Gibraltar

flying into Gibraltar is not for the faint of heart. The plane cruises past the Rock, descends over the Straight toward the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and turns back for a short taxi on a runway built on the water. While the runway stretches ahead, from the windows you see the traffic waiting to cross the one road into Gibraltar. Cars, cyclists and pedestrians all pass from Spain into Gibraltar on the road crossing the runway. The planes land, turn 360 degrees and taxi back to the terminal. Traffic is stopped for four flights per day.

Gibraltar is definitely a day trip. This rock has been owned and coveted by many nations. Currently, its owned by the UK. It's very unique to experience a little bit of Britain, attached to the Spanish mainland. We heard just as much Spanish as English spoken.

The attractions on the Rock include some old fortresses, a cave and Barbary monkeys. Options to summit the rock include stairs as well as a gondola. The Nature Reserve pass will get you entrance to all attractions (we paid 18.50 pounds for gondola up plus nature reserve). There are signs posted everywhere not to touch or feed the monkeys and to keep everything secure. Yet, even verbal warnings did not prevent one couple from losing their snack (It's a 500 Euro fine to feed the monkeys) nor a family from letting their toddler son run up to pet a monkey (& subsequently get slapped by the monkey).

The fortresses include old batteries, several tunnels built for the Great Siege in the 1700s and expanded through WWII, and a Moorish fortress originally constructed in 1333. St. Michael's Cave is tastefully lit to highlight the rock formations. From there, its a short walk uphill to the start of the Mediterranean Steps down and around the west side of the Rock.

On our descent by stairs back to the main plaza, we met a resident of Gibraltar. He walks the stairs 5-6 times per day. My quads and calves are on fire after only one day of stairs.