The Rock of Gibraltar is
a place rich in history especially in the traces of human existence dating
as far back as the age of the Neanderthal man. There has been a longstanding
battle between Spain and the UK for sovereignty of the place, and a unanimous
vote by the people of Gibraltar to remain under British rule rendered it
still to be a British territory up to this day.
Nonetheless, Gibraltar's
unique culture is a combination of all the influences that have landed
in the region, Spanish and British notwithstanding, and its landmarks are
worth seeing if you're going on a trip to this place.
1.) Dolphin and whale
watching
A cove down Gibraltar has
an amazing display of dolphins and whales in their natural habitat. A trip
down this bay is worth making just to witness the beauty of these sea creatures
playing and showing off their splendor for all to see. Here, you will truly
appreciate these marine creatures in their natural habitat.
2.) Cable ride
For a spectacular view from
the top of the Rock of Gibraltar, you can take a cable car ride. During
the ride, you will also get to see the majestic spread of Spain up north
and Africa down south. This is truly a sight to behold!
3.)
Water sports
You can go jet skiing and
paragliding to enjoy the beautiful waters down in the Catalan or Sandy
bays and other beaches. Be one with the underground flora and fauna by
diving into the waters, too, if you love exploring under the sea. This
will definitely give you a thrill as you dive deep down into the waters
of Gibraltar.
4.) Migrating birds
On certain seasons, migratory
birds flock the Rock of Gibraltar to escape the wintry months of their
homes. Thousands of different birds come here, and the sight is truly amazing.
It is one of those experiences that have you in awe at the wonders of nature.
5.) Monkeys without tails
This is one of the most famous
tourist attractions in Gibraltar. The macaques, otherwise known as the
tailless monkeys are said to be the only species of wild primates that
can be found in the whole of Europe. There is also a wonderful legend covering
the existence of these macaques in Gibraltar, one which believes that it
will cease to be a British territory once these monkeys have also ceased
to exist.
Here, you will find the earliest
evidences of human existence in Gibraltar. The museum houses a skull of
the Neanderthal man said to have first inhabited the place. You will also
learn all about the historical battle between the British and Spanish troops
for the right to own the Rock of Gibraltar.
The Botanical Garden is said
to have been around since the early 1800s. Gibraltar's gardens are a collection
of native and foreign plants and flowers. You will also see here bust sculptures
that depict the era of when the garden was first opened.
8.) Shopping
Don't miss out on shopping
here. In fact, you can go on a shopping spree guilt-free because most goods
and commodities here are sold at lower prices. This is primarily due to
lower taxes on these goods as well as the freedom from other government
taxes.
9.) Shrines and mosques
Gibraltar has been under
many influences including religion. This country has a rich mixture of
these religious influences in their history. Here, you will see mosques
converted into the Shrine of Gibraltar's Patroness, Our Lady of Europe,
among other things.
10.) Changing of the Guards
Typically British, this ceremony,
which takes place a couple of times within the day, is something to watch
out for. You will witness the discipline and perhaps a little stoicism
in the behavior of the Guards that are quite entertaining and awe-inspiring
at the same time. You can see this in the place where Gibraltar's Governor
resides.
About the Author - Jonathan
Williams is the travel writer for Destination
Guide TV - the place to share travel videos. Visit http://www.destinationguide.tv/gibraltar
to view or share Gibraltar travel videos.
Gibraltar
— Little England on the tip of Spain
Long an object of dispute
between Spain and Great Britain, the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar
is a little enigma, tucked away at the very tip of Spain. It's a place
where Spanish and English are intertwined.
To drive there from Málaga
city, it is best to take the toll roads - speedy and quick - rather than
the normal highway, where you will find a series of very irritating roundabouts
to slow you down. Along the way, you will bypass Fuengirola, Marbella and
Estepona, among other coastal towns, with some lovely countryside on both
sides of the highway, and glimpses of the blue sea at most turns in the
road.
You zoom along the Costa
del Sol, also known as the Costa del Golf, and pass through around four
traffic tunnels along the way. From around Marbella onwards, you can already
see the enigmatic Rock of Gibraltar on the horizon.
As you near Gibraltar you
first pass through San Roque in Cádiz province. The so-called “Very
Noble and Most Loyal City of San Roque, where Gibraltar lives on”, was
officially founded in 1706 and the Rock of Gibraltar used to form part
of this city in the historic past until Great Britain got involved and
pinched it.
While it was a popular beach
resort at one stage, the city has, unfortunately, been rather spoiled by
being the home of the CEPSA Gibraltar-San Roque oil refinery.
Then on to La Línea
de la Concepción, the Spanish coastal town which is literally right
next to Gibraltar and has close social and economic ties with the British
territory (also, both San Roque and La Línea actually overlook the
Bay of Gibraltar.)
From there it's a hop, skip
and a jump to the border, where on an average day you just wave your open
passport at your windscreen and smile, as you drive on through. Americans
used to encounters with the TSA might find this just a little astonishing!
To avoid queues, try to arrive after 10h00 and leave before 17h00, otherwise
you might get stuck in a line of people on their way to or from work in
Gibraltar.
Once that part is over, as
long as there are no incoming planes, you just drive across the runway
of the airport and into, well, England. Well, almost.
The signs are all in English
- however, cars drive on the right (as they would in Spain), and not on
the left (as they would in England). When walking in the streets, you mostly
hear English, but often also hear Spanish. It is not unusual to hear a
Spanish family speaking a combination of both languages. The majority of
Gibraltarians are English, Spanish and Moroccan, with a smattering of other
European nationalities, including Genoese, Maltese, Portuguese and German.
The streets are mostly narrow
and winding, with a lot of one-way streets, and intersections can be confusing
at times. The town is a mixture of modern, and also very old, buildings
from Gibraltar's military existence and historical past. Strange names
like "Ragged Staff Gates" and various "bastions" are seen throughout the
town on signs on the old buildings. Some have been converted for more modern
use.
It takes a bit of getting
used to, finding your way around, and it could be best to just park your
car and use the excellent public transport system.
Gibraltar's Economy:
On the economy in Gibraltar,
while the British military traditionally dominated Gibraltar's economy,
with the naval dockyard providing the bulk of economic activity, this has
lessened recently, and nowadays Gibraltarians make money in financial services,
Internet gaming, shipping and tourism.
Unlike most cities and towns
in Spain, "to let" and "for sale" signs are rare and there are very few
closed shops to be seen when walking the streets of Gibraltar.
Shopping in Gibraltar:
For everyday grocery shopping,
there is one major supermarket in Gibraltar, a branch of Morrison's, which
is a fair-sized store with a good selection of food and other items. Like
the Morrison's supermarkets in England, there is a cafeteria for meals
and snacks. Petrol and diesel are available at the Morrison's petrol station
at prices which beat those found at the CEPSA petrol stations in town.
Other than that the majority
of shopping is to be found in High Street. All the major clothing stores
are represented including Tommy Hilfiger, Marks and Spencers and Mango,
among others. Along the way are many quaint traditional English pubs, bistros,
cafés and restaurants.
Some shops date back to the
old days, including the Anglo Hispano Company Limited, selling fine wines,
liquor and tobacco.
On the subject of tobacco,
for smokers, Gibraltar is an absolute bargain with duty-free cigarettes
at very low costs. Other restaurants and bars can be found at the
harbour, some overlooking the Bay and Straits of Gibraltar.
There are some very attractive
buildings lining High Street with unusual shutters and balconies to be
seen (see video photo slideshow).
As you stroll along High
Street you will be accosted by various tour operators, trying to persuade
you to do the "Rock of Gibraltar tour".
Definitely worth at least
one visit, the top of the rock is a nature reserve with various interesting
birds and animals to be found, including the Barbary macaques. Beware,
these little apes are famous for their thieving. Many have lost their sunglasses
and other loose items, and the writer was devastated by the loss of a double-chocolate
muffin some years ago! They are so darn quick.
It is actually possible to
take yourself up there, without the aid of a tour operator. The Gibraltar
Cable Car runs from outside the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens to the top of
the Rock. Amazing views and pleasant walks abound up there.
Gibraltar is definitely
worth a visit on your holiday in southern Spain. Should you wish to stay
for a few days, the town has several excellent hotels
available, or you could stay at a beachfront hotel in La Línea de
la Concepción or San Roque on the Spanish side and comfortably bus
it into Gibraltar.
The
Barbary Apes of Gibraltar,
Macaca Sylvanus, are actually tail-less
monkeys and are an unusual and delightful attraction for anyone visiting
Gibraltar or the Costa del Sol. No one is really sure how the only wild
apes in Europe arrived in Gibraltar and legend has it that were they to
leave The Rock then would fall to the Spanish. The two most popular explanations
as to the appearance of the apes of Gibraltar is either that they crossed
via a subterranean tunnel from their native Morocco or British sailors
introduced them having picked them up on their travels.
Whatever the explanation
they readily adapted to their new habitat and have lived, bred and been
an integral part of Gibraltar for some centuries now.
During the second World
War their numbers went into a decline and Sir Winston Churchiil, taking
a personal interest in the Gibraltar Apes, arranged to have some more imported
from Morocco.Since then their numbers have steadily increased and today,
in addition to the pack readily seen around the Apes Den, there are five
other packs living wild on the steep slopes of the Rock.
The apes that the visitor
sees are very tame and quite cheeky, often climbing on unsuspecting tourists
and onto the taxis that bring the tourists to the top of the rock to see
them. Most of the taxi drivers know the individual apes and can often tell
you quite a lot about them.
The tour of the rock can
either be undertaken by taxi or you can take the cable car up and then
enjoy a very pleasant walk taking in the wonderful views of the Mediterranean
to one side and the Atlantic to the other.You will see lots of Gibraltar
apes this way and can stop and enjoy their company and take plenty of photos.
The walk will take you down past St. Michael's
Cave, which you should definitely visit, before carrying on and picking
up the cable car again at it's mid-way stage.
The welfare of the Barbary
Apes is now in the hands of the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History
Society and the R.S.P.C.A.
N.B. Note by webmaster
-
take care, as these cheeky monkeys sometimes steal from you. When
I was up there they took my double chocolate muffin! And a guy lost
his t-shirt, which he had slung over his shoulder....
Article submitted by Ruth
Polak the owner of www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com
A web site specializing in holiday villas and apartments on the Costa del
Sol and in Rural Andalucia. You will also find lots of information about
Spain and Andalucia, in particular.
St. Michael's Caves in Gibraltar
are situated some 300m above sea level on the southerly end of the Rock
of Gibraltar. They are a marvellous sight with many truly impressive stalagmites
and stalactites. It has long been believed that the caves are bottomless
which in turn gave credence to the theory that there was once a subterranean
link, about 15 miles long, between Gibraltar and Africa and that it was
through this that the Apes of Gibraltar,
the only wild monkeys in Europe, found their way onto the Rock many centuries
ago. Certainly they have their counterparts across the Mediterranean in
Africa and the only other feasible explanation for their appearance on
mainland Europe is that they were introduced by sailors who collected them
on their travels.
The
caves have been visited since Roman times but today's visitor has the benefit
of footlights and hand rails to assist them. It is still slippery underfoot
though so be sure to wear good footware. The main Cathedral cave
is an impressive site and during the Second World War was adapted to be
used as a military hospital. However it was never required as such and
today is put to a more peaceful use when concerts are held there. The acoustics
are wonderful.
The rest of the caves consist
of various interconnecting passageways with some really impressive stalagmites
and stalagtites. At some point in it's past one of these enormous structures,
unable any longer to bear it's own weight, gave way and fell. In 1792 an
inquisitive person removed a section from the it's top end and this has
left the interior of the stalactite exposed, giving us a wonderful insight
into the secret history of these magnificent structures. It shows quite
clearly in rings the history of it's growth, for instance during periods
of excessive rain its growth is indicated by light-brown rings and patches
and the darker areas were formed during periods of less rain. Perhaps the
two thin lines of crumbly white substance are the most interesting part
of its structure as it is believed that these represent glacial periods.
During the preparation of
the caves for a military hospital the blasting required to improve ventilation
revealed a series of further caves and an underground lake. However these
can only be visited with a guide by prior arrangement.
One of the best ways to get
up to the caves is by cable car which operates from the car park at the
top end of the Rock. The car will take you to the top of the rock from
where it is a pleasant stroll down to St. Michael's caves. This will also
enable you to take in the wonderful views of both the Atlantic and the
Mediterranean and of course see many of the Gibraltar apes. On leaving
the caves you can then continue to walk down until you reach the mid-way
stage and pick up the cable car again. For the less energetic you can take
a trip in a taxi. The driver will also take you to meet the apes, give
you a potted history of the Rock of Gibraltar and wait for you whilst you
visit the caves.
Whichever way you decide
to do it a visit to both St. Michael's caves and to the apes is a very
enjoyable excursion.
Article submitted by Ruth
Polak the owner of www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com
A web site specializing in holiday villas and apartments on the Costa del
Sol and in Rural Andalucia. You will also find lots of information about
Spain and Andalucia, in particular.
AC
Hotel La Linea by Marriott, La Linea de la Concepcion The contemporary AC Hotel
La Linea is situated on the beach promenade with views of the Rock of Gibraltar,
40 kilometres from the Costa Del Sol and close to the entrance of Gibraltar.
Room amenities include air conditioning, cable television, fireplaces,
minibars, and internet connections. Bathrooms are simply complete with
handheld showers, hair dryers, makeup mirrors and bidets. Guests
can relax by the pool or enjoy an early workout in the fitness centre.
The Lounge Bar is perfect for relaxing over cocktails. The Sala AC Restaurant
specialises in fresh local produce from the nearby Guadiaro Valley Market
Gardens and the local fishing grounds. The wine list features 'exceptional'
wines from the Jerez Region.
The
Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay, Gibraltar The Caleta Hotel in Gibraltar
offers high quality conference, wedding, accommodation, restaurant and
leisure facilities to an international clientele of well-travelled business
visitors, families, and those simply spending a holiday, short break, or
leisurely long weekend in Gibraltar. The hotel boasts modern well-appointed
rooms and suites, restaurants, a lounge bar, health & beauty club and
the best wedding, conference and banqueting facilities anywhere in Gibraltar.
A favoured choice of business travellers and those visiting Gibraltar for
a short break or holiday, this classic 4 star hotel is located on the tranquil
eastside of the Rock; a vantage point that offers simply stunning views
of the Mediterranean Sea and the coastline of the Costa del Sol.
The
O'Callaghan Eliott Hotel, Gibraltar Positioned along the tree-lined
Governor's Square off Main Street is the O'Callaghan Eliott Hotel in Gibraltar.
The hotel stands 1 kilometer from Gibraltar Airport. Various cultural and
historical attractions are within 2 kilometers, including Gibraltar Museum,
World War Ii Tunnels and a Moorish Castle built in 1333. The Rooftop
Restaurant overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar, and serves Mediterranean
and continental specialties for buffet-style breakfasts and dinner. A shaded
bar terrace, the veranda bar, serves cocktails and live music weeknights.
Business services include high-speed internet access, gala dinners and
event catering. A beauty salon and gym are available at the hotel. Ice
cream and summer drinks are served seasonally by the heated outdoor pool.
The
Rock Hotel, Gibraltar The Rock Hotel is an institution
amongst Gibraltar Hotels and indeed the Mediterranean. Built in 1932 by
the Marquis of Bute, the hotel to this day still offers standards of service
and guest care from that bygone, more genteel era. Decorated in the
colonial style the Rock offers 104 comfortable bedrooms which include a
number of suites, junior suites and penthouses. Of all the Gibraltar
hotels the Rock enjoys a unique aspect in Gibraltar with all rooms having
magnificent views across the Bay of Gibraltar, the Spanish mainland and
the Rif Mountains of Morocco.
The
Barbary Apes of Gibraltar,
Macaca Sylvanus, are actually tail-less
monkeys and are an unusual and delightful attraction for anyone visiting
Gibraltar or the Costa del Sol. No one is really sure how the only wild
apes in Europe arrived in Gibraltar and legend has it that were they to
leave The Rock then would fall to the Spanish. The two most popular explanations
as to the appearance of the apes of Gibraltar is either that they crossed
via a subterranean tunnel from their native Morocco or British sailors
introduced them having picked them up on their travels.
The
caves have been visited since Roman times but today's visitor has the benefit
of footlights and hand rails to assist them. It is still slippery underfoot
though so be sure to wear good footware. The main Cathedral cave
is an impressive site and during the Second World War was adapted to be
used as a military hospital. However it was never required as such and
today is put to a more peaceful use when concerts are held there. The acoustics
are wonderful.
