Gib, turn that frown upside down
Car Name = Winston today as we visited a part of the world that is described in the Lonely Planet as a bit of Portsmouth in Southern Spain.
Took the toll road route to get there, not realising that the first 7.60 euros would be quickly followed by another 3.60 and 2.60 in quick succession, and all within the space of an hour. Needless to say we took the cheap/free option back.
As has been suggested in all I have read, La Linea de la Concepcion was the place to park up for an easy walk across to the rock. As we pulled into town we came across a nice suburban street and head towards the rock on foot, as it didn't seem too far.
Google maps did the trick although was about 1.5 mile of walking, mainly because I'd forgotten to put in the pedestrian option, so it took us on a ridiculous car route. Still, we saw the massive queues to get onto the rock and felt suitably smug that we hadn't tried to drive onto the Rock or indeed park too close.
A rather surreal and yet interesting few hours were to follow as we walked from Spain into the U.K via passport control and then across the run way of Gibraltar Airport. Timed to perfection as almost as soon as we had crossed the run way, everything was shut for a couple of passenger jets to take off.
Kept our journey on foot, and meandered into the town centre a long line of people, like refugees heading for the centre. The beauty of the land link between Europe and UK, the multicultural and interchangeable languages couldn't help remind me of that current isolationist strategy we are seeing at home, and how much warmer the world feels when we all muddle along together. I understand 94% of Gibraltar voted to remain in the EU, they might be worth listening to.
Slightly contrasting with that global outlook is the rather obscure mix of naval heritage and British High Street that forms the town centre. Victorian Britain meets 1970s UK High Street, I loved the peculiarity of it all.
We found our way at the foot of the Cable Car station, would have been wise to book tickets in advance, but an hour later we were swinging and swaying our way onto the Rock. Some great views on the top, the weather turning from cold and misty to hot and sweaty in the blink of an eye.
My running plan today was to jog around the top of the rock, tourists and apes made that tricky, and the inclines added an air of impossibility. My 2 runs for what they are worth recorded here.
Effort ? 1
Effort 2 (you will note the point the apes made me backtrack!)
A bit of monkeying around and then it was down, down, down in the Cable Car and the fairly long walk off the Rock and back to our car. By parking so far out of town we probably clocked up the best part of 10k just walking around today. Getting back I noticed we had to navigate some less than salubrious neighbourhoods but in late afternoon this caused no real issues. Anyway, we had Bryn with us who assures me that he'd be quite happy wandering around Pill at night, and this would be childs play in comparison.
Car all intact, and then a lovely coastal drive home, even lovelier for the lack of tolls! Very tired back at the house, read a bit, surfed the net a bit, and drank San Gria. We are getting it done, whatever it is!
(carys)
A day trip to Gibraltar was what we had planned, and even though it had been raining in the night - yes, raining in Spain - and was forecast for rain through the day, we left the house. The rain cleared up pretty soon, but we did have to walk in it for a little while on the way to Gibraltar.
It took us a while, but we strolled along until we reached Gibraltar airport, which is where you cross into Gibraltar itself. We had to go through passport control, as Gibraltar is actually part of the UK! So, we had to cross from Spain into the UK. It gets even cooler though, since we crossed the runway to the airport to get into Gibraltar, we got to see two planes take off from the runway just minutes after we'd walked on it!
Gibraltar town was really interesting. It looked so similar to Newport high street. I found it really weird that we were basically in Spain, but technically we were in the UK! Gibraltar even has it's own special currency, Gibraltar pounds. We had a little peak in a few shops as we passed by, and I bought a packet of crunchie rocks to snack on, since I didn't fancy an icecream like the others.
I was excited to go up the mountain, but changed my mind when I started to think about the cable cars. Yes, it's silly but I was pretty scared to go up (and down) in case it broke. It was really high up! We queued for our tickets, me getting more and more jittery, but when we actually got on, all was okay. I mean, it was scary, but the view was beautiful, so the fright was worth it.
Dad went off for his run, and Bryn joined him., so mum and I went to look for monkeys. I love monkeys. Al ot. I think they're really clever and super fuzzy too. I got some photos with them, and made mum face her fear by walking down an extremely steep and long set of steps.
We all joined up again, and were just admiring the leaping monkeys, when I got attacked. I say attacked, that's an exaggeration, and I was sort of hoping for it to happen. A monkey jumped on my head. I was a bit scared, as I know they're wild and have large teeth which they bite you with when provoked. It was all okay though, and a tour guide came and helped get the monkey off. The guides had been getting the monkeys onto other peoples heads if they wanted them to, so they could get photos.
On the way back to the car, we had a cheeky McDonalds. It was nice enough. A very relaxed evening, just some snacks and stuff. I've read some more of my book today too, which is good.
Took the toll road route to get there, not realising that the first 7.60 euros would be quickly followed by another 3.60 and 2.60 in quick succession, and all within the space of an hour. Needless to say we took the cheap/free option back.
As has been suggested in all I have read, La Linea de la Concepcion was the place to park up for an easy walk across to the rock. As we pulled into town we came across a nice suburban street and head towards the rock on foot, as it didn't seem too far.
Google maps did the trick although was about 1.5 mile of walking, mainly because I'd forgotten to put in the pedestrian option, so it took us on a ridiculous car route. Still, we saw the massive queues to get onto the rock and felt suitably smug that we hadn't tried to drive onto the Rock or indeed park too close.
A rather surreal and yet interesting few hours were to follow as we walked from Spain into the U.K via passport control and then across the run way of Gibraltar Airport. Timed to perfection as almost as soon as we had crossed the run way, everything was shut for a couple of passenger jets to take off.
Kept our journey on foot, and meandered into the town centre a long line of people, like refugees heading for the centre. The beauty of the land link between Europe and UK, the multicultural and interchangeable languages couldn't help remind me of that current isolationist strategy we are seeing at home, and how much warmer the world feels when we all muddle along together. I understand 94% of Gibraltar voted to remain in the EU, they might be worth listening to.
Slightly contrasting with that global outlook is the rather obscure mix of naval heritage and British High Street that forms the town centre. Victorian Britain meets 1970s UK High Street, I loved the peculiarity of it all.
We found our way at the foot of the Cable Car station, would have been wise to book tickets in advance, but an hour later we were swinging and swaying our way onto the Rock. Some great views on the top, the weather turning from cold and misty to hot and sweaty in the blink of an eye.
My running plan today was to jog around the top of the rock, tourists and apes made that tricky, and the inclines added an air of impossibility. My 2 runs for what they are worth recorded here.
Effort ? 1
Effort 2 (you will note the point the apes made me backtrack!)
A bit of monkeying around and then it was down, down, down in the Cable Car and the fairly long walk off the Rock and back to our car. By parking so far out of town we probably clocked up the best part of 10k just walking around today. Getting back I noticed we had to navigate some less than salubrious neighbourhoods but in late afternoon this caused no real issues. Anyway, we had Bryn with us who assures me that he'd be quite happy wandering around Pill at night, and this would be childs play in comparison.
Car all intact, and then a lovely coastal drive home, even lovelier for the lack of tolls! Very tired back at the house, read a bit, surfed the net a bit, and drank San Gria. We are getting it done, whatever it is!
(carys)
A day trip to Gibraltar was what we had planned, and even though it had been raining in the night - yes, raining in Spain - and was forecast for rain through the day, we left the house. The rain cleared up pretty soon, but we did have to walk in it for a little while on the way to Gibraltar.
It took us a while, but we strolled along until we reached Gibraltar airport, which is where you cross into Gibraltar itself. We had to go through passport control, as Gibraltar is actually part of the UK! So, we had to cross from Spain into the UK. It gets even cooler though, since we crossed the runway to the airport to get into Gibraltar, we got to see two planes take off from the runway just minutes after we'd walked on it!
Gibraltar town was really interesting. It looked so similar to Newport high street. I found it really weird that we were basically in Spain, but technically we were in the UK! Gibraltar even has it's own special currency, Gibraltar pounds. We had a little peak in a few shops as we passed by, and I bought a packet of crunchie rocks to snack on, since I didn't fancy an icecream like the others.
I was excited to go up the mountain, but changed my mind when I started to think about the cable cars. Yes, it's silly but I was pretty scared to go up (and down) in case it broke. It was really high up! We queued for our tickets, me getting more and more jittery, but when we actually got on, all was okay. I mean, it was scary, but the view was beautiful, so the fright was worth it.
Dad went off for his run, and Bryn joined him., so mum and I went to look for monkeys. I love monkeys. Al ot. I think they're really clever and super fuzzy too. I got some photos with them, and made mum face her fear by walking down an extremely steep and long set of steps.
We all joined up again, and were just admiring the leaping monkeys, when I got attacked. I say attacked, that's an exaggeration, and I was sort of hoping for it to happen. A monkey jumped on my head. I was a bit scared, as I know they're wild and have large teeth which they bite you with when provoked. It was all okay though, and a tour guide came and helped get the monkey off. The guides had been getting the monkeys onto other peoples heads if they wanted them to, so they could get photos.
On the way back to the car, we had a cheeky McDonalds. It was nice enough. A very relaxed evening, just some snacks and stuff. I've read some more of my book today too, which is good.
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