7/8/2012 - Adios Gibraltar

Dear Readers,

Really, all I have to say is… WOW!  Gibraltar was an incredible first port, let alone my first port outside of the U.S.  The weather was perfect, and everyone was so friendly.  You can imagine what it was like for me to approach the "Pillars of Hercules" after being at sea for 10 days!  Even if the Pillars were considered in mythology to be a substantial landmark into the “unknown” west of the Mediterranean, the Rock of Gibraltar, its culture, and inhabitants welcomed your cadets from the EMPIRE STATE VI with nothing but open arms!

These last few days have been jam-packed with tours, excursions, excitement, and adventure.  There were hundreds of things for the cadets and crew to participate in and a hundred more combinations within those options.  Keep in mind Gibraltar is all of four square miles, so everything is walkable and everyone local seems to know each other.  For your librarian, the first day in port included scaling the great Rock (about 420m limestone wall), viewing Morocco from a distance (it was a beautifully clear day!), meeting a few of the apes that still inhabit the rock, and climbing back down the eastern side via the Mediterranean Steps which, as their name suggests, grants unimpeded views of the Mediterranean.  Cadets and crew who had more of a time crunch opted to take the cable car up then walk down, which also allowed them to see the sights of the Great Siege and WWII tunnels which criss-cross the Rock still, St. Michael’s Cave and Grotto, Fortifications, Moorish Castle, and, of course, more apes.

The downtown area of Gibraltar has a great number of souvenir shops, British and Spanish eateries, cathedrals, a movie theater, historic homes, architecture, and museums.  We all got our first tastes of British cuisine – a great way to prepare for Liverpool in a few weeks – with an abundance of fish and chips, steak and kidney pies, toasties, jacket potatoes, ploughman’s plates, and (for the not so adventurous) pizza and hamburgers.

The second day in port brought additional tours of the Rock, town, and beyond.  Our pier at the British Naval Yard was about a 30 minute walk to the local beaches, which did not deter many.  Local buses were also available for a pound or so, which some of the braver cadets opted to take.  The weather was perfect for the Mediterranean beaches on the far side of Gibraltar – about 80 degrees and a light breeze made it all the more relaxing.  The water, however, remained a brisk 60 degrees on the Mediterranean side, which encouraged only a few swimmers to enjoy.

On the third day cadets  visited Morocco on a guided tour, which was well attended (I didn't go myself) and enjoyed by many.  The tour’s stops included a camel ride, visit to a souk (market), lunch of traditional Moroccan cuisine, and a Persian rug show. 

There’s really so much I could write about Gibraltar, I could go on for pages…  I went to a lot of dinners of shore with the officers, whether it was the Engineers on Thursday or Deckies on Friday, I even met some members of the RAF with a friend of mine.  It’s tricky – the downtown area will stay open Monday-Friday, then shut down by 8p.m. on Saturday. 

STCW training starts today (Sunday - damage control, etc).  I’ll write more about that in the next post.  It’s been a busy few days, but each piece of every activity has fallen into place with the travel, cultural, and training missions of this cruise.

After Gibraltar, Liverpool has big shoes to fill!  We departed the Rock a little behind schedule after bunkering (taking on fuel), and starting two days of safety trainings.  We’re all trying to get back into our routines; most of all, the new tradition which has caught fire of sending warm wishes home.  Tonight, Cadet Nick Bowling would like to say “I love you” to a very special Ms. Karen Valanti. 

(Also, another personal note… a very happy birthday to my dad, who always reads this every day!)

--Liz--