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| Gibraltar
and the Barbary Apes |
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Pros: Barbary Apes-the highlight!
Cons: none
Gibraltar,
Gibraltar
Friday, May 20, 2005 16:33
Gibraltar and the Barbary Apes (Kim)
May 20, 2005
We opted to hike up the rock instead of take a cable car or a tour.
It was a combination of stairs, road, and paths. I would put the
hike up at about level 7 for difficulty on a 10 point scale for
the steep incline. It took about an hour.
Halfway up we found the famous Barbary Apes. No one is really sure
how the apes got to Gibraltar. They are the only wild apes living
in Europe and legend has it the British will retain control as long
as the apes continue residence here. Seeing the apes was the highlight
of the walk. We sat and watched the babies splashing around their
pool. I could have used up all of my memory taking pictures. They
are obviously use to people and tour buses. I read somewhere they
spend about 30% of their time among humans. The teenager apes were
swinging off the windows of the tour buses. We finished climbing
to the top and stopped for a little picnic and to enjoy the view.
Somehow we managed to find a quiet spot away from the apes and tourists.
After finishing up I was putting away the granola and other food
and I saw an ape swinging off the buildings and coming my way. I
just knew he had seen me putting up the food. I tired to hurriedly
finish up but he was at my feet in a flash. He reached his hand
up obviously wanting me to give him a treat. There are signs posted
everywhere that say you will be fined 500 pounds if you feed the
apes. Dave placed his pack between this ape and me. The ape took
a look at Dave and then looked back up at me and then he jumped!
He managed to climb onto my knees and up my waist. He reached in
and took the pack of granola out and jumped off. I just froze in
shock for a few seconds. He was sitting at my feet crunching on
the granola when I finally got my senses. I grabbed the camera and
got a shot of him.
We hiked down, stopped at a tea shop which was more like a pub,
did a bit of internet and then headed back for the ship. We are
still getting our fitness level up so the rest of the evening was
spent in the hottub or resting and then dinner. Our next stop –
Ville Franche, France near Nice. |
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