Gibraltar is an English territory famous for a large rock (Rock of Gibraltar) and guarding the gateway to the Mediterranean (Strait of Gibraltar) after leaving the Atlantic Ocean. The country borders on Spain by way of an isthmus. It would have made more sense to be Spanish but the people voted unanimously to be British.

We joined four other cruisers in a vehicle tour. No sooner were we in the vehicle and we were out. The stop was at the airport. What is novel about this airport is that people walk across the runway. Many Spanish walk across the border to work in Gibraltar and return home each day. Rent is much cheaper in Spain. The airport has 5 planes a day. So the runway walkthrough is closed each time a plane lands or takes off. We walked across the runway and I think I set the sirens off by not staying on the designated walkway! The airport is the 5th most dangerous in the world. Funnily enough that’s not due to pedestrians but cross winds. The planes aren’t allowed to cross into Spanish airspace so need to make a tricky turn on takeoff and landing. Add the cross winds bouncing off the rock into this and it may become a bumpy ride or result in being diverted after 2 failed landing attempts. This happens often!

Our guide was quite detailed as we drove through the town and started winding up the rock. Living here as a resident sounds quite beneficial. There are housing benefits, free University, free public health and free public transport. Hmmmm….

St Michael’s Cave was the next stop. This huge cave was fitted out as a hospital during the 2nd World War but is now used for concerts and the tourist experience. We were entertained by an immersive sound and lighting show. The acoustics were sensational probably due to the cave winding down 700 feet.

Onwards and upwards and we were on the highest point of the Rock of Gibraltar – 426 metres above sea level. From here we could see all the way to Morocco in Northern Africa. Just in this view we could see the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar, Spain and North Africa!

As we moved along the narrow road, our guide was telling us about the scenes filmed up here for the James Bond movie “The Living Daylights”. He was highlighting the scene where the jeep went over the edge. I sensed that everyone gripped a bit tighter and white knuckles were appearing!

Also up here was O’Haras Battery. Built into tunnels, a series of guns used in World War Two and protected the straight up to 1976. These guns had the range and ability to fire to the other side of the straight.

Just when I thought all my height fear adventure had finished for the day, we arrive at a glass skywalk! I thought I handled it ok but that was probably due to the Macaque monkeys that were up here taking my mind off the death defying fall. We were under strict orders not to touch the monkeys and had removed our sunglasses, hats etc.

While we were up here there were more tunnels to be discovered. These had been dug out very labour intensively between 1779 and 1783 and cannons had been strategically placed. There were 33 miles of tunnels in this rabbit warren but we managed to find our way out.

Our guide dropped us back at the market square so we could window shop and walk back to the ship. Much of the flat area of Gibraltar is reclaimed land. I found it amusing that the larger rocks for this landfill come from Spain. There seems to be a little bit of tension between Spain and this British territory but a $ is a $.