Chapter 10: Arrival

Driving from the airport, to the Airbnb where we were staying in Ocean Village, it was difficult to get the scale of Gibraltar. The double lane dual carriage way was wide, and there were lots of high rise apartments. I could have been in America. OK, maybe not heading down a road called Winston Churchill Avenue, but this was a more spacious and developed side of town, different to what I would encounter later.

Gibraltar Airport

Indeed, we were staying in one of these high rises. However before I could end my journey, I had to park, in the Ocean Village multi storey car park. This car park is kind of like a reverse of Doctor Who's TARDIS. It looks big on the outside, but is extremely dinky and tight on the inside. I parked up, noticing some of the dents on other cars with Gib registration plates. Nick would later explain this is due to the roads being so narrow, and parking spaces so tight.

Bigger on the inside than the outside.

Our apartment in Ocean Village was pretty fancy. It had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a lounge, kitchen and balcony. This might sound like an average flat in the UK, but in Gibraltar (where property is the size of a shoe box) it's a palace. The apartment was just a minute walk to the Ocean Village promenade, and had a balcony overlooking the Sunborn hotel. The Sunborn is floating Casino, more impressive than something Donald Trump could dream up. Gambling is a big industry in Gibraltar, which they euphemistically call gaming.

Our apartment - an average flat in the UK?

After unpacking and a sleep, I was hungry, and ready to explore Ocean Village. I was also welcomed by Nick, who had been watching the Celtic game that afternoon (British tv and sport readily available in Gibraltar). Ocean Village is a bunch of high rise apartments, bars, restaurants and hotels, set around a marina. It's really nice watching the boats while you're having something to eat. We had food at Bianca's where you can sit on cushions outside and watch the coming and goings of the marina.

A floating casino.

As exciting as it was to finally be in Gibraltar, I called it an early night. I was due to move into my student accommodation the next morning, on the other side of Gibraltar. When I say other side of Gibraltar, we're only talking about 13 minutes drive, but my university induction would also be taking place in the afternoon, so I needed to be fresh for it. And after the last 6 days travelling I was knackered. So closing the curtain on my view of the Moorish castle (nicely lit up) on top of the rock, I said goodnight.

Moorish Castle Light Show.

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