This morning we got up and enjoyed some breakfast – but not before being very much out of it because of a one hour time change between Portugal and Gibraltar. For some reason that really threw off our bodies clocks.
Anyway, after breakfast I packed my stuff up and Chris and I took his suitcase and all my stuff (except the candy) to the car because he was dropping me off again at the Gibraltar Nature Park so I could do some more exploring.
While it should be known Gibraltar is SMALL, like less than 3 square miles small. However, there are so many tiny little streets and one ways, one COULD get lost in town. At least getting lost wouldnt last toooooo long. Ive had to do a few roundabouts a couple times because Ive exited the wrong link or couldnt figure out the right one to take.
Anyway, Chris drove me to the park so I could take the gondola (Cable Car) to the top and check out some more of things we didnt get to see yesterday. He wasnt as excited about the park again, so he went back to the hotel to finish packing and hang out by the pool.
I was very excited for the cable car ride to the top – the sky was already more clear than yesterday so I could actually see the Spanish peninsula. I was one of the first people to the top today, which was great and not so great. It was nice since it wasnt busy and no one would be in my way, but not so nice because the monkey’s hadnt seen enough people yet today…..
I got my “top of the rock” pictures from their glass observation deck and then made my way to Ohara’s Battery. As soon as I walked out of the observation area I noticed a few monkeys hanging out on the ledge. I got my camera out to take a picture of him and he started following me, I thought it was cute so I recorded him and then BOOM he pounced on me. Thankfully after watching them do this yesterday to people I stayed calm, but then I couldnt figure out what he was doing – he was OPENING MY BACKPACK!! I yelled “Hey!” and he jumped off and with that the bite guard case and bite guard went flying. I was trying to be so good and bring it with me for my walking around – and now 5 minutes in and I am no longer willing to stick it in my mouth!
After the monkey so rudely started my day in the park I continued on. I climbed up some steps to an old military camp and checked it out. I continued on towards Ohara’s Battery. At the entrance to this area there was a sign that talked about the Mediterranean steps. I thought “oh more steps!” The information said it was 1.5-2 hours and 1.5Kms. I thought they meant round trip…Either way I decided to check out the battery first. They still have the equipment in place, its pretty crazy to think that they managed to get the equipment up the rock in the first place. the size of the equipment versus all the turns and things on the paths – it wouldnt have been easy.
I got some good views of what should normally be the view of Africa, but since it was cloudy, I had a view of clouds. Either way it was a nice view!
After walking around there for a bit I decided to try the steps. A family was coming back (or so I thought) from their hike right when I walked to the top. They kept saying “the end is the worst, it was hard.” I figured, well sure, we are on a rock. What I didnt realize is they had walked UP the rock, I was walking down (and then assumed back up). The hike down was NOT very easy. It ended up taking me over an hour – but what a cool hike and what views!!
My service was spotty most of the way, but Chris was able to come and get me at the bottom when I got there, so it all worked out perfectly! Since we had checked out of the hotel and I had finished on the rock, all that was left (on my list, he didnt have a list) was to WALK across the runway that I had driven across yesterday. We parked the car in the car park and headed to the crossing.
I had learned that I wasnt going to be lucky and see a plane take off and traffic get stopped because the planes had taken off already and wouldnt again for over 3 hours. So we decided to cross anyway and just come right back. As we were crossing a military plane was warming up, but I thought nothing of it. We got across the runway and saw a large grocery store so we decided to head in for some of our favorite candies and to check for Gatorade (its been very hard to find!)
We got lots of candy (duh!) and I got blood orange juice! We then headed back outside. Traffic was stopped and I couldnt figure it out, then I heard it, the military plane. I ran across the street since there were less people and watched it take off! It was amazing!! To be so close, having just walked across that runway, just fascinating!
I couldnt figure out why they werent opening the gates for everyone and then I saw an EasyJet plane coming down the runway to take off, the planes had all been delayed!! Thanks to those clouds I saw earlier! I got to see a SECOND plane take off! They opened the gates for vehicles only after that plane. And about 2 minutes later another EasyJet plane was coming down the runway – a third and final plane we would get to see!! It just disappeared into the clouds immediately after take off!
They opened the road and we crossed back over, after a WONDERFUL day of checking off all my things on the list!! We got back in the car and headed across the runway to head to Ronda, Spain.
Customs and Border patrol was easy. No stamps, no stopping. The drive to Ronda was an hour and 45 minutes. Chris was driving this time so he could enjoy all the experiences too! It was a toll road we took and I think we ended up paying for 5 tolls when we only needed 3 – but we couldnt figure it out!
The drive to Ronda was crazy – wayyyyy up in the mountains, windy roads and slow speeds! But it was so pretty! The drive was cool, but the reason we drove this way was to see the town. The car rental guy told me about this town and that we should go visit cuz it reminded him of Game of Thrones (means nothing to me) and Lord of the Rings (also means nothing to me, but Chris knew it). We managed to find parking and get the pictures we wanted of this little town and its bridge.
We tried to find some gelato and failed, so just got back in the car and headed out of town onto Evora, our stop for tonight. We were in and out so quickly we got FREE parking!
Our drive to Evora was almost 5 hours. I had almost all highway driving and was just so bored. Chris had such a pretty view for his time driving, my turn was like driving down I-5 AGAIN! We stopped a couple times and then we decided to switch. The moment we switched we went back to some back roads before hitting the highway again, he always gets the cool driving! We did see a fire in the distance AND a castle on a hill, so I played Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill.” I think Chris is glad there havent been more castles!
Our hotel tonight is an old convent. We arrived and found a spot to park in while we checked in. It is in a little square next to the Roman ruins and a church. Its just crazy how historical things can be! The convent has some old artwork and things in the halls, but the building is neat the rooms are fine. We have a double bed tonight and a “cell” for a room. Buts it clean and nice!
We went out to find dinner around 845- turns out not many places are open tonight (weird) and if they are they are packed, so dinner was 2 scoops of gelato. But Im not complaining!
Tomorrow we are headed to another bone church then off to Porto! Think Port wine!
Normal Travel Girl 
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