Day Trip From Gibraltar To Marbella

About 65 years ago, what  used to be a fishing village of  around 900 people is now a playground for the rich and famous. Take a day trip from Gibraltar to sample the life. It won’t be bustling so much in November as in June, July and August  but you still soak up the  atmosphere of this affluent society and there’s still a chance to spot a celebrity or two.  Don’t expect to see any prices on the stunning  clothes and jewellery adorning the shop windows. As the saying goes, if you need to ask the price, you can’t afford it.

Next stop, down the road to Puerto Banus to take a look at the place where the billionaires moor their toys.

Eat Out In Style

Eating Out In Style

Great Place, Great Bike, Great Job.

Bobby On The Beat In Marbella

I’m sure there are better places to be a policeman but right now, I just can’t think where.

Can,t Believe Its November

Can,t Believe Its November

Scenic Strolling

Scenic Strolling

Why Not Leave The Car And Take The Train

Why Not Leave The Car And Take The Train

Hot In November

Hotter Than It Looks In November

WW2 Secrets Now Open To The Public.

The Great Seige Tunnels is a must see when you visit Gibraltar, only open to the public since 2005. Taste the amazing part Gibraltar played in winning  WW2, the war against Hitler.  The more you get to know, the more you want to know. Its hard to believe that the 30 miles of tunnel inside the rock were hacked out by men with pickaxes on very little rations in the space of about year, that the inside of the rock became a ‘town’  with tunnels given names like Clapham Junction and the place where they situated the hospital inside the rock was named Harley Street , Gibraltarians were evacuated to other parts of the world returning years later. There is also the amazing secret of the  ‘Stay Behind Cave’ . If Hitler had captured Gibraltar, six men were to stay behind and be sealed into a cave with no way out with provisions to last them around two years. They would spy on Hitler. Three signalmen were amongst them. If they died they would be cemented in the walls. The men were volunteers.

Jock’s Balcony

Poignant Reminder Carved Into Jock's Balcony

Poignant Reminder Carved In Stone On Jock's Balcony. Reads 'JW 1946 REMEMBER'

Standing on Jock’s Balcony you can view the runway and on a clear day you see way up the east coast of Spain. This look out must have been very advantageous for keeping an eye on the enemy. It came to be called Jock’s Balcony after a Scotsman would use the lookout to grab a few minutes respite in a well earned cigarette during the digging of the tunnels. The men worked inside the rock for six days and allowed out for one day a week. Working on a shift system a man owned his bed for eight hours only, it was shared with two others who also had the bed for eight hours a time.

Jock's Balcony Sign.

Jock's Balcony Sign.

 

The Coast Of Spain And The Runway Is The View From Jock's Balcony.

The Coast Of Spain And The Runway Is The View From Jock's Balcony.

 

Tourists Taking In Views Where Jock Stood.

Tourists Taking In Views Where Jock Stood.

Morrisons Bar.

Get over to Morrisons! Have a beer before you shop and one after if you like. Head over to the hot food counter, get some potato wedges with a portion of chilli, barbecue or tomato sauce, steak and stilton pie (hope they still do that next time I’m over  there.) a bag of ready washed salad plus drink of your choice and unless your into top of the range stuff, even thats duty free in Gibraltar. All for around a fiver. Head off to Camp Bay on one of the local mini buses, take in the local surroundings on the way. It cost about £1.20 return to anywhere around Gib. Now thats what I call a nice day.

Morrisons Bar

Bar In Morrisons Supermarket Gibraltar

Trinity Lighthouse Europa Point Gibraltar

Trinity Lighthouse at Europa Point where the Fedra cargo ship drifted after engine failure. The lighthouse has been a blessing for many sailors in the past because they only had the lights from the windows of Our Lady of Europa Chapel to help them navigate around the rock before Trinity Lighthouse was switched on 168 years ago. Who can guess how many ships it has saved from impending disaster in that time. Since it was automated in 1994, the lighthouse does not have a keeper but an on call attendant.

lighthousew_edited-12

In August 1841 Trinity Lighthouse Poured Out Its First Beam Of Light.

Fedra Shipwreck

 On the 10th October 2008 The Fedra, a 24 year old Liberian registered cargo ship smashed against the rocks at Europa Point and broke in two after its engines failed in very stormy weather. Thirty one mainly Filipino crew members were airlifted to safety and taken to hospital, all released shortly afterwards. These photos were taken a month later.

 

 wreck-both-piecesw_edited-2

Force 8 Gales Broke The Fedra Into Two Parts.

Force 8 Gales Broke The Fedra Into Two Parts.

The 36,000 Ton Ship Creates A Lot Interest.

The 36,000 Ton Shipwreck Creates Interest.

Regular Checks On Fedra

Regular Checks On Fedra

If either section was to break away from the rocks it would pose a real danger to other ships

Mv Fedra Hits The Rocks

Freak weather splits The Fedra in two.

Million Dollar View Marina

The Gibraltar Cruise Terminal has won the Seatrade 2008 award for being the best kept and managed  Terminal in the Mediterranean.
Approximately 240 cruisers are expected in Gibraltar in 2009 carrying around 350,000 passengers.  This sounds a lot but some only call for a day or two. This brings the added opportunity to meet people from all over the world but if you prefer it not so busy then check out when there are no liners calling before you visit.
 
marina-stroll
Harbour Strolling Is A Dream
capri-seen-at-the-back1

The Capri Can Be Seen In The Background.

 

capri1

The Magnificent Capri