Gibraltar is a British enclave surrounded by Spain and the future for this last English Crown colony is an ongoing issue between England and Spain. Remember that Spain also keeps two small enclaves on the coast of Morocco!
Gibraltar was first a stronghold for the Moors and beginning in in 1502, for about 200 years it was a part of Spain. It became British in 1703 after the treaty in Utrecht. Gibraltar has a long history as a major port for the Royal Navy. and it was here that Lord Nelson was brought ashore after the Battle of Trafalgar.
During World War II, Gibraltar was of great importance for the British in supplying forces in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
As you arrive you immediately recognize that you are in Britain: the police uniforms, universal use of English, the use of pound sterling. but you will find one great difference. This is the only place in the United Kingdom where you drive on the right hand side of the road. It is probably a good adaptation because of all tourists coming from the Spanish Costa del Sol, to spend money in the shops.
At 11 o'clock some of us had the opportunity to attend a commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar. We visited Europe Point, up on the Rock, to enter the cave and see the Barbary monkeys. We ended at the museum. The Rock is similar to a piece of Swiss cheese with all of the tunnels -- not to mention the military installations and the museum that is displayed in one of these many tunnels.
By afternoon we left, sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar and also left the Mediterranean behind. Suddenly we started to see marine life such as dolphins and sea birds again. We also felt a different type of swell, the long Atlantic swell. We are back in the ocean again!
