Seniors in Spain 2018: 7/31/2018-Torremolinos-day trip to Gibraltar, dinner at Restaurante El Velero

This morning for breakfast I have a bit of fruit and a pastry which isn't too bad. Richard liked his cereal so much yesterday that he has it again today. He also has scrambled eggs on toast with Campbell's style beans. Green tea today as we have a long drive and coffee isn't good for long drives!

On the road to Gibraltar by 9:00 AM. Richard stops for gas at Super COR stop & go. Cost $51.94. We will take the AP-7, E-15 which is a toll road. Going tolls 10:09 AM €7.50, 10:27 AM €5.10, and 10:49 AM €3.30 which really ended up costing us €4.30 as Richard dropped a €1.00 coin. He had trouble getting the coins into the coin machine for this last toll. The scenery was quite nice and traffic wasn't too bad. Good signage thank goodness. Got to Gibraltar around 11:30 AM. We should have parked on the Spain side in La Linea and walked across the border but we ended up in the car line to cross into Gibraltar which took 30 minutes or so.

We pass this statue in Torremolinos a lot

Gas station in Torremolinos where we got gas for the car

Toll

First glimpse of the Rock of Gibraltar

Gibraltar. Legend-one of the Pillars of Hercules. Entry to Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the English empire since 1704. Taken from Spain in the War of Spanish Succession. Spain tried to retake it 1779 but failed. Natural features of the Rock were used for defensive purposes and during WWII the Rock was further fortified and dug with more strategic tunnels. Present day self governing British dependency. We have our passports with us but our car isn't stopped at the border. We just drive through. Now we just need to drive to the cable car and find parking. We find the cable car but there is no parking any where close. Driving around we finally park the car in an underground lot of a mall. We've wasted an hour! I'm looking at a map and we can walk down Main Street from Casemates Square to the cable car station. While sitting on a bench-Richard went back to the car for something-I was talking to a British lady who told me to walk over to Market Square and catch #2 bus to cable car as it's a long walk down Main Street. When Richard returns I tell him that we're taking the bus instead of walking as we've lost so much time already. Market Square is right near Casemates so in no time we see several buses. We find the #2 and get on. The driver recommends we buy the senior Hop On Hop Off bus pass. €2 each and it's good all day. We will go to Europa Point-Gibraltar's southernmost point first. That stop is the end of the line. Takes almost 30 minutes with a few stops in between to get to Europa Point. Here we see the lighthouse, a mosque, a large gun, and a memorial to Polish servicemen WWII. The views are magnificent. The Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea. Hazy but can make out Rif Mountains/North Africa. See ferries crossing from Tangier. Lots of cargo ships.

Casemates Square

Bus ticket

We have arrived at Europa Point

Gun on top of The Rock

In memory of Polish soldiers who died in a plane crash here during WWII on 7/4/1943

Back on the #2 bus we get off stop close to cable car station. Short walk and OMG a line that seems to go on forever. Should have booked this on line this morning. The sun is beating down. So hot. In line for at least 1 hour if not longer. The line for those who already have tickets has no waiting at all. Finally get round trip senior tickets for the cable car. Cost $36.89 for the 2 of us. The ride takes all of 6 minutes. When we reach the top and exit the cable car we're greeted by several of the Barbary macaques/monkeys. They are very cute but you must hang on to your belongings as they will try to steal from you. Adults and kids screaming and I think-haven't they ever seen a monkey before?? Then there it is-the Rock of Gibraltar or as known-The Rock! The summit provides stunning views. I buy some water. Take lots of pictures. I get someone to take a picture of me with the Rock in the background as Richard opted not to walk up to the higher viewpoint terrace. Get on the cable car to return. We have spent 1 hour here. It's getting late 5:00 PM and we have to drive back to Torremolinos so we decide to hop back on the bus to return to Market Square/Casemates Square and our car. Pity as it would have been nice to walk back but.......... There's a machine inside the mall where you pay for your parking. It asked for €20.00 and I got some change but not euros. On the road by 5:50 PM. Same tolls returning. We arrived Torremolinos at 7:20 PM. Had another hard time getting to our hotel! Freshen up and change for dinner.

Line for the cable car

Almost there

Waiting to get on the cable car to go to the summit

View from the cable car

Greeting us as we exit the cable car

Viewing terrace at the summit

View of The Rock from the summit terrace

Barbary macaques are so cute

Me and The Rock!

Going back down

View of suspension bridge

Returning on the bus to Market Square

Casemates Square

Where we parked our car

Charge for parking

Leaving Gibraltar

Leaving La Linea

Arriving back to Torremolinos

Dinner-Restaurante El Velero. It's just across the street from our hotel and at 9:00 PM it's just too late to go anywhere else. We have a short wait at the bar for a table. While at the bar Richard orders San Miguel beer and it's a pina colada for me. This place is very busy. Every table occupied. Known for grilling/BBQ. Richard orders the 1/2 charcoal broiled chicken which comes with a baked potato. I order the red snapper skewer which comes with sliced potatoes. We are both happy. Richard says the chicken is well grilled but still moist and tender. My snapper was tasty. Portions perfect. Service very good considering how busy this place was. Cost without tip $53.19. Walking back we pass another ice cream stand so we decide to check this one out. Exclusive Bite/halal. A handful of choices. Got small cups but don't remember what flavors we chose. Cost ??? But we did agree that the best ice cream was the first one Carte D'Or on 7//29. NONA was very good but didn't have the selection that Carte D'Or had. And we didn't think the ice cream was as creamy from Exclusive Bite. But that's our opinion. Tomorrow will be another day at the beach.