Gibraltar

It is unbelievably hot here.  As we left the house today, Declan said that it was so hot that it made his eyeballs throb.  It is reasonable in the shade, but as soon as the sun hits you, you feel transported to Africa. Understandable as Africa isn't too far away.  In fact, yesterday we saw a chunk of it as we went to Gibraltar for the day.

Misty Africa

Personally, I was skeptical about Gibraltar.  Some guide book that I read somewhere said it wasn't worth the fuss.  But Blake's brother, Gordon, recommended it and it was Father's Day so off we went.  Huge hit.   For 2 boys who haven't been in an English speaking environment for the last few months, it was an oasis.  ENGLISH.  Dec was so happy that he thought he would cry.  We got there and immediately ordered fish and chips.  I mean what else are you going to order in a British colony?  Then we made our way to the cable car which unfortunately was shut down due to the gusting winds.  So we got in a taxi van with a guide and trekked to the top.  First we stopped at a outlook to catch a glimpse of Africa off in the distance. Exciting.

What Shakespeare play would you like to see in a cave?

Then after driving a road that can only be described as CLINGING to the hillside, we got out and explored St. Michael's cave.  It is big enough to be considered as a possible hospital site for the British soldier during WW2.  In fact, it now contains a performance space that they use for the occasional concert in the summer.

Can you get any closer than that?

Next stop.  APES!  For those who don't know, Gibraltar has the only indigenous ape population in Europe.  And let me tell you, they have a pretty sweet life.  They are fed, watered, looked after by Vet Dr's and get to roam around freely in their habitats.  No fences, no screens, no nothin separating you from your animal cousins.  They mainly just sit there glassy eyed, because you are the 150th person to point a camera in their direction that day.  But they are wild animals and we are not used to seeing such creatures up close and personal.  It's jarring.  They run around, screech at each other (unnerving to say the least since we all know what happened to that lady who had a pet chimp who literally ripped her face off) and sit on the fence which is the only barrier between you and the Mediterranean sea hundreds of feet below you.  Then if you get close enough to them, they jump on you.  Which is what happened to Declan.

Declan and his furry friend.

He was thrilled.  For him, it was his chance to get up close and personal.  It was fantastic.  Cal on the other hand did not care for the apes at all.  He just wanted to hang out in the van.

Then we went to the cave that the British carved out of the limestone rock, one meter at a time during the great Seige of Gibraltar in 1779-1883 when the Spanish were trying to take back the rock. Then it was expanded during WW2.  Pretty impressive.

It was a great day. History and apes.  What could be better?