Gibraltar

Thankfully, as the ship neared the most southern point of Portugal, the swell reduced significantly and everybody was able to enjoy last evening without appearing to stagger around like a company of drunken sailors. It was also our first formal night and I am pleased to report that the dress code was kept immaculately, indeed I would estimate that three quarters of the gentlemen were in black tie and a similar proportion of ladies were in elegant dresses. I don't recall seeing more than a dozen or so passengers not conforming to the dress code. Very impressive.

I chose smoked breast of duck as my appetiser and beef medallions with croquette potatoes for mains, with a generous slice of New York strawberry cheesecake for dessert.

Following dinner, we made our first venture into the casino and in particular to the roulette table. I am rather disappointed to report that our $20 gambling limit was totally squandered within a few minutes. Lady Luck was definitely not on our side. 

Thus today we arrived in Gibraltar at 9.00am as scheduled. We had booked a dolphin watching trip and I can honestly say that over the course of the last 12 hours I have seen more dolphins than I have had hot dinners as there were large pods swimming alongside the ship as we sailed into the Bay this morning and again sailing out this afternoon. However, the excursion provided the "up close" viewing opportunities.

We also had a little look around the town as Dad was desperate to buy some duty free ciggies, but as both Emerald Princess and Prinsendam were in port, it was, to say the least, heaving. Still, the task was successfully accomplished and we stopped in a little bar for coffee as a reward.

Sailaway proved to be a most patriotic affair. The entertainment staff handed out Union Jacks to everyone and as we slipped our mooring and moved away from the pier, they were waved fervently to the sound of Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Brittania. Whether this patriotism was because of Gibraltar's  position as a Crown Dependancy, to celebrate Scotland's decision to stay in the union or just to stick two fingers up to the Spanish, I am not sure. Probably a bit of all three.

Finally, just to prove what a very small world this is, we have just bumped into a couple from Jersey who live about five doors down from Dad!

A sea day tomorrow and then next stop is Ajaccio in Corsica.