Gibraltar 3

The monkeys of Gibraltar love to pose for photos!

The cable car to the Top of The Rock

View of Queensway Quay Marina from the top

The monkeys that inhabit The Rock are very entertaining – you are warned with signs at the top that you may not feed them and should not approach them as they may bite.  However, they have also learned that people carry food in plastic bags and if you happen to be either carrying a plastic bag or have one in your purse (or even something that looks or sounds like a plastic bag) you will have monkeys all over you.  The older monkeys are well known the to the locals and the ‘main’ ones have their photo and name as well as description posted on the wall at the top cable car station (like a mug shot!).  Their mischievous ways and their tricks for relieving tourists of their belongings are outlined and it’s amazing what they will do to get treats.  One German lady who seemed oblivious to the monkeys as she entered the cafeteria area at the top, held the door open for her friend and two monkeys raced inside, grabbed as many packets of chips as they could hold and then ran outside again before anyone could do anything!

Ironically, the guides who take vans of tourists up The Rock (rather than take the cable car and walk around at the top) have ‘their’ monkeys, which they have ‘trained’ to come to them so that tourists can have their photo taken with a monkey.  I was rather horrified to watch one guide feeding ‘his’ monkey with peanut M&Ms!  He had the monkey sit on one young boy’s arms so the parents could take photos!

We wondered whether the monkeys came down from The Rock at all and were pleased to see some in a park not far from the main square in town – again in the process of trying to steal plastic bags from families sitting on the grass!  We also saw some at the local rubbish dump feasting on fruit and who knows what else, having torn apart the garbage bags.

Gibraltar monkey enjoying the buffet of garbage

Another activity which we have enjoyed is visiting the beaches in the area – we have been to three and they are all different.  Naturally, the sand is not the quality that we have been spoiled with in Australia, but they seem to groom the beaches so that there is little rubbish.  The water has been universally COLD so far, however, so dips in the sea are limited to a few minutes at a time (well, for me anyway).  The beaches are crowded and everyone has an umbrella, chairs and various other acoutrements to keep them comfortable for a full day.  Sadly, many of the children are obese, as are their parents.  This seems to be more and more common in Spain and although one local that I spoke to said that most Gibraltarians are healthy and fit, we have not found this to be the case.  Soft drinks, sugary foods and of course ‘fast food’ chains such as Burger King are causing real problems.

Eastern Beach in Gibraltar

Gibraltarians are an interesting people – they do not identify as British, but neither are they Spanish.  They have a unique accent when speaking English that is a little like people from Wales or North-Western England; they also speak a combination of Spanish and English when chatting with each other that is quite amazing.  It’s mostly Spanish, interspersed with English words and phrases.  Everyone does speak to you in English, though, when you are in a shop or restaurant, even if you do try to speak in Spanish.  They have obviously been told that English is the ‘national’ language and that is what will be used!

While in Gibraltar we have enjoyed celebrating 4th of July, watching various World Cup Soccer games at a variety of venues (including the final - congratulations Germany!), the celebration of diversity in Gibraltar (their version of "Pride"), summer music festival and meeting interesting and fun people.  It's a fascinating place and one in which we never could have imagined spending almost two weeks.  Admittedly, we have not been exactly rushing around, but at the same time, it's been a real treat being able to finally relax without the Schengen clock ticking and not having to watch for weather windows.  Of course, now we are ready to move on, the winds are not co-operating…that's cruising for you!

Celebrating 4th of July with frozen margaritas