Inconsiderate landings in the realm of the closed Sunday

 We are crossing into Gibraltar and so that means crossing the runway of the airport. This is a highly rated experience - 150 reviews and 4.8 stars. The overwhelming experience is - this is odd, what fun. Edward gave a star - though I hope I detect some self parody. ‘WAs late to my meeting as a plane HAD TO LAND, how inconsiderate of them. HOLIDAY FROM HELL’. He has 96 contributions of a somewhat eccentric, not always fully backed up with the full weight of evidence. I suppose freedom takes some people that way.


The first pub we come to is ‘The Lord Nelson’. https://lordnelson.gi/menu/ They serve ‘Our Famous The Full English’ for £9.75 and ‘Healthy avocado toast’ for £7.50. Four days ago Julia was most impressed - in German. ‘We had fish and chips here and it was so delicious! The fish was fantastic, as were the fries and the mushy peas. The service was excellent and friendly. We felt very comfortable and left satisfied. Very authentic with malt vinegar :)’


The place is crowded with buildings. My property expert suggests we may be able to get a studio flat without facilities but property is somewhat pricy.


On to the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned. For those of you who don’t want to be decently CofE. https://catholic.gi/.../the-cathedral-of-mary-the-crowned/ Bad news, at the time of writing, the 7.30am weekday service has been suspended three other opportunities exist through the day. Manolo gives some details. ‘The Cathedral of Gibraltar was originally a Marinid mosque built around 1342-1350 for the Muslim inhabitants of the Turba Al Hamra district of the City of Gibraltar.’
From god to mammon and nearby is M&S. It opens 9am to 7pm weekdays, 10am - 5pm Saturday and is closed on Sunday. Apparently they were open longer around Christmas and even allowed for trade on Sunday 21st. Tony was happy. ‘Quite a big store (mainly clothes). Food dept had a good Christmas section and fresh pastries etc, also many ready meals in the freezer section. Friendly staff.



I know what you are saying, but I need to make an Airfix Spitfire to make my life worthwhile is this little corner of Blighty. Have no fear, Modellers Den will oblige. Now, it is open 10-6 weekdays but only 10-2 on Saturdays. https://modellersden.myshopify.com/ According to the website the Mark 8 Spitfire is the best selling, followed by the Titanic, Messerschmitt Bf109G, Fokker Dr. 1 and then CH-47D Chinook. Andy was very happy. ‘This is an amazing hobby store. Brian, the owner, has pretty much everything you need to suit your model-making needs. Kits, paints, tools, and other accessories: he has it. And, he is super knowledgeable and friendly. If you are looking for a top-rate model shop, this is a must-see stop. And, his website is just as terrific. You will not be disappointed.’

Will will pass the Trafalgar Cemetery, which is what it suggests, although some sailors were bruised there as early as 1798. It is open 9 till 5 every day. Weaning Ping reports ‘Tucked between Gibraltar’s old fortifications and modern roads lies a quiet, triangular plot shaded by trees and steeped in history—Trafalgar Cemetery. But despite its name, this solemn ground is not the final resting place of many fallen from the famous 1805 naval clash. In fact, only two casualties from the Battle of Trafalgar—Captain Thomas Norman and Lieutenant William Forster—were ever buried here. The majority of the dead were lost to the sea, with Admiral Nelson himself honored in grand fashion far away at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.’


Slowly we are wandering out of the urban to the mostly urban - well, urban below us. The Garrison Gymnasium garners 3.9 stars. ‘Daniele noted ‘The Gibraltar Garrison Library, founded in 1793, is a historic institution and library housing a vast collection of books, including rare volumes and an excellent local history section. Established to address the lack of reading material for officers, the library also houses the archives of the Gibraltar Chronicle.’


We end short of the tip, on the Europa Road. Below us is the Prince George Battery. Gibraltar has - you won’t be surprised to know, many such places. It has a bit of an emplacement and some non- functioning guns of antiquity. Daniele [again] informs us ‘Prince George's Battery is an artillery battery in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. The battery is located on Europa Flats, just north of Eliott's Battery.’

Today was brought to you by 'Bugger!  We don't seem to have a post. Quick, grab the text and a few pictures from Facebook.


Tomorrow we get to the end of Europe.

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