The Rock of Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a United Kingdom colony on the southern tip of Spain. It has a population of 30,000 people fiercely loyal to the British crown. You have to go through a passport gate to enter. The Spanish government is not exactly thrilled that the British own this prime piece of real estate.

It has 30 miles of tunnels carved into it, making it very much like a block of Swiss cheese. The tunnels have been used for a variety of things, but mostly for defense purposes from World War II back hundreds of years.


It rises to 1,400 feet high and covers about 2.5 square miles. Looking south you can see a hint of north Africa.

The Barbary Macaque or the "Barbary Apes" number about 230. In 1943 when the population dwindled to four, Winston Churchill ordered a new batch to be captured in Morocco and released. It was said that Gibraltar would remain British as long as Macaques lived on "The Rock".

If you notice my expression, I do not look very happy. About 5 minutes earlier I slipped and scraped my knee while exploring St. Michael's Cave.

To enter Gibraltar you must cross the airport runway either by foot or car. You're back in Spain once you've departed the airport area.



We returned from the top of "The Rock" to Gibraltar's lively city square for a treat.