Gibraltar and Algeciras

Algeciras is a busy industrial port and gateway to Africa and Gibraltar.  The city itself doesn’t have many grand tourist sites but has an interesting flavour of Spain and North Africa, especially near the waterfront.

The town square

The port of Algeciras with the Rock in the background

The ferries coming and going

Like most who pass through this city we were here to see Gibraltar and then catch the ferry to Morocco.  I was looking forward to seeing Gibraltar.  As a child I was always impressed with the massive rock used as a logo for Prudential Insurance Company in their sponsorship of various TV shows.  Plus Gibraltar features in so many of the old sailing stories of Barbary pirates and great strategic Naval manoeuvres.  

We took a 20 minute bus ride to the border, did some cursory passport checks then had to cross the airport runway to enter the town of Gibraltar.  Guards lower barriers when airplanes land but otherwise the runway is a busy pedestrian and vehicular thoroughfare.  The rock itself is quite impressive but the town is a duty-free tourist trap featuring ads for ‘the full English Breakfast’ ‘British Fish and Chips’ and cheap booze and smokes.

The town of Gibraltar

A bit of Britain in Spain

We decided to walk to the top of the rock.  It turned out to be a bit of a climb but worth it.  First we climbed the steep steps winding through the town then entered the Gibraltar Nature reserve (50 pence admission).  The area was dotted with historic sites, wonderful views, pretty bushland and of course the famous Barbary apes.  I expected to see ships of the British Navy stationed on the island but it looks like the whole area is devoted to commercial shipping and leisure yachts.

Barbary apes

The Rock

wild narcissus

reminder of the Rocks strategic importance

The old Moorish Fort

 Next stop Morocco in North Africa.

That's North Africa in the sunshine