Year 5, Day 180 “Living the Dream”. Monday, 10/27/2025 – Day 21 of 30 day trip to Rome, Italy with a Mediterranean cruise and a transatlantic cruise back to Bayonne, NJ. Day 6 of 14 night transatlantic cruise on Odyssey of the Seas – Gibraltar, United Kingdom 7:30am – 4:30pm.
Gibraltar is a heavily fortified British air and naval base. It guards the Strait of Gibraltar. This is the only entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Todays excursion is Rock of Gibralter and upper Galleries. We left the ship at 11:45 and boarded a mini bus. There are 21 of us.
First place we headed was to Europa Point.
On the way I see a McDonalds. These fast food restaurants seem to be everywhere. Did you know there are over 37,000 McDonald’s locations in about 120 countries around the world. That is amazing to me. We pass through three rocky skinny tunnels that go through mountains on our way.
The Europa Point lighthouse is at the southernmost point of the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. This is at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. Today is not really clear but we can see Africa across the Strait of Gibraltar. This is the closest point between Africa and Europe. Here we are 8.7 miles from Africa.
After a short walk around, we get back on the mini bus. We head up to the top of the rock to St Michael’s Cave. We are eager to see the monkeys (Barbary macaques). These are the only wild monkeys in Europe. They are an endangered species, with a population of about 200–300 individuals living freely on the Rock of Gibraltar. The climb to the top of the hill is steeper and scarier than Santorini, Greece was. At the top it is very crowded with people, monkeys, and vehicles. There we enter the cave and walk through Stalactites and stalagmites which form a beautiful, cathedral-like interior. It was a very rushed walk. The monkeys were very active outside by this cave.
From there we headed to the Great Siege Tunnels. These tunnels are labeled as the most impressive defence system devised by man. We were given an hour to explore and look at the views of our ship and the airport below. Actually, I think we tested out Steve’s new stents. They seem to be working really well. It was a steep climb up and then down into the tunnel. Of course back up and back down to get back to the bus
We boarded the bus and headed back to the cruise port.
Look what we see at the port. It is a small world.
Back on the ship we had the best tasting Primavera pizza. Before our ship departed Gibraltar the captain made the announcement that our trip ports have changed due to Melissa. We will not be going to Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal on Thursday, October 30 2025. We are heading to Tenerife, Canary Islands. We will be there on Wednesday, October 29,2025 instead of at sea. Then six days at sea till we are in Bayonne, NJ. Clocks go back one hour tonight. Tomorrow we will be four hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time. Dolphins escorted us away from port.
Then a little evening Crown Lounge time
Cruise Compass Day 6 of 14 – Odyssey of the Seas – Gibraltar, United Kingdom 7:30am – 4:30pm
Things to ponder today! Have to leave you thinking.
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