The Rock

              

                Geographically part of Europe…

                                                          

                                                        Geologically part of Africa…

 

Gibraltar is a British navy base, and a fortress.

 

I first visited here in 1974 as a guest of the Royal Navy, and a member of Uncle Sam’s Yacht Club… We steamed into the harbor, and almost immediately my buddy Ron and I decided to do some real “rock” climbing!

 

When we were about half way up the face, we came across a canon ball embedded in the rock, leaving us pondering its history… When had it been fired and from where? Perhaps from a ship-of-the-line during a battle…

 

This time, Gibraltar served as my last view of Europe on my way to Africa. But I’m getting ahead of myself…

 

                                                                     …I last left you in Portugal.

 

. . .

 

 

 

I headed back into Spain to visit the two cities I’ve missed on previous trips here… Cordoba and Granada…

 

People are probably saying… How could you go to Spain, and NOT go to these places??? Well, my style of travel doesn’t always make complete sense… and that is why I’m heading there now!!

 

 

There has been a city on the banks of the Guadalquivir River at the present site of Cordoba since before Roman times. Occupied variously by Romans, Moors, and the present Andalucians…

 

It was the Moors who put the water to work…   …building numerous waterwheels along the river.   Now they are only silent reminders of the Moors occupancy of this beautiful city.

 

 

I next headed for Granada and its incredible Alhambra!

 

 

Unfortunately… for you…

 

It is almost impossible to capture this place with a photo. Those who have been here will understand, and the rest of you will just have to come for yourself!

 

I shot over 100 pictures, and feel that none of them really conveys the sense of the place… I will attach the above picture in its full size, so that anyone wishing can view it a little better.

 

 

The Alhambra was primarily a fortress, dwarfing the heights above the city.

 

But, having accomplished that mission, it was also the home for the ruling families, with extensive exquisite gardens and palaces.

 

 

But it does make you wonder… how many people labored for years and years so that a few could live in such elegance…

 

As beautiful a city as Granada is… my feet were itching for Africa… and I stepped aboard a ferry bound for Morocco, and with a red ball sunset in the west, I watched Gibraltar disappear behind me.

 

All the best,

 

Fred B.

 

fbjones3@hotmail.com