After our three day gentle sail down to the Mediterranean we were at our first port of the cruise – Gibraltar. I was awake early so that I could get these views of Gibraltar. After three days we were looking forward to being on dryland.
Day 5: Tuesday 14th May 2024: Gibraltar
As Discovery manoeuvred to the dock we passed moored ships and large private yachts.
After breakfast we headed for the theatre to wait for our tour of the rock to begin. We followed the leader off the ship and out onto the quay before passing through the customs hall. Out on the other side, we turned right to a row of mini buses.
On our bus we had an ex Fleet Air man as our guide. He kept us entertained with both information and lots of very juicy commentary throughout the whole tour. We passed over the airport runway and around the base of the rock passing large piles of excavated rock from WW2.
Our first stop was at a small beach called Catalan Bay.
Next we went through the Dudley Ward tunnel.
Europa Point Lighthouse
After the tunnel we now in the South District. Our mini bus stopped in the car park and there we could see the King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Mosque. Our guide explained that when General Franco closed the border with Spain the only connections that Gibraltar had was with Morocco. Food and help came over the Straits and this mosque was bult to celebrate this help in time of dire need.
We all walked from the car park to the Europa Lighthouse.
This was a tourist hot spot too!
Windmill Hill Road
From the car park the mini bus climbed up the narrow Windmill Hill Road and then onto Old Queen’s Road.
I was lucky sitting on the left hand side I had fabulous views of the harbour below.
Old Queen’s Road
At this point our driver had to navigate the mini bus through a gate so narrow that I reckon there were less than inches either side – lots of manoeuvring to get lined up – wow great driving!
After the gate we had more views looking down onto the harbour.
The mini bus parked and we joined other tourists admiring the views.
We had been reminded again about Gibraltar’s Apes and how we should behave. The lay by was close to Apes Den – a place for tourists to look at the Barbary Macaques and we could immediately see apes in the trees.
We were close to where the cable car up the rock passed over the road.
As we passed under the cable car the Gibraltar fire brigade were at the pylon practising how to rescue passengers off the cable car.
Willis’s Road
Our next stop was on Willis’s Road close to the Military Heritage Centre.
That was our last stop on the tour. Once back into the town we had a tour around some of the sights. We opted to leave the mini bus by the Water Gate rather than be taken back to the ship. This was be a confusing public toilet…
We walked from the Water Gate up the pedestrian main street.
We stopped for a drink and to have a rest. The cafe offered “British Fish and Chips”,, we stuck to a glass of beer.
From my seat I practised slow shutter speed photography.
Walking back to the ship
Once through the water gate it is a straight road back to the ship.
Gibraltar has a new power station.
Spirit of Discovery
For the sail away the band was excellent.
I stayed out on the top deck looking out for dolphins but unfortunately no luck this visit.
My last views of Gibraltar as Spirit of Discovery moved out into the East bound sea lane and entered the Mediterraen.
Russian Navy ships
In the evening out on deck, I saw five ships going in the opposite direction hugging the coast.
See more of the ship’s images in this post.
Day 6: Wednesday 15th 2024: At sea
We had a late start on the next sea day.
We walked the decks and watched the Mediterranean pass by. At 3 pm I went to a another lecture on smartphone photography.
All in all a very lazy day at sea.
After dinner we went to the Britannia Lounge to listen to the house band (and do some dancing as well!)
The next day we would be calling at Toulon for our first ever visit to this large French Naval port.