The Straits of Gibraltar
After a long journey to join National Geographic Endeavour in Lisbon, Portugal, a day at sea was perfect to unwind and adjust to the more human pace of travel by ship. Waking up surrounded by the calm waters of the Atlantic Ocean, rays of sunshine from the cloudless sky disappearing into the cobalt depths, one could not help feeling more relaxed.
Our day was spent preparing for our voyage ahead, hearing from our team of naturalists and historians about their areas of expertise, and most importantly learning about Grenada and the Alhambra, which we would be visiting the following day. Our course took us around Cabo Sao Vicente and across the Gulf of Cadiz, towards the Straits of Gibraltar.
We made landfall in the late afternoon, as the coasts of both Europe and Africa materialised on either side of the ship, the high cliffs of the “Pillars of Hercules”, gateway to the Mediterranean Sea. Only 8 miles across, but 600-1800-feet deep, the Straits of Gibraltar are the only connection the Mediterranean has with the Atlantic Ocean, and as such are a busy and strategic shipping route.
We were in the company of a variety of cargo vessels, including some gigantic container ships, as we made our way north across the shipping lanes during dinner for a late evening look at the “Rock” of Gibraltar itself. The name Gibraltar is thought to come from the Arabic Gebel Tariq meaning “mountain of Tariq”, referring to Tariq ibn-Ziyad who led the Islamic conquest of Hispania in 711. “The Rock” was well illuminated and our Captain brought us in as close as the authorities allowed, for a good look at this historic British outpost, before turning the bow east and heading into the Mediterranean Sea.
After a long journey to join National Geographic Endeavour in Lisbon, Portugal, a day at sea was perfect to unwind and adjust to the more human pace of travel by ship. Waking up surrounded by the calm waters of the Atlantic Ocean, rays of sunshine from the cloudless sky disappearing into the cobalt depths, one could not help feeling more relaxed.
Our day was spent preparing for our voyage ahead, hearing from our team of naturalists and historians about their areas of expertise, and most importantly learning about Grenada and the Alhambra, which we would be visiting the following day. Our course took us around Cabo Sao Vicente and across the Gulf of Cadiz, towards the Straits of Gibraltar.
We made landfall in the late afternoon, as the coasts of both Europe and Africa materialised on either side of the ship, the high cliffs of the “Pillars of Hercules”, gateway to the Mediterranean Sea. Only 8 miles across, but 600-1800-feet deep, the Straits of Gibraltar are the only connection the Mediterranean has with the Atlantic Ocean, and as such are a busy and strategic shipping route.
We were in the company of a variety of cargo vessels, including some gigantic container ships, as we made our way north across the shipping lanes during dinner for a late evening look at the “Rock” of Gibraltar itself. The name Gibraltar is thought to come from the Arabic Gebel Tariq meaning “mountain of Tariq”, referring to Tariq ibn-Ziyad who led the Islamic conquest of Hispania in 711. “The Rock” was well illuminated and our Captain brought us in as close as the authorities allowed, for a good look at this historic British outpost, before turning the bow east and heading into the Mediterranean Sea.
