Part of our reason for going to Southern Spain was because Davis HAD to go to Gibraltar. Some kids want a new toy, Davis wants Gibraltar. Some kids just ask, Davis creates an informational powerpoint complete with driving directions and fun historical facts (definitely knows his audience). Gibraltar is situated right smack on the coast of Southern Spain so it was easy to get to. It, being a part of the UK, is filled with English signs and English speakers...which have that same awesome Brittish accent, but how did that happen? and they used the Gibraltar Pound which shouldn't be confused for the English Pound. It has the same exchange rate, but you can't use the Gibraltar Pound in the UK (reminds me of the Canadian penny). It was the first time that the kids had traveled to anywhere that people spoke English and they were quick to point it out and love it.
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| First sighting of the ROCK of Gibraltar. Yep, looks like a rock that just somehow got plopped on the flat coast of Spain. How did it geologically end up there? |
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| Walking from Spain to the Rock. You have to go through Passport control to enter because it is another country. |
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| Just like in the UK |
Gibraltar is only 7 km. You can stand on a place called Europa Point and see where the Med meets the Atlantic. It is only 6 miles to the coast of Africa. We considered taking the trip, but we just didn't have enough time.
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| Africa |
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| It was windy and freezing at the point! I wrapped my scarf around my head for warmth, but it seemed to go with the Mosque in the back ground. |
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| A playground at the point |
When you go to Gibraltar- the Rock is where you go. There are all kinds of things in and on the honeycombed rock. WWII siege tunnels, nature preserve, case mates, Moorish castle, cave, exhibitions, etc. Lots of stuff, but each one comes with a fairly hefty price especially if you are paying for 7 people, in Pounds. We could have hired a taxi driver to be our tour guide to take us around for 28 pounds per person, we could have taken the cable car to to the top of the rock and then walked down, but it was windy and the cable car didn't run when it was windy, OR we could do it the "Fawcett way" and WALK. Darin is great at convincing the kids that the walk will be an adventure and if we were to do it any other way we'd miss most of the best parts. Everyone was begging to walk...I wasn't as convinced. Nobody walks up and down the mountain. We ran into 1 couple from Canada who did it, but that was it. We took the craziest bus ride ever down super SUPER narrow twisty streets and ended up near-ish the Moorish castle where we started our adventurous walk.
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| Moorish castle. He is sooo excited to be here. |
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| Siege tunnels. I can't remember how many km of tunnels are throughout the rock, I could just review my powerpoint, but we'll just say "lots." |
On the Upper Rock there is a nature preserve where there are wild Barbary Macaques (monkeys) running around. My kids were so excited to see the monkeys, hold the monkeys, feed the monkeys. Honestly they talked about it constantly. Darin and I were not so sure that it was a good idea to feed and hold monkeys, but the kids plotted about how they were going to sneak a banana to them. There are lots of signs as you start to get close to the preserve area about not feeding monkeys and not taking food in. I was carrying the bag of our snacks and leftover lunch and I wasn't happy about it.
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| notice the teeth! |
After a bit of a walk we run into our Canadian friends on their way down and they inform us that we are almost to our first monkey. Hurray.
I didn't want the boys to get too close to the monkeys that were lounging all around this area. We'd heard that the monkeys could be aggressive, but when I accidentally dropped a bag and instantly had monkey "friends" right on me...well, I was done with monkeys! I quickly threw any open package of food away (why am I holding the food bag?!) and became freaked out for the rest of the time. We started our trek! up 5 billion stairs straight UP the mountain. Seriously, straight up 5 billion stairs. Darin carried Anya, Christian carried the stroller, and up we walked in a single file line. About the point when the legs are starting to turn to jello we notice that we've got a stalker. Monkey is following a bit too close. I make Christian carry the food, and I make Darin walk behind me, while I carry the stroller like a weapon. Anya is look out, telling us whenever the monkey stops so that we can take a little breather. I didn't think my old legs could walk another hurried step when we finally reached (oh, hurray) the ape's den. Here we came upon a few other people and plenty of monkeys.
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| Little bit nervous |
We watched a lady trying to touch a monkey. She fed him a little something, then she touched his hand, then she went to touch his head and SMACK he hit her in the face. She stood up and the monkey jumped on her and tried to get into her pockets. When she wouldn't move her hand he bit it. That cured the boys from wanting to touch or feed a monkey.
A car started to drive up to the top and two monkeys quickly jumped on and wouldn't get off. With fewer people around, we realized that maybe the monkeys were a little more aggressive than we originally thought. The fact that our "stalker" was still trailing us took some of the fun out of this. We didn't take many pictures for fear that taking the camera out would draw unnecessary attention to us. As we walked up a path laughing at the monkeys, we were quickly attacked. First, a monkey turned the corner and came face to face with us. Then about a millisecond later it spotted Christian holding a bag and attacked. Christian put up a good fight while Darin yelled, "Drop it, drop it." Once the bag had been dropped, the monkey took a bag of chips and ran off. A second monkey launched itself over a bush and grabbed the bread as well as the bag. Darin started kicking at the monkeys and gave it a great fight for the bag. We reclaimed our bag and quickly hurried to what we thought was a safe area. I wanted to toss the bag into the trash, but there were still a few items that the monkeys hadn't gotten. Darin then says the smartest thing to ever come out of his mouth, "Who wants a banana?" Jag and Christian, who haven't been traumatized enough, quickly reply "ME." DUH!
Jag opens his banana and then, while 20 feet above our attackers, says "want a banana?" The answer was Yes in case anyone was wondering. The monkey didn't take the stairs and then politely ask for a taste as Jag thought he would. Jumped straight up the wall and demanded the banana. Darin yells, "Throw it!" Jag panics and tosses it straight at... his feet. Monkey gangster pops it into his mouth in one bite. Then points at the banana in Christian's pocket and demands it, at which point Christian gives it a massive throw straight to his feet. Monkey takes both and everyone runs into the nearest building for safety.
Monkeys then get us separated and chase us for a bit while everyone has declared that we never want to see another monkey again. Ever. When possible we join up together and quickly try to retrace our steps down the 5 billion stairs without being attacked again. We all have the sewing machine legs going when we get down the hill and start back down the trail constantly on the lookout for any monkeys who may jump out and grab us.
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| Safe at last! Here we eat the one pack of cookies the monkeys didn't get and laugh about the experience. |
A trip we will never forget! The
Griswolds Fawcetts always take the more adventurous cheaper path less traveled. No wonder it is the path less traveled. There will probably be therapy in the future for at least one of the kids. Wouldn't be a great vacation without lasting family memories.
