The Many (Rock?) Faces of Gibraltar & Summer Reading

Until I started traveling, I associated Gibraltar with Prudential Insurance - get a piece of the Rock.

Of course my first to Gibraltar visit back in 2002  included the Barbary macaques.  My mom was sailing with me on the Cunard Caronia.  It happened to be a "stars at sea" theme cruise and the guests of honor included one of my favorites, Jerry Orbach: a Law & Order star, an admirable Broadway career, a beautiful voice and a nice guy to boot. Jerry and his wife happened to be up at the top of the rock at the same time we were.  Another passenger asked Jerry if he could take a photo.  Jerry agreed and went to step next to the guest. The guest corrected him - meaning he wanted to take Jerry a photo of him, not with him.  Jerry shrugged his shoulders and graciously took the guest’s photo. A class act.  I believe that is Gena Rowlands in the background of my photo.

As Cunard was the cruise line, many of the passengers were British, so maybe they didn’t recognize Jerry.  There were some British stars who I did not know, but have since enjoyed following their careers.

Me, Jerry Orbach, Greg and Mike

Over the years, I learned that Gibraltar was a Brit hot spot for duty free shopping and that people would come to stock up on liquor and cigarettes.  I’m thinking I must have learned this from when I worked on another British cruise line, but I am not entirely sure. 

In 2021, I learned that Gibraltar is the Las Vegas of Europe - one of the easier places to get married.  This is especially handy for international couples such as ourselves and so we worked with a company, Sweet Gibraltar weddings, who helped us with all the paperwork and logistics.  We did not opt to get married at the top of the rock, but instead at the Sunborn- a yacht hotel docked in Gibraltar. Even though it was just as the Omicron covid variant was on the rise, and I think we took a gazillion Covid tests that week, it all went well.

A week or so ago Dirk and I just went for a quick 3 day trip.  We booked the trip dates not knowing that the Oosterdam was going to be in port one of the days we were there. Imagine Dirk and other engineers’ surprise running into each other.

Europa Point

If you’ve gone to the top and visited the various sites within the nature reserve, that is the main thing. So for us, this visit was about some relaxing in the sun and an e-bike rental to circle around the base of the rock.

I learned this time that Gibraltar is also considered by the Brits a cheap spot “to go on the piss.”  Not quite stag or hen level, but plenty of older adults enjoying the sun and the bar.  And, yes, I guess that includes us.It is a funny place - fiercely British, but with a large Spanish influence. This makes sense as the border crossing is just across the street from the airport.

While my readership is likely to visit via ship (if at all), the airport is a fun experience.  It used to be that cars could drive across the runway, but now only cyclists and pedestrians- and only when there is not an impending arrival or departure. (Flights only arrive from the UK - about 4-6 per day.)

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I’ve had the chance to catch up on some summer reading - I like juggling light fiction and nonfiction.  Here’s what’s been on the shelf:

• The Thursday murder Club - Richard Osman

• A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages - Anthony Bale

• Ageless aging - Maddy Dychtwald

• Murder Takes a Vacation - Laura Lippman

• The Love Haters - Katherine Center

• Notes on a Nervous Planet - Matt Haig

• Fever Beach - Carl Hiaasen

In The Littlest Library, there was a quote that struck me. It from L.P. Hartley's novel The Go-Between: "The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there."

Seems apropos for The Middle Ages book…

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Wellness Roundup

I have to say I am a sucker for tracking things - I think it helps keep myself accountable and can provide insight into trends.  At the very least it increases awareness.  I think there is a danger of over-tracking- time spent tracking could be time spent doing.  (Kind of like time spent over posting could be time spent doing?)  Anyway, Fitbit, Noom, and LoseIt all sync to some degree.

I am a sucker for challenges, too.  And when they are travel related, even better!

Dirk and I  discovered a new website that has various ones and we are doing the 750km Sydney to Melbourne challenge. As you log  along the way you can see your surroundings and you get cool digital postcards at certain markers.

And then when the Maryland monthly wellness challenge theme is “Worldwide Wellness, clearly I had to join in!

So Exercise - excellent.  Cycling, walking and going to the gym.  We’ve upped the intensity and frequency of our strength training and it’s been good.  

Sleep - ok.  Got some serious zzz’s on vacation.  We have had some hot nights and that has been more challenging

Stress - pretty good

Nutrition - Overall good.  When we go out we share a starter and a main.  In Gibraltar we treated ourselves to dinner at our wedding night restaurant- sharing all the way (ok, including a big piece of beef!)

I am still experimenting  in the kitchen; adding in extra veggies to things as possible.  I also found a cool app that helps you find recipes  using ingredients in your pantry and fridge.  I haven’t followed any recipe to the letter, but it has given me ideas.

• Greek Yogurt Banana Bread - yum!

• Buffalo Cauliflower Wings - yum!

• Mango curry - yum!

• Baked Courgettes and Onion Bhaji - try again.  I did not quite have the moisture right so they ended up. Bit crumbly. 

• Red Lentil Crisps - try again. Need to be eaten the day they are made.

• Quinoa Stuffed Peppers - adjusted with what we had as was yum.

• Chocolate chip cookies without Eggs - Amazing! I had been looking for a cookie recipe that doesn’t use eggs since we don’t have any.  I don’t know that this is any healthier but they are delicious and it makes a small batch so when they are gone they are gone. It’s my new favorite cookie recipe.

It’s time to head to the Oosterdam again.  I am looking forward to keeping the strength training momentum going. As per usual,  its time to examine onboard eating habits so as to not overdo it. Opa!

That’s it for now. Bon Voyage & Bon Appétit!