Coming out of the Glassblowers exhibition into Casemates saw Sheila and Joe head straight for a bench seat to rest where Carol took a few photos of them sitting in the sunshine; although I remember making some sort of joke about Mutt-and-Jeff on Crimewatch I knew they were loving their holiday and though I didn’t know it at the time that was something that become very important later. After resting for a few minutes we then all wandered off (a full fifty yards) and installed ourselves outside one of those lovely jubbly eateries where we hit the coffee and churros. 

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(Mutt-and-Jeff aka Joe and Sheila)

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It’s almost impossible not to be chilled out when on holiday in Gibraltar (to the point of being horizontal) and this is especially the case when you’re having breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner in somewhere like Casemates Square with the sun on your forehead and the stimulation of lots of people to watch. I’m sometimes so chilled out I’ve no idea what time it is or what meal I’m eating though I think this one was somewhere between brunch and lunch; it was also something of a planning meeting about how everyone wanted to spend the afternoon and where they wanted to eat (again) this evening. Great holidays (I guess) are always those where the biggest decision you make is what to eat and where.

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(Carol and Joe)

(People watching people in Casemates Square)

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Although I’m someone who ‘eats to live’ I’m also someone who (occasionally) ‘lives to eat’ and though I don’t mind where I eat I do like good food; I think that’s partly because I don’t smoke, don’t drink (a bore, I know) and walk a lot so a nice plate of food is important to me – notwithstanding my appetite is banging. 
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As I sat nibbling away at my churro I also acknowledged (to myself) that I do like to try the local delicacies although that hasn’t always been a positive experience. In Crete their local dish was goat and I quite liked that but in The Gambia it turned out to be Cows Nose Soup and so the less said about that the better. These churros (were Phab and) reminded me of doughnuts in a different shape.

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(Looking up at the North summit)

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Over the course of the week we’d eaten out at some lovely places and (listening to the conversation of my companions) I guessed that this evenings outing would either see us back at Jury’s or the Gibraltar Arms, both of which were on the short list (and both of which got my vote so I didn’t mind). In the meantime it sounded as though they all wanted to slob out (again) around the pool for the afternoon and (though that wasn’t for me) who could fault them? 
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As I looked up at the north summit of the Rock I thought ‘Yes, that has to be done. But not today. Tomorrow’. Today I would go walkabout to Europa Point after which I would double back to address another burning need and spend some time in Alameda Gardens for the last time. As we all walked back up Main Street towards the Bristol the ladies paused to check the menu at the Gibraltar Arms and made an executive decision that we would all eat there this evening. “I could order Alan’s now because I know exactly what he’ll choose” laughed Carol. “It’s always the same after his walkabouts. Fish and chips”.

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