Photos to follow…

Sunday – Taxi and tea at 4:35. Then a fast ride to Bristol Airport arriving at 5:00. Almost straight through security after some disrobing. Then a very smooth, three quarter  full flight to Gibralatar. I was concerned about the landing, but this proved to be fine even though the runway had seen some heavy rain. We found our Blands taxi bus to the hotel (Bristol!) arriving at 11:00 local. Check in at 14:00!! We wandered in the rain, bought a brolly… and found some real Sunday lunch in the Gibraltar Arms. Finally checked in at 14:15 and flaked out!

Monday – Breakfast of croissant, toast, ham, cheese etc. Walked, with quite a few meanderings, to the cable car in glorious sunshine.  We rushed past the bus tour “spivs”, bought tickets, climbed many stairs and waited a few minutes for our cable car to arrive. At the top station we were greeted by one of our relatives (officially a Barbary Macaque) sitting on a guard rail. Kate loved the monkeys. I wasn’t so sure… Many photos were taken – as shown below.

We had a good look around then lunch of calamari and coffee. We returned on the cable car via more monkeys and walked slowly  back to the hotel via bookshops, etc. Returned to our room to watch telly that had many channels including cricket!! Dinner in Jurys.

Tuesday – breakfast as above at 9:30. Then a slow walk, again in very good weather, to the tourist office and Blands to book a Rock Tour. Another walk to the coach station where we had coffee and boarded the small coach at 12:15. A very good tour ensued. More monkeys, Europa Point, St Michael’s cave and the WWII tunnels. Much walking for me in this latter but OK. Returned at 15:00. Then yet another walk to Queensway Marina for very pleasant afternoon snacks in the sunshine – antipasti. Walked – slowly- back to the hotel. Rested for a while… Then hot curry for dinner at Maharaja’s just off Main Street.

Wednesday – Breakfast as per. Then the very good Gibraltar Museum. There were many steps in here though – particularly in the Moorish baths. All the audio visuals were brilliant and the photos were fantastic – especially of the birds.  Then to the Gibraltar Arms, where the sun was shining brilliantly, so we stayed there for an hour or so. Kate had to buy a sun hat on one of her shopping forays. Then off to the Tourist Office in John Macintosh square followed by more sun soaking prior to finding Blands to book our Dolphin adventure. Then a walk down through Irish Town to Casemates for a late afternoon beer.  Then back to the hotel prior to Jurys for dinner. I had a burger. Kate had a walnut, spinach and brie fusilli.

Thursday – a smaller breakfast that usual and then a steady walk in wind and rain to Ocean Village. Booked in for our dolphin trip followed by coffee in the Hendrix prior to meeting the captain – a young marine biologist from Seville. Headed out into choppy waters and a very strong wind. Spotted a pod of five baby dolphins. Sailed around for an hour trying to find some more, but to no avail although we did spot a sun fish. Kate thought it a fun trip despite the weather. I thought it brilliant as did the two other tourists on the boat. I felt a bit cold and windswept on return to dry land, but my land legs still worked surprisingly. Walked to Casemates through a tunnel in the wall to the Lord Nelson where we had a late warming lunch of prawn pizza, stilton and broccoli soup with garlic bread. Back to the hotel via an art gallery and the main post office. Tapas later for supper – in Jurys again.

Friday – A bus lotto  day. Breakfast of course then bus to Catalan Bay via Market Place, Rosia and St Joseph’s school. Lunch at Calite Hotel. No. 8 back to Market Place. No. 2 to Europa Point where I was allowed ice cream and, lastly, No. 2 back to the hotel by 6pm. So, quite a full day. Chilled out and then dinner in Jurys again. Friday – so fish and chips plus some wine and beer. And so to bed.

Saturday – Breakfast. Then sauntered around to see if the ceremony of the keys was likely. Had coffee in Rosia. Got to Casemates in time for the cannon salute. Then another slow saunter via Irish Town in pleasant sunshine to the Queensway marina for late lunch where mini burgers were shared. Back to the hotel for a breather and then supper in the Gib Arms – I had Lasagne. No one but us in the whole place… Saturday night in Gib seems very quiet – although it was off season. And so to bed as up early to fly back.

Sunday – Woke early to catch 11:30 flight. Watched Australia v England at 7:30 for the first time on BT Sport – Jos Butler and Chris Woakes did their thing. Early breakfast, finished packing and then Blands bus at 9:00 to airport for the flight back to Bristol. After some waiting, retail therapy and photography on what had become a lovely sunny morning  we boarded the flight promptly having volunteered our main bags for hold luggage.  The full length of runway was used, flaps selected, take off very normal – probably not much runway left though. A very pleasant, smooth flight ensued until the murk over Bristol enveloped us. But even this wasn’t too bad although there was much rain on emerging from the aircraft – the brolly came in useful. Ordered a taxi and arrived home just after 14:00.