Gibraltar

This proud nation may be small but the spirit of the locals is huge. A British territory sitting next to Spain with Morocco only a few mile across the sea, Gibraltar is a place well worth the visit.  Full of warm local, British quirks and Mediterranean weather. A unique mixture of Britain and the Mediterranean that you won't find anywhere else.

The Rock

The most famous landmark of Gibraltar, that greets you as soon as you land has a lot to offer. It would probably take most people a whole day to fully explore the whole Rock and would require some hiking to get to the top. However there are other options that allow you to see the main sites. These include a cable car (currently out of use until 2028), a taxi and guide and a shuttle bus. Some of the main sites that in my opinion are must see's at the rock are as follows. First up is the Pillars of Hercules. Here you can lean about the myth behind the name while looking out across the sea to both Spain and Morocco. Next up is a personal favourite. St Michaels cave. Here enjoy a 10 min long light show that really showcases the spectacular forms in the cave. You also may get your first encounters with the infamous Barbary Macquet's (the only place in Europe you will see wild monkeys). As you continue up you can walk on the skywalk to see the views from a completely new persecutive as you make your way to the Apes den (a feeding area for the monkeys). Just watch out as these monkeys as not shy around people and will go into bags and jump on heads. Further up the rock you will find the WW2 and Siege tunnels which really make Gibraltar's military history come alive. I personally didn't realise how many or how long these tunnels were until i was in them. In the WW2 tunnels there is also a unique view point through the rock over the city which is worth the effort to see. The other must see at the rock in my opinion is the Moorish castle that stands guard over the city. 

Dolphin safari

As well as the Rock this is a must do while in Gibraltar. I used Dolphin adventure. Who provided a lot of information about the dolphins we saw as well as explaining their behaviour. The dolphins can come up right close to the boat and there are many to see. Each time I saw one breaching the water it felt just as exciting as the first time. The tour was around 45mins long, but i could have easily spent much longer there. Dolphin adventure are keen on conserving these wonderful animals and the environment in which they are thriving. Some lucky people may also see turtles on there tours.

National day

10th September marks national day in Gibraltar. A day full of celebration and joy, as well as pride and an unwavering commitment to the local people. The day starts with a wholesome children's fancy dress contest. The as the main square fills with a sea of red and white (the national colours) several performances take centre stage. The is the main event of the day. A political rally. To be honest i wasn't sure about how i would feel about this as i was not a local. However it wasn't about pushing an agenda, but rather about showing a united nation, a proud nation and one that is determined to keep doing what is best for the people. This brought the first part of the celebrations to an end. This didn't mean the celebrations ended as there were many other  celebrations through out the day. Most notably a rock concert. Then the finally of the day was a firework and drone display that wouldn't be out of place along side New Year celebrations. Overall it is a passion filled day with fun and celebrations for all and well worth experiencing first hand.

Botanic Gardens and Europa Point

Other notable places to visit while in Gibralta are firstly Europa point. This is the most southernly point in Europe and marked my Trinity Lighthouse looking out across the sea. The sea that leads the way to Morocco, which you can clearly see. This is only a quick visit as there isn't must here. But worth it if you have the time. Next up in the beautiful botanic gardens, with it's array of stunning flora. It is a lovely way to spend an hour or so just walking around. There is also a wildlife sanctuary at the top of the gardens. Where all of it's residents are rescued or handed in to them. Here you can see Lemurs, monkeys, bats and more. It is small but a lovely family activity.