21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
A bird and a cage

As I ascended the Rock of Gibraltar, a choice unfolded: climb amidst the rugged beauty or opt for the swift gondola. Below, a swarm of birds encircled the cabin. To me at that time, choosing the climb meant embracing freedom, unlocking views that make the Rock of Gibraltar truly extraordinary. The gondola, a cage for birds, a reminder that sometimes, the slower, challenging path reveals the essence of a place.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Gibraltar, Gibraltar
Copyright: © Nina Kloss