Gibraltar

February 24^th, 2025

Some times when you need a sea day, they just don’t give you one.

Today we are in Gibraltar. Back in Europe again, we are gradually leaving Africa behind.

Nick had tried to plan a special treat for the Grand Voyage folks. We would watch us sail into Gibraltar in the early morning from deck 6 at the front of the ship. We could come in our Seabourn robes and be fortified by mimosas.

Well I wasn’t too sure about the robe bit – the robes are meant to be  one size fits all, but of course they are way too big for me, and a little small for Brian, and anyway, I just wouldn’t feel right wandering around the ship in a robe. However, there are things I would do for a mimosa, so this was going to be one of them.

Then Nick’s plans changed. I don’t know if it was because we were due to arrive in Gibraltar at 10:00 so a sunrise sail in wasn’t going to happen, or whether it was freezing cold and blowing a gale out on deck, but the timing and the venue were changed.

Now it was still a “Mimosa and Sunrise Sail in” but it was in the Observation Bar at 8:45, and all  the guests were invited. Also, there was no mention of robes. Phew!

It turned out to be a fun event – the mimosas and bloody Marys were flowing and we were all dressed for the weather. The hardy souls went out on the deck in front of the Observation Bar to watch us go by the Rock, but the rest of us socialized and observed the event from the windows of the bar, much better.

We have been to Gibraltar many times before, so we thought we would take it easy today and walk in to town for a pub lunch. All of the wonderful food on the Sojourn has been a real treat, but sometimes a plate of scampi and chips and a pint of Strongbow cider are what you really crave.

After going ashore we met the captain returning to the ship overladen with shopping bags. It was a strange sight to see – there he was with his shopping bags from Morrisons looking just like any other passenger or crew member. He explained that he had to stock up with snacks and other necessities, and he loved Morrisons. Well, of course the captain is just like anyone else and needs to stock up on goodies, it just was a little  incongruous. He seemed to be very chuffed with his purchases as he hastened back to his ship.

We headed in the other direction. It is a fairly easy walk from the port to the downtown area.

On our way we passed an interesting looking restaurant serving Flame Grill and Indian Tex Mex. That’s an unusual combination. If I hadn’t been hankering after my Strongbow and scampi we might have given it a try. Well maybe next time.

Gibraltar is always interesting as it tends to look just like any other Spanish city.

But there is also a very definite British feel to it, with red double decker buses, signs that look like they have come straight out of London Transport, and Belisha Beacons.

The pub we were headed for was on the Grand Casemates Square.

This area is a huge tourist trap. But we liked the idea of going to the Lord Nelson.

Inside it looked just like any old pub.

The weather had warmed up some by then and we ate outdoors.

Unlike a neighboring table, we were not besieged by pigeons.

My lunch did not disappoint, and I felt very happy walking back to the ship, wishing that I hadn’t eaten quite so much as we were having dinner with friends at Solis tonight, and the food is always great there.

Walking up the gangway we noticed that the fenders were absolutely huge, much bigger than the  ones we had seen in other ports. One thing of interest is that although a white hull looks very elegant it is not practical. In every port it seems that the crew get busy power washing and painting the hull to get rid of the nasty black marks from the fenders and tugs. A black hull makes a lot more sense, and I think it looks very nice as well, especially if there is a red and black funnel somewhere nearby.

Dinner at Solis was wonderful. From our table we watched us slowly head out of the port.

Then we stopped. There was a call for the medical response team to report to one of the suites. After a while the captain announced that we were going back to the port to transfer one of the guests to the local hospital.

I always feel so sad when I hear that. There have been several medical disembarkations on the cruise, and we knew most of the guests and crew members involved. This has been a really special cruise for so many people on board. Like us, they booked the cruise a long time ago, and have been eagerly anticipating the adventure despite the frequent itinerary changes. Not to be able to see it through, and to be needing medical care in a foreign port is disappointing, and scary. I feel blessed that we have not had any problems, although the potential was high when I was doing that hike in the high Atlas Mountains in my sandals. What was I thinking? That was totally a fall waiting to happen. I resolved to be more careful in future.

We had a wonderful time chatting at dinner. The service at Solis is fast and professional, the problem is that there is such a relaxing atmosphere there that you sit and talk and all of a sudden several hours have passed and it is time for the evening show.

Our friends headed off to the show, but we decided to get an early night for once. It had been another good day. We are still missing Ilise and David, I keep on wanting to share some information with Ilise, but she’s not here anymore.

However, I am so enjoying the company of our friends who are still on board, Howard and Helen, Michael and Phyllis, and Bert and Hugette. Tonight has been simply perfect, I am going to miss them all.