Carl picked us up at our hotel and off we went, right up the rock with a few stops along the way. The perfect guide, he was open and friendly. Patient as we both fired off questions about living in Gibraltar. As he was born and raised in Gibraltar, we got a great insight to this unique place.
Our first stop was the Pillars of Hercules and look at these views. That is Africa off in the distance beyond that sparkling water. This is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. Named after Greek Mythology the pillars mark the portal. The North pillar is the Rock of Gibraltar and the South pillar is in Africa.
You also get some great views of the bustling Port of Gibraltar, one of the busiest in Europe with over 70,000 ships a year passing through the Strait.
Our next stop was St. Michael's Cave. Carl noted the irony of the expression "solid as a rock" because in this case the rock is more like Swiss cheese. Where rainwater meets limestone the result is an acidic combination that over years eats away at the rock causing these natural caves and caverns.
The inside of the rock of Gibraltar is full of tunnels and caves that have been used since prehistoric times. St. Michael's cave is one of the most visited. The largest section is the Cathedral Cave and has been turned into an auditorium that hosts concerts and shows.
It's the most incredible place. Just breathtaking to see the dripping stalactites and soaring stalagmites. Do you know the difference? Stalactites cling "tight" to the the ceiling and stalagmites climb up with all of their "might." One of the few things that actually stuck with me from fifth grade.
There are a few spots where you look down over the railing and you can't even see the bottom. They have it beautifully lit so that you can see all of the magical details.
Next stop was the Top of the Rock and the Upper Ape's Den. The monkeys were definitely a highlight (you can see more of them in this post) but look at these views!
We picked the perfect time to go in January. It was lovely and warm but we didn't have to fight the crowds. Carl told us that in the Summer the crowds really swell and the rock is swarming with tour buses and vans. Also a popular cruise port, Gibraltar sees about 10 million visitors a year.
As the rock is a protected nature reserve, they do control and limit the access to the habitat and wildlife that call it home. Did I mention that Gibraltar has an area of less than three square miles? As with most of Europe, you probably want to visit during off season.
Between the history, the monkeys, the location and the rock, I'll say again Gibraltar is one of the more unique places we've visited.
Our final stop was the Great Siege Tunnels on the North side of the Rock. During the Great Siege of Gibraltar in the late 1700's, the French and Spanish forces were trying to take Gibraltar from the British. During the siege the British dug out a system of tunnels from solid limestone that you can still visit today. And they did it by hand using axes, sledgehammers and gunpowder.
Along the 900 feet of tunnels, there are five galleries where huge cannons were placed to defend the rock from attack by land. Matt walked all the way to the end of the tunnels, but I opted to sit in the sun and watch the monkeys.
This is also the perfect spot to get a good look at notorious runway that I mentioned. You'll find the Gibraltar airport on most lists of World's Most Extreme Runways. Not only is that a four- lane main road running across it, it's relatively short with sea at both ends. Apparently, there is also the wind whipping around that massive rock nearby.
Actually, it's a vary safe runway and it didn't feel any different from landing and taking off anywhere else. And remember I hate flying! The terminal is gorgeous and a highlight was sitting out on the balcony facing the runway before we left having a glass of wine. Neither of us were ready to leave.
Our tour with Carl was just about two hours and then he happily dropped us off right at our hotel. We paid full price and I can certainly recommend Inside Out Rock Tours, but don't just take our word for it. They are listed as number 1 of 19 Outdoor Activities in Gibraltar on Tripadvisor, which is how we found them.
Have I convinced you to visit Gibraltar yet?
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