The Rock of Gibraltar is one of those legendary places we learnt about at school.  For a kid growing up in New Zealand it was always somewhere that captured the imagination, lying as it does where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, and where only twelve miles of sea separates Africa from Europe.      So it was with great delight that we headed ashore to visit this famed place.  As you will see from my photos Gibraltar really is a rock.  A very big, and very steep rock.  The main town sits in the lower area of the rock; and the upper region is essentially a national park.    The local population is a relatively small 35,000 – and is a mix of races and creeds.  The largest population is made up of Jews, followed by Moroccans (Muslims), Hindus and then Christians – predominantly British.  Gibraltar is actually attached to the Spanish mainland, and the border is just to the north of the main rock region – this area is intersected by the Gibraltar airport, which interestingly has a main road running right across the runway – complete with a pedestrian footpath as well.  Needless to say the road is closed when flights need to land and take off.     By all accounts the Gibraltarian economy is very strong – due in large part to its tax haven status, especially for a number of global online gambling entities.   Unemployment is something like 0.002%.  Of course there is the menace of Spain wanting to take the Rock back from the British, but none of the locals’view this as a major likelihood – at least in the foreseeable future.    When we disembarked 0;we banded together with two other couples and hired a minibus/ taxi and driver-come-guide.  He gave us a potted history of Gibraltar and drove us around the various sightseeing highlights.  Most of which were in the upper region of the rock on the way towards the summit – where the famous Barbary apes (they’re actually monkeys) live. On the ascent we stopped at a couple of places including St. Michael’s Cave which is a stunning natural cavern thought to be bottomless, and according to legend linking the Rock of Gibraltar to the Continent of Africa via an under-sea passage.  The cave has been used since Roman times for various things including as a hospital in the second World War.  Nowadays it’s used as a concert and premier event venue.     The day we were there, they were setting up for a dinner of the heads of the EU.  The space is spectacular – the stalactite and stalagmite formations are sublime; made even more so by continuously changing coloured lights used to illuminate the main cave areas and grottoes.  Take a look at the photos I’ve posted and you will see what I mean.    For sheer fun value the highlight of a visit to Gibraltar has to be the Barbary Macaques (monkeys).  They live at the top of the rock, and bring new meaning to the word mischievous.  They are protected of course, and are revered by the locals.  Their population is controlled by medical castration.   The British military take care of them – and feed them daily.  Each monkey is individually named and known by the authorities.  Their names include typically English tags like Patrick, James, Mary, Susan, Ian and Mathew.     Despite being regularly fed and looked after, the monkeys are chronic foragers of food.  They don’t miss a trick in swooping on tourists who they suspect might be carrying something they can eat.    There is one monkey nicknamed the ‘Blonde One’ who has learnt to open car doors.  She jumped on our taxi and did exactly that.  But our driver was able to stop her before she got inside.  Not to be outdone one of her mates leapt through the open window of the minibus behind ours – that happened to be full of Russian tourists.  It was priceless watching them all screaming and waving their arms about as this monkey danced amongst them and emerged triumphant out the other side of the vehicle clutching a huge green apple!    The main old town has a charming large village-like atmosphere.  The buildings date from the 18-19th century, and are built on quaint cobblestone streets and alleys.  We had dinner in a pucker-gen old English pub called the Angry Friar.  A welcome respite from ship food!   For such a small place Gibraltar punches well above its weight in terms of sights, history and interest. A magnificent visit.   And that pretty well wrapped up our brief stop in Gibraltar.  A thoroughly enjoyable, interesting and fulfilling time … and of course, another tick to the bucket list.