Cathy Hawk

We landed in this beautiful port with very few expectations.  I didn't know much about this island country but was ready for anything.  I had a small connection to Gibraltar, my parents married in Casablanca, Morocco and honeymooned in Gibraltar.  We had no excursion booked we just got off the ship and walked towards the Rock.  We came across very helpful locals and a beautiful city center which had lots of restaurants, shops and palm trees.  A woman on the street told us to look for the set of stairs painted like the Union Jack flag and when we find them we know we will be heading towards the National Park.  The ticket office opens at 9am so we had a few minutes to rest before we all started our climb. Tickets were 9 euros for entrance into all the different sections.  There are 3 ways to make the climb, steps and those had to be in the thousands and they are occupied by crazy monkeys who seem to just take humans in stride unless you have food then you will be paying them with whatever you have. The other way up is a much longer incline which we took down, and you can also opt for the cable car up the mountain.

We just decided on the steps tried not to make eye contact with the monkeys and stepped right over them.  It was very entertaining to watch them scaling the walls and steps and just living their best lives. 

The views got better and better until you reach O'Hara's Battery at the top where on a clear day Morocco was visible on one side and Spain on the other.  We also were able to go through St. Michael's Cave and the hanging bridge.  There were plaques commemorating the visit of Queen Elizabeth back in the 50's.  Really an amazing day where by the time we walked back to the ship we had logged almost 10 miles in steps.  But the pride we had that we did it and the laughs and memories will last a lifetime and worth every bead of sweat we shed.