07 July: Gibraltar

We arrived in Gibraltar a day earlier than expected.  We were going to stay the day in Tarifa, but when we got there, wind was gusting to 20 knots, and there was a lot of boat and ferry traffic in and out of the harbor.  With no marinas, we stayed on the anchor.   Lots of wind and a lot of waves, and even though our anchor was holding fast, it is just unnerving.  We had planned to blow up the dinghy, explore the town, and maybe even take a day trip to Morocco.  I had a gut feeling that we were better off just staying the night and leaving in the morning for Gibraltar. The boat stayed firmly anchored all night; I didnt feel up to trusting it for another day.  Tarifa would have been fun to explore, and I feel like we missed out (at least this time) on Morocco, but I could not have ejoyed Morocco while I was worried that the boat would be slip sliding away on our anchor. 

So, the jury is still out on Gibraltar.  Love that they are an English outpost with fish and chips, monkeys, pounds and pence.  Just speaking English makes life so much easier.  We will explore island more tomorrow...today was about getting settled in.  However, it is very developed and certainly does not have that mediterrean quaintness and friendlieness.  In fact, people here are a bit brusk.  Maybe it seems that way because we know what they are saying?

Kids are growing and maturing already.  Independence is growing day by day.  Very cool to see.  Especially with the boys doing the family laundry (so cute) and the dishes.  It is very big.

Wish I had more time to really write, but more soon.