Gibraltar :: The Airport

in , ,

Gibraltar has a pretty crazy airport.  It is directly on the Spanish border and both sides of the runway drop off into the water.  What's even crazier is that the main road - the one in and out of Gibraltar goes directly across the runway!  When we left Gibraltar we literally had to walk across the runway (along with TONS of others).  Apparently, the road simply gets shut down anytime there is air traffic (I think I heard mentioned that there are 4 flights a day landing from the UK).  If that's not crazy I don't know what is.

 

Gibraltar :: Around Town

in ,

I had English Style Fish and Chips at The Angry Friar.  It is said that it got its name from a Friar who lived across the street and would come over to the pub to yell at the patrons for having a hard cider.  It was literally named after The Angry Friar!  Ha.  Of course, I had to add a patio covered in trellised vines and a steeple framed by tangerine trees to the series....I mean really. 

 

 

A jolt to the system!

in ,

After 90 days of vacation being back at work feels like a jolt to the system!  I'm scrambling around trying to get back into the groove...and I'm also trying to sleep as much as possible because I know the tempo is going to pick up very quickly.  We're at anchor now and I can't tell you what a luxury it is to arrive to an anchored vessel - versus arriving to a vessel that is in the middle of cargo operations - that is when you truly get a jolt to the system!

You know what is a true jolt to the system...one that is ten times better than having to work?! 

A gorgeous sunrise behind Gibraltar! 

 

 [gallery]

A taste of Italy

in ,

La Spezia, Italy was hands down our most beautiful port of call in the Mediterranean. Here are just a few photos of us making our approach to our mooring area.  One thing that was a little different about La Spezia is that we go to an offshore mooring station.  We tie up to buoys and pull the hose up from the water.

We entered first thing in the morning because it was a daylight port only.  The sun was just peaking over the mountains - it was far more mountainous than I imagined!

Anyways, it was pretty...more to come!

 

The Strait of Messina

in ,

I got to do something cool yesterday.  I transited the Strait of Messina.  This is a very narrow channel between the Mainland of Italy and the Island of Sicily.  We approached in the early afternoon picked up a pilot and made it through the Strait in about an hour and a half. It was very hazy and picture taking was ho-hum.  I'd have to say that the Mainland side was slightly more picturesque with rock walls built into cliffs and old homes on the water.

There was a lot of ferry traffic as well as pleasure crafts and sailboats cruising along the coastline.

All in all it was a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon (especially since I wasn't on watch and could just stand on the bridge wing watching the scenery pass by)!