GIBRALTAR, UNITED KINGDOM (May 30, 2012)

We have arrived at the gateway to the Mediterranean,  a 1400 foot high rock, that is emphatically British!  Some caves, a castle, and some apes up at the top.  I don’t love trams so we did not see the antics of the apes but others have told us we didn’t really miss anything.  From the sea it looks very familiar after seeing the “Prudential” commercials my entire life.  We did go into the little town (this rock is only two square miles) to check out the duty free and tax free shopping.  Prices didn’t seem much different than at home so why lug things back with us.  Guess I’m just way too practical because others did come back with arm-loads of purchases.  

The history of this rock is what makes it interesting.  It seems in 1967, 12,138 Gibraltarians voted to “Keep the Rock British” while only 44 proud-but-outnumbered citizens voted to allow the rock to revert back to Spanish rule.  It has NOT  been under Spanish rule since 1713.  It was strange to see the Union Jack flying in the windows of high-rise apartment buildings.  Yes, there are many of those on the Rock.  A very interesting day!  Looking forward to a sea day tomorrow.