Month: May 2019

To see this mega-star live, coming all the way from the States, accompanied by an incredible assembly of super talented musicians and singers, was a massive Christmas treat fro the crowd! The legendary St. Michael’s cave provided a magical backdrop for the 4th Gibraltar International Jazz Festival like no other. The jazz/funk band malFUNKtion entertained everybody brilliantly until José Feliciano and band arrived with a 3 hour delay – it was actually quite dramatic, as they had missed their flight from Barcelona. Nobody went home, and when they finally made it to the venue, the relief was massive and the performance by José and his esteemed colleagues even better.

Bordered to the north by Spain, Gibraltar always has been and always will be a beautiful place to visit. Coined ‘Britain in the Sun’ by English TV, the scenery and atmosphere help create a country that once you have been, you will immediately want to book your next trip there, the impression of this rock nation is that great! However, over time, many additional activities have been created and discovered to enhance your Gibraltar experience to the best it could possibly be. Ta-Dah TV looks at just a few of the life-changing activities Gibraltar has to offer.

Dolphin and Whale Watching

Out of all of the attractions on the Rock, dolphin and whale watching has become immensely popular, and insists on growing in popularity every year. Gibraltar has become famous all over the world for its ever-present population of wild and free dolphins, and seasonal whales. There are four famous types of dolphin who live here, primarily the Common Dolphin, Bottle-nose Dolphin, Striped Dolphin and Pilot Whales. It is also possible to see Orcas, Fin Whales and Sperm Whales. These amazing creatures come to the Bay and the Strait of Gibraltar for food and to breed. Taking a guided boat trip aimed at dolphin and whale watching from Gibraltar will not only give you guarantee of seeing these amazing creatures up close in their natural habitat, but also provide you with outstanding views of the Rock of Gibraltar, the Spanish coastline and North Africa.

Apes Den

This amazing attraction is located on Gibraltar Rock. The best way to get up is by cable car where you are able to see a variety of monkeys. If you are hoping to explore St Michael’s Cave, then it is merely a short walk to Apes Den. The monkeys at Apes Den are well known for their curiosity and for being very engaging. The troop living here is called the Queen’s Gate group. They can sometimes appear extremely tame, permitting people to get very close to them, even climbing onto the happy tourists. It is, of course, advisory to be cautious when this happens, as they are still wild animals and can bite or cause hurt if they are frightened or provoked. The cheeky monkeys will take almost every opportunity to steal food from your bags, or even snatch it right out of your hands. Although you must be cautious here, it is important to make sure you take in the beautiful views Gibraltar has to offer.

Gibraltar Calling Music Festival

The Gibraltar Music Festival is another massive highlight in September, if you’re into pop, rock, dance and EDM (main stage), as well as Disco, funk and even SKA (classics stage). The festival is only a few years young, but regularly attracts music lovers from the Mediterranean Costa del Sol and the Costa de la Luz on the Atlantic coast, all the way up to Seville in Spain. When MTV came on board, the 2-day festival changed name slightly, now known as the Gibraltar Calling Music Festival. It always takes place around Gibraltar’s National Day (10th of September), and TA-DAH.TV have filmed there too, catching the crazy vibe when this party nation welcomes the world onto the Rock. They really know how to throw a late summer festival, getting huge bands and acts to perform, with festival goers wanting to catch the last sunny rays in Europe. Check it out in the channel’s MUSIC section to dance along.

Saint Michael’s Cave and lower Saint Michael’s Cave

Saint Michael’s Cave is a network of caves made of limestone, which are found deep down in the Rock of Gibraltar. Located on what is called the Upper Rock, the cave sits at a height of over 300 metres above sea level. The main cave has been converted into an incredible auditorium, offering a completely unique acoustic experience, and is home to concerts and events on a regular basis. TA-DAH.TV have filmed there when the world-famous guitarist José Feliciano played a stunning Christmas concert in the cave as part of the Gibraltar Jazz Festival. Claudia Peifer had exclusive access to the legendary jazz-guitarist on the night for an interview. Find the programme in our Art & Culture section and scroll down to the EVENTS – EUROPE column.
As well as the main cave, there is also Lower Michael’s Cave. The Lower Saint Michael’s Cave is an amazing discovery, found in World War 2, whilst Royal Engineers were blasting out a new entrance to the lower chambers of the cave. The thing that makes the lower cave so unique is the fact that it is home to many of the known speleological formations. Stalagmites, stalactites, rim stone, helictites, columns, coral rocks, flowstone, straws and curtains are merely a few of the outstanding cave formations.

Scuba Diving

Located at the opening of one of the world’s most intriguing natural crossroads, you will have the pleasure of finding a spectacular home to diverse marine life. Boasting beautiful reefs and more than 35 wrecks, the coastline of Gibraltar has become a diver’s paradise. Rays, octopus, moray eels, cuttlefish, schools of boxfish, pipefish, sunfish, bass, mullets, damselfish and anthias, to name merely a few, will make your dive in Gibraltar a truly unforgettable experience. Various diving schools allow you to try out your newly loved sport, give you on site lessons, and allow you to prosper into a position in which you can safely dive the wrecks of Gibraltar. Offering equipment rental so complete, all you need to bring with you is a smile!

The above activities are only a small selection of the vast array of terrific tasks and things you can experience whilst visiting the beautiful Gibraltar. So, come along and take a look at the beautiful views and indulge in everything this country has to offer. We know you want to!

This is a favourite with many of the world’s world renowned established writers/authors, actors, superstar speakers, politician, poets, industry power houses, new blood, Olympic medalists…and any literature lover really! Hillary Clinton popped over last year, the incredible David Attenborough talks turkey in the video, and now there are ample podcasts to be listened to for those who can’t make it. The Cheltenham Lit Fest was established in 1949 and is one of the oldest literary events in the world!

For 10 days, the city transforms into a literary lover’s dream, welcoming over 600 speakers to help celebrate the written word, alongside a programme of around 500 debates, interviews and workshops. It is also a festival for families and young readers, as everybody loves meeting their hero’s originators, young or old! cheltenhamfestivals.com