Sunday, October 15, 2006
Days 8 & 9
Well here I am in sunny Gibraltar - well at least it was until it got dark!!
Gees, Gibraltar is a bit of a dump. Ok, some parts are nice, and certainly some of the new buildings they are putting up near the airport anre quite swanky, but other than that ..... its a dump!
We arrived here via an overnight stay in Almeria. Quite a nice apartment which actually turned out to be a timeshare complex. No doubt when I return home, I'll find that my credit card has been charged with £10k, and I'm the proud owner of 2 weeks in a beautiful log cabin in Siberia every second week of January!! Nice!!
Ok, here is a question for you: What on earth posseses people to buy timeshares?? I really don't know - and I can only see the downsides. Please, if you are a fan of timeshares, be sure to let me know in my comments box.
Anyway, back to day 8!
A quick 300 mile trip from Salou found us in a small place that I'd twice visited in recent years with friends. Being mid-october, VillaMartin was actually quite busy, and was nothing like I'd encountered their before in November and February. It wasn't the same place I liked before, so I won't be buying that luxury villa there!!
Next stop was Almeria, after driving past the Skala Club (remember that Dave??). Yes, it's still there, though I'm sure business isn't quite as brisk these days!
Ok, so we stayed in Almeria, and straightaway, Dad decided that now was a good time to do a spot of washing (as there was a mashing machine in the timeshare). Now, me being the expert that I am, volunteered to find out what channels were on the TV, then try and find the nearest place that had the internet! Luckily, as a fail safe, I decided to bring with me on the trip more shirts that there are days, and the same goes for underpants. After I saw my dad trying to dry all his undies using a desk fan! Needless to say that this morning, all the clothes were rock solid!
So, speaking of Rock's, that brings me neatly back to Gibraltar (get it? Rock, Gibraltar?? oh forget it!!). So, after eventually finding our way down to the border (thanks to my TomTom wanting to go one way, and my dad wanting to avoid the 50p tolls!), we then had to queue up for over 30 minutes to get across the border. This is completely normal it would seem, if anything it is quiet today with it being a sunday! I'm glad I didn't get that job in Gibraltar - it would have done my head in trying to cross that, or living in some of the places Gibraltar has to offer! £450,000 for a 2-bedroom apartment?? You've got to be kidding!
Shortly after arriving, we had a taxi excursion up the rock, around the caves and to see the barbery apes. I even got my photo taken with one (an ape, not a cave). Then it was back down to the hotel (which is very nice, and seems like that only decent hotel around these parts!), before a quick walk along Main Street. This, according to my dad, was the best time to walk along Main Street. Why? Because all the shops were shut. The idea is to go up and down getting the best prices, so you can hit the right shops straightaway on Monday morning - this despite the fact I don't actually want to buy anything!! Guess I'll have to show willing now and buy something, even if I don't want it! What can I buy?? What don't I need?? A new Watch? Speakers for my Ipod? I'll find something to buy.
So, after a nice plate of steak and chips, we came back up to the room, and here I am writing my blog. £12 for 12 hours internet - 8 hours of which I'll be asleep!! And installing wireless internet costs hotels practically zero running costs - it's scandalous they charge so much.
Ok, that's all for now. Got another day in Gib, then on Tuesday (Day 11) it's off to Lisbon in Portugal.
Gees, Gibraltar is a bit of a dump. Ok, some parts are nice, and certainly some of the new buildings they are putting up near the airport anre quite swanky, but other than that ..... its a dump!
We arrived here via an overnight stay in Almeria. Quite a nice apartment which actually turned out to be a timeshare complex. No doubt when I return home, I'll find that my credit card has been charged with £10k, and I'm the proud owner of 2 weeks in a beautiful log cabin in Siberia every second week of January!! Nice!!
Ok, here is a question for you: What on earth posseses people to buy timeshares?? I really don't know - and I can only see the downsides. Please, if you are a fan of timeshares, be sure to let me know in my comments box.
Anyway, back to day 8!
A quick 300 mile trip from Salou found us in a small place that I'd twice visited in recent years with friends. Being mid-october, VillaMartin was actually quite busy, and was nothing like I'd encountered their before in November and February. It wasn't the same place I liked before, so I won't be buying that luxury villa there!!
Next stop was Almeria, after driving past the Skala Club (remember that Dave??). Yes, it's still there, though I'm sure business isn't quite as brisk these days!
Ok, so we stayed in Almeria, and straightaway, Dad decided that now was a good time to do a spot of washing (as there was a mashing machine in the timeshare). Now, me being the expert that I am, volunteered to find out what channels were on the TV, then try and find the nearest place that had the internet! Luckily, as a fail safe, I decided to bring with me on the trip more shirts that there are days, and the same goes for underpants. After I saw my dad trying to dry all his undies using a desk fan! Needless to say that this morning, all the clothes were rock solid!
So, speaking of Rock's, that brings me neatly back to Gibraltar (get it? Rock, Gibraltar?? oh forget it!!). So, after eventually finding our way down to the border (thanks to my TomTom wanting to go one way, and my dad wanting to avoid the 50p tolls!), we then had to queue up for over 30 minutes to get across the border. This is completely normal it would seem, if anything it is quiet today with it being a sunday! I'm glad I didn't get that job in Gibraltar - it would have done my head in trying to cross that, or living in some of the places Gibraltar has to offer! £450,000 for a 2-bedroom apartment?? You've got to be kidding!
Shortly after arriving, we had a taxi excursion up the rock, around the caves and to see the barbery apes. I even got my photo taken with one (an ape, not a cave). Then it was back down to the hotel (which is very nice, and seems like that only decent hotel around these parts!), before a quick walk along Main Street. This, according to my dad, was the best time to walk along Main Street. Why? Because all the shops were shut. The idea is to go up and down getting the best prices, so you can hit the right shops straightaway on Monday morning - this despite the fact I don't actually want to buy anything!! Guess I'll have to show willing now and buy something, even if I don't want it! What can I buy?? What don't I need?? A new Watch? Speakers for my Ipod? I'll find something to buy.
So, after a nice plate of steak and chips, we came back up to the room, and here I am writing my blog. £12 for 12 hours internet - 8 hours of which I'll be asleep!! And installing wireless internet costs hotels practically zero running costs - it's scandalous they charge so much.
Ok, that's all for now. Got another day in Gib, then on Tuesday (Day 11) it's off to Lisbon in Portugal.
# posted by Nige @ 10/15/2006 06:03:00 pm 
