Gibraltar

Because of the hilly nature of Gibraltar I had booked a tour here too, this one on the Internet. The e-mail I got said to make sure we were one of the first off the boat at 9am where he would be waiting with a sign with my name on. Sure enough there he was with his sign and mini bus right outside the door, so we all piled in. His name was Paul and he was, he told us, Gibraltar born and bred. He drove us through land that had been recently reclaimed and into the old city, giving us lots of info on stats and language along the way. He even showed us the house where he and all his predecessors lived. Because we were first off the boat we were first to all the sights, this proved to be a brilliant strategy on Pauls part with two cruise ships in town. We entered the nature reserve before it was even open, with Paul hauling the guy out of his hut and into the kiosk to open the barrier, and set off up the one way 'black road'. This road, Paul explained, was restricted to official taxis, minibuses, etc. We arrived at St Marks cave first and parked right outside, Paul explaining that as the day went on the queue of minibuses would snake down the steep hill leaving the occupants with a long drag up. The cave is used for concerts and such, and has hundreds of stalagmites and stalagmites, all lit in a beautiful light display.  

A little further on up the road we came to Gibraltars most famous residents, the apes. Paul explained all about them, including how the population is kept static by birth control. He then got out his plastic snakes and threw them on his car bonnet. All the older monkeys had been bitten at some point by a snake making them wary, he explained. The younger ones that hadn't been bitten wouldn't do as much damage so he didn't mind them on his car. He knew all the apes, and how old they were. A little one climbed on his roof so he enticed it on Vickys head with peanuts, then onto the heads of all those who weren't afraid. 

Paul explained everything we could see below, we were almost at the highest point and there were some great views. 

All the time we were up there we were the only people. 

Paul then drove us further along the treacherous looking road, stopping to show us a clip from a James Bond film where Timothy dalton was hurtling down the same but of road on the back of a truck. We were first to arrive at the world

War II caves where you can see some of the miles of caves that riddle the rock. I asked Paul if he explored them as a child. He said that of course they used to break in, only to be chased out by the military. 

He dropped us off right outside and we had a wander round. 

Paul then explained all we could see from that side of the rock 

He then parked right outside a tower built by Moors to defend the straits so we explored that. There was another great view from the roof

The 1000 ton gun was next, Paul told us it was accurate over 5 miles, but took three hours to load. Here Vicky got lost coming back from the toilet. 

Finally Paul took us to Europa point, where the lighthouse is situated. 

Paul dropped us off on Main Street, and pointed us in the right direction to get back to the ship. Another brilliant tour, and the amount of people on the street showed his decision to leave early was spot on. Well done Paul. 

We wandered down the heaving thoroughfare, and Vicky and I managed to get some perfume. I got some Chanel No 5 at a really good price, then got a 10% Thompson discount. Well done Kathy for not letting me stop to buy it in Luton airport. Vicky got some Jimmy Choo that she has been saving up for with the same discount. A stop was made for very milky coffee in a small cafe, then we walked the kilometre or so back to the ship. We all lunched, Ian overfaced himself, then some people went off for a nap, Alex went to try and run all the way round Gibraltar, and us some of us watched a man making a giant ice sculpture. Guess what it is. 

Yes, it's a swan.

We then entered a quiz, with clues leading to sweets, where we won a Thompson cap. The big money bingo game was next, unfortunately neither mum and Vicky or Rotherham United came through for us, they all lost. 

We changed and ate our final meal, before watching the final show (musical songs) and then to bed. 

Tomorrow - home!

P.s. Our departure and flight home were uneventful, except for Kathy and me having the extra legroom seats, so I am finishing my blog here. 

The End

Casablanca

I had booked us on a ships excursion for the Morocco leg of the cruise as I had an unexpected windfall in the shape of a tutor bonus just before we left home. This meant an earlyish start and a posh breakfast. We departed the ship and walked past the Costa Pacifica, who once again had got poll position. Our bus was the first in the queue of many buses and was nicely air conditioned. We just had to wait for one couple, there is always one, before we departed for Rabat and our guide, who's name we did not catch but let's call him Bob, began our education. Bob was a fountain of all knowledge of all things Moroccan. As we drove through an unimaginative looking Cadablanca he told us all about the Moroccan system of government and election, all about the number five in religion and architecture, all about the Moroccan housing system. As we exited Csdablanca and got onto the highway, he told us all about the road system, all about the make up of the Moroccan people and how they had all arrived in the country. As we neared Rabat he told us everything we needed to know about the sights we were about to visit, and all about the position of women in Moroccan society.  He was amazing. Unfortunately, due to the early hour (9.30!) all of our party except Vicky and I, in fact most of the people on the bus, slept the whole way and missed it. 

Our first stop was the Royal Palace. Bob explained that it is not a residence but an administrative centre, and that the King, Mohammed VI, uses lots of palaces for this. He explained all about the different types of guard that were standing (sloppily) outside. 

Next Bob whisked us off to a Kasbah (only has one gate as opposed to a medina which had four- ref Bob). This one enclosed both a Moorish and Roman necropolis. 

Then it was the mausoleum of the two most recently deceased Moroccan kings, Mohammed V and Hassan II. Some say this is the eighth wonder of the world. This was guarded by some better postured guards than the palace. 

It was on the same site as the 'unfinished mosque', which, I gather from Bob, was not completed due to a change in capital city, or maybe an earthquake. He was a bit fuzzy on that. 

Then we were off to another Kasbah where we got to taste Moroccan mint tea and sweet pastries. This would quench our thirst Bob told us. It was here that Vicky got an unwanted tattoo, despite trying her best to avoid it. Ian refused to pay more than one euro, despite being hassled for five, and the tattoo lady cursed us all. 

Here we were unmercilously hastled, and could have purchased jewelry, scarves or kaftans, the latter seller being particulously stubborn with one lady of our party who expressed a very mild interest. 

On the way back to Casablanca Bob let us rest a little, only telling us about slums and gardens being built by the sea. 

We all agreed afterwards that, to say English was clearly not his first language, the words and phrases Bob used were of the highest quality. Chris remembered thinking that he had let himself down with an easy word, before he corrected himself and used a much more complicated one. It was a wonderful tour because of a great guide. Well done Bob. 

We did the usual and read, rested, or paid bingo, before eating. Later on we watched the karaoke before retiring. 

Tomorrow, Gibralter. 

Cadiz

The best We breakfasted late as Vicky had a schedule in place for a Walters walking tour of the port of Cadiz. As soon as we exited the port and dodged the taxis and HOHO operators we found ourselves in a lovely garden. 

The guide took us down a couple of narrow streets to some beautiful sea side gardens. They were home to the Columbus trees, said to have been grown from seeds he brought back from the new world. 

Next we walked through the botanical gardens and came to a lovely harbour and beach, the very beach where Hale Berry came out of the sea in a James Bond film, not sure which one. 

Next on the tour guides itinarary was the cathedral which we reached by more narrow streets. Outside was a Henry Moore exhibition, and we viewed them both while sipping coffee outside the cafe of Mr Personality the waiter. 

Right at the side of the cathedral we explored a Roman theatre they are in the process of excavating, and it's free!  

Finally we finished our round circuit at the main square where our tour guide told us we could take the iconic photo of Cadiz with the fountains, statue and town hall all in a line. 

The champions anyone?

We arrived back at the port about 4pm after a superb tour in time to read and recuperate before dinner and bed.