Like a Rock.....

And no, I'm not referring to a singer, an insurance company or a ....... Though the insurance company does use it as a symbol. The Rock of Gibraltar, lonely English outpost on the southern tip of Spain. Across the Straits from Morocco and its own Atlas Mountains.
The Rock has belonged to many countries, but the English have rights to it until the famed monkeys no longer reside there. The are actually the only monkeys that live on the European continent. While on the cute side, they can get mean and are very good at stealing. Shining objects, camera and food are favorites. Most seem oblivious the to hordes of tourists taking their pictures.
To reach the top of the pinnacle, there is a cable car that makes for an easy ascent, though people afraid of heights might want to close their eyes. The line at the bottom can be very daunting, especially since almost shore excursion offered included the ride. Our guide gave us the choice of waiting in line for an hour, or reverse the order of the tour, we opted for #2.
After a ride along the lower ramparts of the monolith, we exited the tour bus and entered the St Michael's Caves. These natural formations are breathtaking. Limestone formations hang from the ceiling and reach up from the floor, impressive columns are formed when they meet. Colored lights add a spectral quality, with the sound of dripping water breaking the silence. Deep inside the mountain is a large cavern that has been converted to theater where concerts and plays are performed.
After another short bus ride, we entered the Rock on the western flank. Tunneled into the granite itself was a fortification built by the British in the 18th century. The gun positions inside the mountain were protected from enemy fire, as opposed to the former installations that were outside on ledges. Recreated scenes illustrated life during the siege of the fortress.
After exploring the inside of Gibraltar, we took the cable car to the peak. The area was the home for a few more monkeys, had a great terrace for viewing and a gift shop/cafe. Though afraid of heights, I did venture to peer of the railing and get a few pictures. With a shortage of land, the runway was bisected with a road. Traffic lights and barriers controlled ground traffic for airplane arrivals and departures. The view below was of ships entering and leaving the Mediterranean. The port of Gibraltar is known as one of the busiest gas stations on the world. Ships arriving from across the Atlantic, refill their tanks, while those heading out top off theirs since it its 1000s of mile to the next stop.
Taking a cruise is a great way to see the Rock of Gibraltar, or a stop on an Iberian Peninsula trip. It is an easy drive from Malaga and a bit farther from Madrid or Lisbon in Portugal. Let the experienced agents at Damron Vacations help you explore this southern most point in Europe, and one of Britain's few remaining outposts.