Westview Park in its hey day - circa 2007
I tried to go for a walk this evening. Summer is here: the days sizzle under the blaze of the ascendant sun, the sea glints an inviting green and all thoughts turn to how quickly you can leave work and get to the beach to throw yourself into the surf and cool off. You look forward to the evenings, when sated by work and swimming and perhaps a meal and a glass of wine, you can walk in the cool of sundown, watch the stars rise over the bay and contemplate life.
So where to? Living on the edge of a small mountain surrounded by sea, a walk by the water's edge is probably the best bet, since the Alameda Gardens - glorious all year round - close at dusk, and the Nature Reserve too far, too dark and too uphill for me. Sounds great? Almost.
I could take a wander along Herbert Miles Road, take in Catalan Bay, watch the waves lap along the edge of the Mamela, then go along as far as the road leads to where it is cut off from the entrance of the Dudley Ward Tunnel. Problem is, that some of the road has no pavement and is prone to being attacked by boy racers in various types of motor vehicles all designed to crush walkers under their wheels. Dangerous, then.
And to add to the problem, there is the risk of rock falls in the area. The vegetation on the slopes above Both Worlds is lush as a result of the winter rains, but, as they dry out, their roots shrink, and the rocks they have undermined loosen. No go there, then.
I could try Eastern Beach way, but then, negotiating the roadworks, even on foot, is hazardous at best and hardly makes for a picturesque walk. The other way then, west side.
There is a wander over Ocean Village and the Marina, I suppose. Great if I want to be surrounded by people, lights, revellers, gamblers and music. Not so good if trying to work out a tricky bit of plotting for my next novel. Ditto Queensway. Rosia Road and Jumpers Bastion still struggle with traffic even at night, not to mention the ghastly smells and noise from the power station and dockyard, and the tunnel towards Rosia Bay and Europa Point at night downright scares me - still fast cars with more boy racers and the gathering of youngsters doing not very nice things, some with syringes, by the lighthouse - is frankly, off-putting.
The only option: Westview Park. Okay, it used to close at dusk but even walking past it was pleasant, with the sound of the sea lapping on the rocks, the scent of the flowers drifting on the sea breeze, a polite greeting from the occasional dog-walker, and my thoughts to myself.
No more. All that is left is the rumble of the tugs, the destroyed wall, and the smell of the oily machinery that is dumping rocks into the bay, and the dust - layer after layer of white dust that you carry indoors on your feet or settles on the cars - on your shoulders if you should stand still to watch the tugs go by (you can barely see the sea).
There is work going on there. I just hope the park will be finished soon and that the rock wall will accommodate a railing and a walkway right there, by the sea, that is ours, our patrimony. The rest of Gibraltar's coastline has all but disappeared under construction equipment.
How sad, that the best place for locals to go for a walk by the sea on a pleasant evening is just across a border to another land.
The works on their way - winter 2009 / 2010
