As Strong as...

The Rock of Gibraltar! Yes, today I am in the town of Gibraltar, known as Gib to the locals. The rock rises out of the ground to a height of about 420 meters, I believe it was, maybe a different measurement. Finally I got a good picture which is nice, the last time my pic of THE ROCK had a crane in it, but this time I saw it from a different angle.

I went to Spain! First you drive through town and then cross the runway, they make sure no planes are crossing, and then walk through customs and get back on the bus on the other side. Andalucia was gorgeous! We drove a while in the countryside and then passed a bull ring and made a turn and before we knew it we were at a beautiful home which is a cork and cattle farm. The beautiful home is the farm! The family house is way up on the hill. Cork is very interesting. This is a forest that is all natural and goes from Spain to Portugal. The trees have to be 9 years old and then you strip the bark and then nine years later you peel the cork off and then the process starts again. It is cork when it comes off the tree, no processing necessary. We had lots of explanations and some tapas and then headed back to Gibraltar. I spent some time in the village and had lunch, the recommended fish and chips at the recommended restuarant, Ray's. Delicious! Possibly better than any I have had in England. The fries were different and wonderful too.

Now I'm back on board an hour before the deadline and I am exhausted and glad there wasn't a lot of walking today. Tomorrow in Lisboa will be a ride in the Portuguese countryside so I should be fine there too and then we have two sea days. I contemplated staying off the ship and visiting Lisbon for a couple of days and then meeting the ship in Glasgow, but I couldn't get in touch with Cesar so that isn't a smart plan to make alone. Sea days are nice and relaxing, but time in the Portuguese countryside would be nicer.

Today there is an art history lesson, all you ever wanted to know in one hour, worth it so I'm going to see how it is. Hope it is more interesting than the talk on Portugal yesterday, that was a very dry, boring presentation. I hear them and think I could do much better. Maybe, but maybe not.

I think I've made a decision to become a travel agent. Just to do things part time and I will specialize in cruise vacations. Met just the right people this trip to convince me it is possible and possibly profitable too. Can't hurt to add it to my list of travel services!! By my next cruise whenever it may be, maybe I will be getting the commission for my trip!

And on that note I am off to find ice cold water and take a nap.

Cheerio from British Gibraltar!