The Med: Gibraltar and Lisboa

This is the last post on the Med cruise, the last two stops, Gibraltar and Lisboa (Lisbon). Two places I'd not visited before. The interest I had in Gibraltar was entirely about being able to sail out through the straits, the 12 mile wide opening to the Atlantic from the Mediterranean. I did take one of the ships tours around the exceedingly small territory of the UK, but the lasting memory was seeing Africa for the first time, and the sensation of going out through the straits.

The rock of Gibraltar. Doesn't look much like the Prudential picture.

From the other side.

From a distance.

Africa, from Gibraltar. 12 miles across the straits.

These were all taken sailing out towards the Atlantic.

Africa

And last, how I would have liked to have gone out through the straits:

Now, on to Lisboa. If I had more time there, it might have surpassed Italy as a favorite place. It has a huge harbor, and has been compared to San Francisco with good reason.

And then there is this bridge....look familar?

Yep, same person designed this one as the GG. 

The rest of the city was delightful. Old, shabby, chic, modern, it varied and was different every block. 

And last, the place we picked for lunch....I had grilled octapus, excellent. But here was my view out the door.  Study the picture. Do I know places to have a good lunch or what? 

So it ended. The next day flew to Heathrow, stayed a night and back to the states. Quite a trip.