July 3, 2006
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Welcome to the rock. This 2 by 1 mile rock has been
the focus of countless conflicts.
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Situated about 2 miles off the coast of Spain and 8 miles
from the continent of Africa.
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The top of the rock is about 1500 feet above sea level.
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The views from the top are just incredible. Where
else can you see 2 continents at once. |
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 Hello. |
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There is a legend that if the apes ever leave Gibraltar,
it will fall from Britain's control.
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This one was a deep thinker.
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| Lou feeds the
ape.
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The seeds slipped between Lou's fingers, but the ape got
them all, reaching with soft little fingers to get every seed from every
crevice.
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Lou has a new best friend.
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Whose your daddy! |
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We are looking over at Spain... so close, and so hostile.
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Our fabulous tour guide, named Karen.
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Now we are heading into the rock, where men carved out
tunnels so that they could protect themselves from the Spanish during a 4
year siege.
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During WWII, Churchill was convinced Hitler would attack
Gibraltar. Whoever controls this rock controls the shipping lanes to
and from the Mediterranean.
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US, British, and Canadian troops spent 9 months digging
out 39 miles of roads INSIDE the rock. Guns, ammunition, food, and
supplies were stored in the rock in preparation for Hitler's attack which
never came.
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These are views from inside the rock.
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After the US revolutionary war, Spain came to the
conclusion that Britain had weakened. Spain spent 4 years trying to
take Gibraltar from Britain.
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Britain spent 4 years in the rock fighting off Spain.
Soldiers would dig out holes in the rock where cannons would be placed.
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After Spain surrendered, they admitted they never knew
where Britain would attack from. The rock is so huge that Spanish
soldiers could never see the cannons.
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The term "shrapnel" came from the name of a British
soldier who designed the splintering cannon ball during the 4 years in the
rock.
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Whew, we are back outside!
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The gun often misfired, and one poor guy had the job of
going in to retrieve the unexploded shell.
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