THE ROCK! Gibraltar Part 2

Of course no trip to Gibraltar would be complete without a walk up the Rock, well in our case a cable car up and a 5hr walk down!

The Rock is huge!  The cable car up reminded us of the home exchange we did in Cluses!  Everyday we would take a different cable car to Pique du Midi or some other place and walk and walk and walk and so it was today!

The Macaques were everywhere.  If a tourist mini-bus stopped for a moment, they were onto it!  Tourists who didn't take the warning signs seriously about keeping their bags safe were amazed at how quickly they could unzip them and steal their lunch!

Roger here ... O'Hara's Battery located on the highest point of the Rock surrounded by the Upper Reserve, was named after the Governor, Charles O'Hara in 1740 - 1802.  He was a flamboyant character who dressed well and was well known for lavish hospitality.  He never married but had two mistresses and four children.  He was replaced by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and the future father of Queen Victoria.

O'Hara built a watch tower at this point which became a gunnery position and the current museum represents it as it was in 1890.  I LOVED it,  but I think Julie preferred looking at the ocean and the seabirds. 

Julie here.  There is photo there of a Lister Engine... When we volunteered with National Parks we ran tours of Barrenjoey Lighthouse ... ALL of the men raved about the LISTER engine!

Oh and did you know there are 8km of road tunnels in the Rock... I didn't!

St Michael’s Cave was long believed to be bottomless. This probably gave birth to the story that the Rock of Gibraltar was linked to Africa by a subterranean passage under the Strait of Gibraltar.

I wasn't prepared for the sheet size and grandeur of the place.  These photos really don't do it justice.  Check out the video here.  I found the light show a bit overwhelming.  The stalactites and stalagmites were enough for me.

I would have loved to have heard a concert here!

Yes the history is all there in the names they chose. Walking down from the Rock we were more than relieved to see the Devil's Gap Path.  So much to see and do.... one day on the Rock really wasn't enough!

Trafalgar Cemetery occupies a small area outside Gibraltar city walls.  It was here that injured sailors from the Battle of Trafalgar (21 October, 1805) who died of their wounds were laid to rest.  

Captain Thomas Norman, Royal Marine Corps and HMS Mars aged 36 and Lieutenant William Forster HMS Colossus aged 20. Those killed in battle were buried at sea.  HMS Victory was towed to Rosia Bay (Gibraltar) and Nelson's remains were transported to England and buried in a crypt in St Paul's Cathedral.

A ceremony is held each year that commemorates those who died in the Battle of Trafalgar.  One gravestone outlined the poignant information that two sailors had died from the same shot! Amazing peaceful place.

Great to hear all the family news and to share the stories... Hopefully not such a long break next time!