highlights from Spain day 4

This post could also have been titled, The Journey Down 1000 Steps...

Our rental van arrived on Tuesday morning and we were out the door for a day trip to Gibraltar.  Nic is our designated driver and did a wonderful job getting us to our destination.  People don't really follow traffic laws here in Spain...



Gibraltar.  See that highest point?  That was our destination.



After a quick bathroom break...and an impromptu snack.  Mom was not pleased.  There are sights to be seen folks!



After being stopped by no less than four "swindlers" trying to get us to buy personal tours of the island (these people were smart and dressed in either army uniforms or "Bureau of Tourism" outfits) we finally made it to downtown and purchased tickets for the ski lift (having a brain lapse at the moment, there is a different name for this)  - a quick steep way to get to the top of the island.



On the way up and right after we departed our lift, we were warned not to feed the apes, or they will bite you.



Of course we shared the ride up with a dumb man who began feeding them right away.  We were scared and tried to create some distance between us.  The apes seriously swarmed him once they knew had had food.









Beautiful views!  In the background here you can see Spain (on the right) and Africa (on the left) as well as the Mediterranean Sean (right) and Atlantic Ocean (left).







Baby apes!









After taking in the sights, we embarked on a 2.2k walk to see the Great Siege Tunnels.  This walk was a walk to remember.  Not sure of where we were going (me) and Nic who clearly knew we were heading the right way, combined with Grandma, Grandpa and gimpy Mom - it was the slowest 2.2k of my life.





Much to Nic's delight (who was honorable and didn't rub it in my face that he was right) we made it to the tunnels.  However, Roger learned that there was still at half mile hike to the entrance from the parking lot, followed by a 45 minute tour of the islands.  Roger took a quick tour while the rest of us hung out and saw some other sites.













And then came the "10 to 15 minute" walk into town.  Sure.  I was certain we were going to end up on the side of the road with an injured family member within minutes.  The walk was steep and long, until we came to town.  And then it got steeper as we learned from a local that we would have to descend a gazillion million steps to get to the main road - no way around it.

So we walked and walked and walked...



And made it!  And stopped at the first restaurant we found.  Surprisingly, everyone knew our names! hardy har har.





Beer. YUM.  A subpar meal (in my mind) that tasted AMAZING!



We then found the main street that was full of duty free shops (we were in Great Britain, you know)



The walk back to the car we reflected on our journey.  I am quite proud that Grandma and Grandpa survived the day! :)



But it didn't take long for all that walking to catch up to them...



Nic and I dropped everyone off at the condo and headed to the grocery store.  We came home with a ton of produce and made some roasted veggies, chicken and toasted bread for dinner.  This photo makes my mouth water.  I.heart.veggies.



Nic and I concluded the night with a quick walk along the beach (which ended too soon as my mind began to wander towards a crazy man jumping out of the brush...) followed by a few episodes of CSI with Maddie.