Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Hello Folks! Now that the Grand Voyages are over I'm finding I have some free time once again in which to edit photos! The list has piled up - so I think I'll just do random posts at this point. 

Gibraltar is truly an amazing place to visit. I've had the pleasure of being able to explore the rock twice now. The landscape of Gibraltar is incredible, it literally just juts out of the sea at the end of a little peninsula. The rest of the spanish landscape is relatively flat in comparison. The rock itself is about 430m above sea level and there are a number of ways to venture to the top. Cable car, taxi, or my favourite... hiking! 

There is a pathway to the top called the Mediterranean Steps - not sure how many steps there are, but it's definitely steep and quite the challenge. Brett (location guide) and I have hiked the steps twice now. As if it wasn't challenging enough the first time, when we hiked it the second time we put about 20-30 lbs of rocks in our backpacks for an extra challenge. 

Here are a few photos from my two days in Gibraltar. The summit is home to Barbary Apes and a number of seagulls who make their nests in the cliffs of the rock. 

East side of the rock and the Spanish landscape to the North

Tunnel to the Mediterranean Steps

Mr. Ape - giving me the eye 

Ape looking for insects - Snack time anyone? 

Seagull - ;) 

The Apes sleep in the weirdest positions. Hope he doesn't fall backwards!

View to the South - Coast of Africa is in the centre of the photo

View to the North - the runway is basically the border between Spain and Gibraltar

I spotted a cave above the road on the way down and of course we had to find out if it was just a cave or a tunnel left over from WWII - problem was our legs were so shaky from the hike up that it made scaling the rock quite a challenge. I took one step on the rock and my legs couldn't hold me so then Brett tried - made it most of the way up but didn't want to fall so he came back down. I had rested for a few mins and decided to make a second attempt - this time I got all the way up! It was only a cave :( 

Getting down was quite the challenge. But I made it, and didn't fall lol 

Brett 

Myself 

MADE IT!! - barely made it down lol 

Dr. Seuss built this fence... 

Some of the flora on the Rock 

Mr. Ron Perlman - Hell Boy 

Barbary Ape 

Barbary Ape

Barbary Ape

Hijacking the Taxi

Beware of Apes! 

Warnemunde, Germany

Warnemunde, Germany is a small town filled with tall ships and little German shops along the water. It was gorgeous and sunny again today so I grabbed my camera with my 85mm lens and wandered off to find interesting things to take photos of. My new inspiration lately is taking 'detail' photos of the ports we go to. There are so many typical touristy shots of the cathedrals, canals and local shops that I've decided to try to take up close shots around towns. Here are a few that I took in Warnemunde!



 

Across the main bridge to cross the canal into town there is a chain with locks attached. The idea is to write the name of you and your love on the lock, lock it to the chain, and throw the key into the canal or river below. Read all about Love Locks on wiki.

 

Love Locks - Warnemunde, Germany

As I wandered around town trying to find the post office, I stumbled upon this little fountain with a procession of tiny statues. Each figure is only about 8 inches tall. The sign and description were all in German, so needless to say I was not able to understand what the symbolism behind it were.

 

 

 

Entrance to the Harbour - Port Light House, Warnemunde, Germany

 

 

As I was practicing getting used to focusing with my manual 85mm lens I happened to take this shot of a seagull about to take flight.

Seagull - Warnemunde, Germany

 

 

Starboard Light House - Warnemunde, Germany

 

Detail of Rope - Warnemunde, Germany

 

 

Warnemunde Boat - Warnemunde, Germany

 

 

This was a really quaint town and I'm excited to go back there in a few weeks time and find more pictures!

 

Stay tuned for Tallinn, Estonia!