Just got in from Gibraltar. Not many can say that on here today I bet!

Staying on the Costa Del Sol, near Marbella, and had a day trip to Gibraltar today. Just got back in time for the last ten minutes of depressingly familiar away day commentary. Ah well, swimming shorts on and off down to the pool now I suppose. Sigh.........

By the way Gibraltar is an incredible place. A bit of a dump in parts and far too many people in such a small place but The Rock and the apes are just fantastic. Took the cable car up and chatting to the operator it turns out he is in the Gib national football squad. They are trying to get UEFA representation but have to get Spain's backing to stand a chance. They recently played a match against an England semi-pro team, so that shows the standard they are at.

Full of history anyway and one of those places I have always wanted to visit, along with The Alhambra palaces above the city of Granada the other day. Managed to pack loads in to a week and only rained once. Oddly enough it started when crossing the border into Gibraltar. British colony, British weather :smile:

 

Went last summer

The view from the top of the rock is amazing. Walking across the air strip was a bit weird. The whole place is much nicer than I expected as I'd heard it was a dump, but I didn't find that at all.

Also went to the Alhambra which was great too.

 

We had four days in Almunecar, about an hour east of Malaga and did the Alhambra trip from there plus the staggeringly spectacular caves at Nerja. Fabulous bit of coastline but if you want good beaches they are not up to much. Terrific hotel though, right next to the beach and the town called the Casa Blanca - built in Moorish style rather than white concrete.

Last three days we headed west and have been at the H10 Estepona Palace hotel - the A7 to one side but completely sound proofed and a private beach to the other. Four star hotel but only 84 Euros per night for two with breakfast. Fantastic hotel and beautifully designed. Only complaint is that the swimming pools are roped off - apparently the Spaniards think it is too cold for outdoor pools. I don't call between 18 and 24 degrees C cold, do you?

 

Re: Went last summer

It's not really a dump no, just a bit over crowded and the queues going in AND out are a pain. It's not like they stop anyone, or rather I didn't see any one being pulled over, so why not just make it an open border just like the rest of Europe? As I said, always wanted to go there and have not driven across a runway for many many years (last time I need an airfield driving permit to take the land rover across and around the peri track. One thought struck me - how long must the queues be when an aircraft is due in or out? They have to shut the road and do a FOD sweep surely?

Odd place but I am very glad I went. Got some great close up shots of apes and didn't get accosted once - not even by a monkey!!

 

We did the spa bit yesterday - indoor pool with lots of buttons to press on the side, creating whirlpools, cascades on your head etc etc. Nice in there but not really worth paying 15 Euros for the privilege. Should be free for hotel guests but, as I said, the room rates are reasonable. Home tomorrow night flying out of Malaga then back to normal Monday morning......

 

A plane landed while we were waiting to get in

Had to wait 10 minutes.