Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a bit of an oddity – a very British outpost, a rock stuck in between Spain and Morocco with British pubs, red pillar boxes and fish and chips. In a way, it more resembles the Britain of the 1970s than it does the Britain of today – its décor and decorum somehow stuck in a bit of a time-warp and subtly and not to subtly coloured by its proximity to Spain. Native Gibraltarians mostly speak English, Spanish and/or Spanglish – a singsong mix of both languages, though signs are resolutely in English and most residents are adamant that they are British, perhaps therefore clinging to and perhaps overstating the Britishness of their culture.

Photo Courtesy: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Gibraltar_aerial_view_looking_northwest.jpg/960px-Gibraltar_aerial_view_looking_northwest.jpg

Gibraltar is almost invariably extremely busy – tourists throng here from the Costa del Sol. One might think that a mass influx of tourists would destroy or at least dilute its interesting hybrid culture, but it seems that the number of British tourists is actually, in some ways at least, enhancing its Britishness. Crowds thronging beneath the Rock in the squashed strip of the town have brought an economic prosperity to Gibraltar but that is now beginning to fade and in spite of its rallying British spirit, it is likely that its future will involve closer economic, and perhaps also cultural, ties to Spain, whether the inhabitants are happy with the changes or not.

Photo Courtesy: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Gibraltar_Airport_Main_Highway.jpg

Of course the main attraction of Gibraltar is the Rock itself. This huge limestone ridge rises to 426m, and iconic and dramatic sheer cliffs are found on its northern and eastern sides. To the ancient Greeks and Romans, this was one of the Pillars of Hercules. The other, Jebel Musa in Morocco, was said to have been split from this one by Hercules in the course of his arduous labours. The two massive rocks marked the edge of the ancient world.

Photo Courtesy: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Gibraltar_Rock_01.jpg

Most of the Upper Rock is now a Nature Reserve. It has plenty of interesting things to see and lookout points that can be reaches with effort on your own two feet, or by using the cable car from Red Sands Road. Tickets to the reserve include entry to St. Michaels Cave, Apes' Den, the Moorish Castle, Great Siege Tunnels, Military Heritage Centre and other exhibitions, as well as giving access to the more natural attractions.

Gibraltar is a natural haven for over 600 plant species, thousands of migratory birds, and, of course, the island's most famous inhabitants: Barbary macaques. It has been said that when the apes disappear from the island, so will the British. They may be cute but they can also be a bit of a pest, mugging tourists on a frequent basis. Watch out- they bite and can have a vicious temper.

Though it is so overcrowded, Gibraltar is well worth a visit, if only to experience its uniqueness on the way to calmer destinations. Who knows how long Gibraltar will retain its unique character, so see it now in case this quirky culture too vanishes into homogeneity.

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