Gateway to the Mediterranean

Gibraltar!!  We really feel that now we're on the next leg of our "journey".  Will do some exploring tomorrow and then Monday we move Kinabalu over to islaverde yacht centre in Algeciras for antifouling.  We can stay on the boat while she's out of the water but I think we'll need to get into town by local bus.  Last in Algeciras on our honeymoon in 1970 so have some serious reminiscing to do ;)

The overnight (24 hour) trip Lagos to Cadiz was great, but we got a taste of what the weather will be like in the Med.....we went from motorsailing in 3 knots of breeze to a broad reach in 26 knots! But it was fun :)

We loved Cadiz, the oldest city in Spain with a chequered history, but still beautiful and an absolutely wonderful cathedral with an underground crypt. Lots of Moorish influence.  Found a great little bar with flamenco dancing and tapas late on our first evening!!  Mostly Spanish people there so we felt quite local.  (Took these photos on my iphone)

The trip Cadiz to Gibraltar was a little more interesting, sometimes tearing along at 9.7 knots with a following breeze and loads of current with us and then the tide would turn!  Passed Cape Trafalgar, that very spot that the British Royal Navy defeated Napolean's combined Spanish and French fleet in 1805.  Entry to Gibraltar is amazing....Africa (Morocco and Ceuta on 7 miles from the Spanish coast at one point)...shipping traffic constant in the Straits of Gibraltar and the windfarms endless on the Spanish hills.

Cabo Trafalgar (name derived from Arabic 'Tarf al-Gharb')

Arrived in Marina Bay at dusk and after entry formalities, sat down to a large bowl of spaghetti bolognaise that I'd cooked en route and a well earned glass or two of Portuguese red wine.