Gib

The last port of call before heading back to Southampton.

A few years earlier, the captain of our ship had been sitting in his English country garden when he got a call to pack a bag and join his ship at an unscheduled stop she would make at Gibraltar so that he could help prepare her for conversion to a troop carrier on the final leg of that world cruise. She was to be sent to the Falklands.

We were taken straight to the British Army HQ where two open top LandRovers took us for a long tour of the Rock and more fascinating the normally not seen inside of the tunnels with all the openings for guns pointed out over the straights. Fascinating.

Back at HQ brief meeting and drink with the UK forces commandant before being whisked in private cars across the border to the private villa of P&O's agent in the Spanish hills. Lovely setting, pool, BBQ, delicious food some family dropped by and late afternoon back across the border to have an evening stroll in the old town before reboarding.

Back then there was a bit of a delay at the crossing, I seem to remember another do about something or other between Spain and the UK.

While I fully understand the UK acquired the territory by legal means, it does seem to be about time to end this anomaly.

A pretty unique visit nonetheless.