail is small and steep and there was nothing to stop you from tumbling off the rock and into the Mediterranean below. It was by far the best hike I was ever on.

The tour will also take you into the rock where you will see places where the residence held out in what are called The Siege Tunnels. While Britain was busy sending troops in an attempt to quell the rebellion in its American colonies; France and Spain decided it was a good time to take Gibraltar. This was the fourth attempt to siege Gibraltar and by far the worse for the English residents. It lasted from 1779 and 1783 and it was known as the Great Siege. From inside the rock you can look out through the old cannon ports back toward the airport and the Spanish border.

While in the rock you will also see a natural cave called St. Michael's Cave. The acoustics in the cave are so good that musical performances have been held there. Below you will see a picture of St. Michael's Cave.

One of the most popular parts of the tour is a visit to the Rock Apes. These are the only apes living in the wild in Europe. They will take food from you but I would caution you not to tease them. They are wild and they will react if you try to keep them from the food. There is a good chance a mother will appear with a young ape; that is a sight worth the trip. Below is a picture of a Rock Ape.

Once back in town tourist may sample a fairly unique life style. It is a combination of classic English tradition and the relaxed attitude of the Mediterranean. The stores are of full of items from all over Europe and North Africa, but shop early the stores close at six most nights and are not open on Sunday. The pubs are great and run the gambit from relaxed to lively. The people are friendly but the shops and pubs do not have a tourist trap feel. You don't get the feeling that everyone is after your money. Everyone will be warm and friendly if you stop by their establishment but they will not go out of their way to draw you in.

I would recommend a day in Gibraltar to anyone planning a vacation in Europe. The pictures below are from postcards created by Estoril LTD. 9 Main Street, Gibraltar.