Gibraltar

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Nobody can deny that Gibraltar is a true British colony

on Spanish soil, which incorporates English customs with

those of Andalucia.

Its 30 000 inhabitants, who live in the Iberian Peninsula

just north of Africa, speak Spanish with a strong, distinctive

accent (although the official language is English), and

curiously, are loyal to Queen Elizabeth.

Yet,

these people certainly do not consider themselves to be

English or Spanish. They speak of themselves as being

proudly native of this land, and have their own flag to

prove it.

This fervor for independence could be due to their controversial

history. In 1969, when the United Nations questioned the

authenticity of the English colonies, Spain closed off its

border, and cut off telephone lines.

This is how Gibraltar remained for 16 years, until the

European Economic Community opened the borders once again.

This country is a strange amalgam of cultures, which have

merged to create a lifestyle independent from that of the

rest of Europe. This is also seen in its independent economy,

fundamentally based in tourism, and although production

is not its forte, it has developed a relatively strong economic

profile.

Its duty-free port has led many to call it "the Commercial

Center of the Mediterranean" with good reason. This alone

is enough to draw tourists from all over the world, who

enjoy a fine selection of porcelain, crystals, clothes,

perfumes, liquor, jewelry, silks and electronics (which

come in a variety of voltages, for use in different countries).

This type of "city-shopping" (it's small for a city, with

only six square kilometers, but its selection for shopping

is immense) has consequently developed all the necessities

for tourists. For example, money can easily be changed in

any bank or money-changing house. The Gibraltar pound is

on par with its English counterpart.

Shopping is not the only activity in Gibraltar; there

are several other places of interest and tourist activities,

such as the city tour. This 90 minute tour begins in the

Botanical Gardens of The Grove, where fountains, statues

and waterfalls combine with Mediterranean pines, olive trees

and palms, as well as a collection of cacti from all over

the world.

There is also a beautiful outdoor theater, surrounded by

tropical irises, where concerts can be enjoyed. There is

a cable car in the park , open every day but Sunday, which

provides visitors with spectacular views of the immense

Mediterranean, as well as the Moroccan coast, from the top

of the Rock.

Amazingly,

there is even more to admire from the peak: a natural reserve

of great scientific interest. This reserve houses dens of

macaques, or "Gibraltar monkeys". These are the direct descendants

of the tailless breed that are indigenous to Morocco and

Algeria, and are the only monkeys in Europe that currently

survive in their natural habitat.

The grotto of St. Michael, found 300 meters below sea level,

is a must-see. It is known to have been inhabited by Neolithic

man, and the Romans also visited it to enjoy its hundreds

of stalactites and stalagmites (which today, serve as the

ideal setting for a light and sound show that is done twice

daily). It was once said that the cave had no end, and connected

Gibraltar to Africa. Today, we know that despite its many

passages, it has a depth of 62 meters. This is only one

of Gibraltar's 140 caves.

Another main attraction is the tunnels of the great siege.

This is a labyrinth excavated by the English in the interior

of the Rock of Gibraltar during the Great Siege. According

to the tour guides, this represents "one of the greatest

defense systems ever made by man."

The fortification of the city is another example of human

accomplishment worth seeing. These walls, constructed around

the old city of Gibraltar, were erected by the Arabs and

later reinforced by the English and the Spanish.There are

various important constructions, one of which is the Wall

of Carlos the 5th, (or Carlos the 1st, of Spain), made in

the 16th century to defend the city from pirate attacks.

Another is the Landport Bridge, which, in the past, offered

the only access by land to Gibraltar.

This curious mix of Arabic, Spanish and British history

is notable also in the architecture. At first sight, Gibraltar

seems to be a 18th century British town, but as you approach

more closely, it transforms into a 15th or 16th century

Spanish village. Even closer inspection reveals details

from a former 11th or 12th century Arabic city.

The culture of the city is also a mosaic of traditions,

although some British customs persist, such as the changing

of the guard done in the doorway to the governor's residence.

Far from the usual tourist circuits, one can find the true

charm of Gibraltar, such as that of its beaches. On the

East Side lie Camp Bay and Little Bay, both perfect for

windsurfing, diving and sailing. The beaches to the west

are sandier and get all the morning sun.

Either of these options, combined with duty-free shopping,

seem to be more than enough for the more than four million

tourists who visit Gibraltar each year.


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