Med sea - new adventures await

We checked out our Marine traffic Vessel link from blog tab "where we are" and discovered below photos on the link. We were stunned as we had no intention to upload boat pictures there. We googled the guy who took the pictures. He is a young Portuguese hobby photographer who decided to load the pictures onto Marine traffic under Kwilena! I did ask him to send them to us which he kindly did.

We were preparing to anchor. We changed the anchor spot twice in this bay.

We made it - We have arrived in Gibraltar!

We have now left the Atlantic Sea and have entered the Mediterranean.

The entry rules for Gibraltar at the time of writing were: Covid test required when arriving by plane but not needed if you walk across the boarder (which is just across the airport landing strip – more on this later). If you, however, arrive by boat and have not been in Spain for 14 days prior arrival into Gibraltar you need to go into a “boat quarantine” for 5 days and organise officials to come and test you on day 1 and day 5 (cost would have been approx Euro 700.- for both of us).

Gibraltar has finished their Covid vaccination program for their 33,000+ population and masks are no longer required (except when entering shops).

We also had to fill out a Custom Vessel pre-arrival notification online before our arrival.

This was the first time we raised the yellow flag. The plain yellow flag (“Q” in international maritime signal flags), is probably a symbol for its initial use in “quarantine”. This flag in modern times indicates the opposite, a ship that declares itself free of quarantinable disease, and requests boarding and inspection by Port State.

I (Caroline) was concerned about the Strait of Gibraltar. Over 100,000 commercial ships transit through Gibraltar every year with more than 300 a day transporting heavy cargo. Our boat Navionics system did show that it was very busy. Have a look at the fenders on some of these boats…. Check out the car (picture on the left) which is parked next to one and how small they look against a big cargo ship (picture in the middle). These huge Vessels would not even feel if they hit us.

However since small boats do not have to go into the shipping lane it was really straight forward for us. We were one of the few boats cruising along the coast outside the channel. We were also lucky with the weather and did not have any surprises of changing sea, strong currents or heavy fog.

We crossed the bay once only to go into our Marina at a good moment (most boats were on anchor there but there were a few huge ships moving much faster than us). Sven was calm, Carolines heart beat faster for both of us. You can see Marina breaking walls below (Marina not visible).

One of Svens concerns is and has always been the migrant ships we could encounter along our journey and we discussed what we would do. In 2020 at least 2,170 migrants died at sea trying to reach Spain).

The Rock of Gibraltar (426m high limestone ridge) was first settled by the Moors in the Middle Ages and later ruled by Spain, the outpost was ceded to the British in 1713. Layers of fortifications include the remains of a 14th-century Moorish Castle and the 18th century Great Siege Tunnels, which were expanded in WWII.

We walked up the Rock of Gibraltar the more complicated way which was away from the road (the guard told us he would not do it if he got paid for it and that the way was unofficially called the hard attack track) . To be honest it was completely exaggerated and glad that we took that path up. The scenery was great and it was the road less travelled.

And of course there are the monkeys. Originally from the Atlas Mountains and the Rif Mountains of Morocco, the Barbary macaque population in Gibraltar is the only wild monkey population on the European continent.! Although most Barbary monkey populations in Africa are experiencing decline due to hunting and deforestation, the Gibraltar population is increasing. Currently, some 300 animals in five troops occupy the Upper Rock area of the Gibraltar Nature Reserve. As they are a tailless species, they are also known locally as Barbary apes or rock apes, despite being classified as monkeys

Love below pic. This was just happening at the ticket office when we arrived (cheeky money jumped in front of us!). The plate on the right reads: "You must be in a possession of a Nature Reserve ticket beyond this point" and the guy just sold an entry ticket to the monkey 🙂.

Love the face of below baby monkey. It looks like he is shy and smiling just for our iphone camera

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The Monkeys are used to the people here. But as many monkeys in the wild they love to steal things and you really have to watch out. We saw a lady who lost her bag and the monkeys ate/shared whatever pills she had in there! We also saw some jumping on peoples back.

A monkey getting a taxi ride!

Once we arrived at the top we had lunch. On the left you can see 3 monkeys glued to the window watching people eat. Below restaurant with 360 degree views.

Apart from the landscape in the nature reserve, the fantastic views across to Africa incl. other islands and the lovely monkeys there were many other historical sites to visit on the rock. 100 Ton Gun, Europa Point., The Pillars of Hercules, St Michaels Cave, O' Hara's Battery, Top of the Rock (upper Apes Den), The Great Siege Tunnels, The Moorish Castle. Just a couple of photos. We saw it all and were exhausted at the end of a long day.

Left on pic below is the St. Michael's Cave. The largest of the island's more than 150 caves and is 274 meters above sea level with stalactites and stalagmites. On the right the tunnels animated with solders etc.

In Australia we are used to see Kangaroos, Koala, Croc signs. Here some different signs we spotted in Gibraltar.

Below: going out for dinner by boat and parking right in front of the restaurant. This was something new for us and we asked the waiter to take a pic. Enjoying our Mojito before dinner.

Gibraltar is considered one of the most dangerous airports in Europe. The only way to enter Gibraltar by land is by crossing the road across the runway, When a plane lands or takes off, the road has to be closed and cars have to wait at the red light. Felt really strange for us to walk across a commercial landing strip when crossing a boarder.

Lunch next to Gibraltar Rock on Spanish side (we walked across to the Spanish side)

Lovely laneway on Spanish side.

We were lucky as there were very few tourists here. However the last few days started to become a little crowded. We have been in Gibraltar for 2 weeks and have managed to do everything we had planned. The solar panels (and Sven's effort to design something different) were installed and look great.. We will post a picture of it next time.

We are very keen to keep going and will depart tomorrow morning. Our plan now is to follow the coast along Spain in Mediterranean sea.

Being far a way from home we really do enjoy comments from family and friends. So please don't be shy.

More from us again soon.