The Rock of Gibraltar

On our way to El Puerto De Santa Maria, we made a detour to see the Rock of Gibraltar. If you have ever seen a Prudential Financial advertisement, you will recognize the Rock of Gibraltar which is their logo.

The Rock of Gibraltar is a single large block of stone 426 m (1,398 ft) high. It is a limestone peninsula and mountainous rock that jets out of the end of the British territory at the southwestern tip of Europe. It is home to a network of caves, including the famous St. Michael’s Cave, which is open to the public. At the top of the Rock, visitors can enjoy amazing panoramic views of the surrounding area, including Morocco on a clear day.

Seeing the Rock from below is quite a sight, however, taking a tour to the top tells a much bigger story of how impressive it truly is. We headed out in a small 6-passenger van to make the climb up to the top of the Rock. The road is quite narrow and winds back and forth along the edge of the Rock. For someone like me who is afraid of heights, there were many times I looked at the limestone rock instead of over the edge to what lay below. 

The first stop was at the Pillars of Hercules. The view at this point gave a glimpse of what would come when we finally reached the top. After a bit of time to view the landscape and take some pictures, we boarded the van to our next stop. 

Next on our journey was a stop at St. Michael's Cave, and we were allowed time to tour them. The caves are quite amazing, but they also have lights that shine over the cave walls which makes for quite a show. There is one spot on the walls where an angel appears when the light hits it a certain way. These caves are something one will not forget.

As you travel to the top, there are monkeys hanging out just waiting for someone to hand over a peanut. Our guide made sure he had plenty to share with them, and this enabled the tourists to capture plenty of pictures. Although I enjoyed watching them from a distance, I was not keen on getting too close.

When you arrive at the top, there is a platform with a glass bottom if you dare venture out on it. The views from the top are incredible and it is amazing how far you can see. There is a small landing strip that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea, and we were able to see a plane come in for a landing. Morrocco is so close you can clearly see it, and easy to reach if you had time to venture out for a while.

Upon returning to the bottom of the Rock, we made our way back to the car for the two-hour drive to El Puerto De Santa Maria. We would be spending four nights there and the visit was for total rest and relaxation, with a little bit of sightseeing. A perfect way to wind down on the last part of our adventure.

The Rock of Gibraltar from below.

At the first stop going up.

Pillars of Hercules - New World Side.

Pillars of Hercules - Old World Side.

Inside the Caves of St. Michael










Angel in the Caves of St. Michael

View on the ride up to the top.

The highest point of the Rock of Gibraltar.

View of Tangiers, Morrocco.

Stairs to one of the highest points.

Our guide feeding the monkeys.

Posing with a monkey on his back.

Atlantic Ocean to the left of the runway.

Mediterranean Sea to the right of the runway.

Canon at the top of the Rock.


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