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gibraltar - Costadilaiset
GIBRALTAR Wikipedia ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Maantiede ................................................................................................................................ 3 Ilmasto...................................................................................................................................... 4 Luonto ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Historia ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Politiikka ................................................................................................................................... 6 Asevoimat ja poliisi ................................................................................................................... 7 Alueet ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Talous ja infrastruktuuri ............................................................................................................ 8 Talous ................................................................................................................................... 8 Energia ................................................................................................................................. 9 Liikenne .................................................................................................................................. 10 Jäte- ja vesihuolto .................................................................................................................. 10 Väestö .................................................................................................................................... 11 Väestöjakauma ................................................................................................................... 11 Koulutus ja terveys ................................................................................................................. 11 Kulttuuri .................................................................................................................................. 12 Kansallistunne ja arkikulttuuri ............................................................................................. 12 Taiteet................................................................................................................................. 12 Viestintä .............................................................................................................................. 13 Urheilu ................................................................................................................................ 13 Gibraltarin historia...................................................................................................................... 15 Esihistoria ja varhaiset vaiheet ............................................................................................... 16 Muslimivalloitus ...................................................................................................................... 16 Espanjan hallussa .................................................................................................................. 17 Siirtyminen brittihallintoon ...................................................................................................... 17 Valtaus ja takaisinvaltausyritykset ...................................................................................... 17 Kruununsiirtomaaksi ........................................................................................................... 18 Espanjan ja Britannian 1900-luvun erimielisyydet............................................................... 19 2000-luvulle ........................................................................................................................ 19 Gibraltar Travel Wiki .................................................................................................................. 20 Understand............................................................................................................................. 20 History .................................................................................................................................... 20 Get in...................................................................................................................................... 20 By bus................................................................................................................................. 21 Get around ............................................................................................................................. 21 Talk ........................................................................................................................................ 22 See ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Do........................................................................................................................................... 23 Buy ......................................................................................................................................... 23 Eat .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Sleep ...................................................................................................................................... 25 Budget Options ................................................................................................................... 25 Luxury Options.................................................................................................................... 25 Contact ................................................................................................................................... 25 Phone ................................................................................................................................. 25 Internet ............................................................................................................................... 26 Stay safe ................................................................................................................................ 26 Stay healthy ........................................................................................................................... 26 Medical treatment ............................................................................................................... 26 Barbary Macaques.............................................................................................................. 26 Respect .................................................................................................................................. 27 Once You Arrive ........................................................................................................................ 28 Gibraltar Sightseeing and Attractions......................................................................................... 29 Main Street ............................................................................................................................. 33 Casemate Square .................................................................................................................. 35 Southport Gates ..................................................................................................................... 37 St Andrew’s Church................................................................................................................ 39 The Mediterranean Steps ....................................................................................................... 41 St Michael’s Cave................................................................................................................... 43 Great Siege Tunnels .............................................................................................................. 45 The 100 Tonne Gun ............................................................................................................... 47 Europa Point .......................................................................................................................... 49 The Lighthouse ................................................................................................................... 50 Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque ................................................................................................. 50 Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque .................................................................................................... 52 Our Lady of Europe ................................................................................................................ 54 The Great Tunnel In Catalan Bay Gibraltar ............................................................................ 57 Gibraltar Monkeys .................................................................................................................. 58 Upper Rock Nature Reserve .................................................................................................. 60 The Moorish Castle ................................................................................................................ 63 Parson’s Lodge ...................................................................................................................... 65 Rosia Bay ............................................................................................................................... 67 Alameda Gardens .................................................................................................................. 69 Trafalgar Cemetery ................................................................................................................ 71 The Cable Car Ride ................................................................................................................... 73 Wikipedia Gibraltar on Britannian merentakainen alue. Se sijaitsee Pyreneiden niemimaan eteläosassa Espanjan rannikolla Gibraltarinsalmessa. Sijainti on strategisesti tärkeä, koska Gibraltarinsalmi on Atlantin ja Välimeren välissä ja se erottaa toisistaan Euroopan ja Afrikan. Gibraltarin lähes 30 000 ihmistä asuvat 6,5 neliökilometrin alueella, ja asukastiheys on siten 4 303 asukasta neliökilometrillä. Todellinen asukastiheys on vielä suurempi, sillä 40 prosenttia maa-alasta on luonnonsuojelualuetta. Gibraltarissa ei harjoiteta maanviljelystä, sillä ei ole pohjavesivaroja eikä omia energianlähteitä. Talouden kulmakivinä ovat matkailu, offshore-pankkitoiminta ja merenkulku. Väestöllä on tiiviit suhteet emämaahan Britanniaan ja ympäröivään Espanjaan, ja monet ovat kaksikielisiä. Vuosisatojen varrella maahanmuuttajia on tullut muualtakin Välimeren seudulta, ja kulttuuriin on sulautunut piirteitä näistä kaikista. Maantiede Gibraltarinvuori kuvattuna Espanjan puolelta. Gibraltarin alue on 6,5 neliökilometriä laaja. Se on kasvanut kahden viime vuosikymmenen aikana, kun mereltä on vallattu lisää maata.[2] Alue jakaantuu geologialtaan kahteen osaan: pohjoisessa on hiekkatasanko, jonka kymmenmetrisen hiekkakerroksen alla on savea, soraa ja alimpana kalkkikivikerros. Alueen eteläosa Gibraltarinvuoresta Europa Pointiin on jurakautista kalkkikivikalliota, jota paikoin peittää breksia, tumma savikivi tai hiekka.[3] Gibraltarin rantaviiva on 12 kilometriä pitkä. Espanjan kanssa Gibraltarilla on 1,2 kilometriä pitkä yhteinen maaraja.[1] Espanjan rajan toisella puolella sijaitsee Andalusian itsehallintoalueeseen ja Cádizin maakuntaan kuuluva runsaan 60 000 asukkaan La Línea de la Concepciónin kunta.[4] Gibraltarin länsipuolella on noin 75 neliökilometrin kokoinen Gibraltarinlahti, jonka vastarannalla sijaitsee muun muassa runsaan 100 000 asukkaan Algecirasin kunta. Lahtea ja Gibraltaria ympäröivä alue tunnetaan yhteisnimityksellä Campo de Gibraltar. Gibraltarilla on kaksi rannikkoa, East Side, jossa sijaitsevat Sandy Bayn ja Catalan Bayn asutuskeskukset, ja West Side, jossa suurin osa väestöstä asuu.[3] Gibraltarin eteläisin osa on nimeltään Europa Point.[5] Hallitseva maamerkki on Atlasvuoriin kuuluva Gibraltarinvuori, jonka korkeus on 426 metriä. Vuori on kalkkikiveä, ja sen sisällä on lukuisia sotilaskäyttöön rakennettuja luolia ja tunneleita.[6] Ilmasto Gibraltarin ilmasto on välimerellinen, jolle ovat tyypillisiä leudot talvet ja kuumat kesät. Alueella vallitsee kaksi tuulta. Saharasta puhaltava itätuuli levante tuo mukanaan lämmintä kosteaa ilmaa,[3] länsituuli poniente raikkaampaa ilmaa.[7] Vuoden keskilämpötila on 18 celsiusastetta. Keskilämpötilaltaan lämpimin kuukausi on elokuu, 24 celsiusastetta, ja kylmin tammi–helmikuu, 13 celsiusastetta. Keskimääräinen sademäärä on 830 mm vuodessa. Keskimäärin eniten sataa marraskuussa, 140 mm, ja vähiten heinä–elokuussa, jolloin ei sada lainkaan.[8] Luonto Magotti on Euroopan ainoa villinä elävä apinalaji. Gibraltarinvuoren yläosa julistettiin vuonna 1993 luonnonpuistoksi. Se perustettiin suojelemaan Gibraltarin luontoa. Puisto käsittää noin 40 prosenttia Gibraltarin pinta-alasta.[9] Gibraltarilla kasvaa yli 600 kasvilajia.[10] Niistä ristikukkainen Iberis gibraltarica on kotoperäinen, ja Gibraltar on ainoa paikka Euroopassa, jossa sitä kasvaa villinä.[11] Yleisimpiä kasvillisuustyyppejä ovat korkea macchia-pensaikko ja matalampi pensaikon ja varvikon välimuoto garigue. Kalliojyrkänteillä kasvaa monia harvinaisia kalkinsuosijakasveja, jotka kukoistavat etenkin keväällä ja alkukesästä. Myös merenrannalla, hietikolla ja Windmill Hillin aroalueella on omat kasvillisuustyyppinsä.[12] Gibraltarilla elää Euroopan ainoa apina magotti. Kaikkiaan Gibraltarilla tavataan 11 maanisäkästä. Niihin kuuluvat isokotipäästäinen, kettu, kaniini, mustarotta, isorotta, kotihiiri ja neljä lepakkolajia. Gibraltarinlahdella tavataan lisäksi munkkihylkeitä sekä delfiinejä ja muita valaita.[13] Gibraltar on tunnettu petolintujen muuttoreitti. Se muodostaa pullonkaulan Euroopan ja Afrikan välille, jonka kautta muuttaa arviolta 250 000 petolintua kaudessa. Gibraltar on myös levähdyspaikka muuttaville varpuslinnuille. Alueen hedelmäpensaat mahdollistavat suuren määrän talvehtivia ja läpimuuttavia varpuslintuja.[14] Gibraltar on Manner-Euroopan ainoa paikka, jossa esiintyy kalliopyitä.[15] Gibraltarilla on kaksi kansainvälisesti tärkeätä lintualuetta (IBA). Vuonna 2000 arvioitu Rock of Gibraltar -IBA-alue käsittää lähes koko Gibraltarin maa-alueen eli 600 hehtaaria.[14] Toinen IBA-alueista, vuonna 2007 arvioitu Strait of Gibraltar, sijaitsee kokonaan merellä käsittäen koko Gibraltarinsalmen Gibraltarin, Espanjan ja Marokon aluevesillä.[16] Luonnonpuiston alueella tavataan kahtatoista matelijalajia. Niistä kuusi on käärmeitä, viisi liskoja ja yksi matolisko. Myös selkärangattomien lajimäärät ovat suuria.[9] Historia Pääartikkeli: Gibraltarin historia Gibraltarin taistelu 1607. Ihmisasutuksesta Gibraltarilla on todisteita jo neandertalinihmisten ajoista asti.[17] Foinikialaiset kävivät paikalla noin 950 eaa.[18] ja karthagolaiset myöhemmin, mutta kummatkaan eivät luoneet alueelle pysyvää asutusta. Platon käytti Gibraltarista ja salmen toisella puolella olevasta Monte Hachosta nimitystä Herakleen pylväät.[19] Myöskään roomalaiset eivät perustaneet Gibraltariin pysyvää siirtokuntaa. Rooman valtakunnan tuhon jälkeen tulleet vandaalit jäivät Gibraltariin väliaikaisesti, mutta gootit pysyivät alueella vuodesta 414 vuoteen 711. Tuona vuonna berberipäällikkö Tarik ibn Zijad nousi valtausretkellään maihin Espanjaan Gibraltarin eteläkärjessä. Vuori sai nimen Džebel al Tarik (Tarikin vuori, arab. )قراط لبج. Tästä muodostui ajan mittaan nimi Gibraltar.[18] Alue säilyi maurien hallussa vuoteen 1462, jolloin Kastilian joukot valtasivat sen ja alue liitettiin MedinaSidonian ruhtinaan maihin. Vuonna 1501 Gibraltarista tuli osa Espanjan kruunun maita ja kuningatar Isabella myönsi sille seuraavana vuonna vaakunan, jota käytetään tänäkin päivänä.[18] Osana kahdeksankymmenvuotista sotaa käytiin 25. huhtikuuta 1607 Gibraltarin taistelu, jossa alankomaalaislaivasto yllätti ja tuhosi täysin Gibraltarinlahdelle ankkuroituneen espanjalaislaivaston. Espanjan perimyssodassa 4. elokuuta 1704 George Rooken johtamat brittiläis-alankomaiset joukot valtasivat Gibraltarin. Alue siirtyi lopullisesti Britannian haltuun vuoden 1713 Utrechtin rauhan myötä. Vaikka Espanja yritti aluksi palauttaa Gibraltarin haltuunsa, muun muassa vuosien 1779–1783 piirityksessä, alue on säilynyt Britannian hallinnassa.[6] Gibraltarista tuli tärkeä kuninkaallisen laivaston tukikohta, ja sen osuus oli tärkeä Trafalgarin taistelussa. Strateginen merkitys korostui Suezin kanavan avaamisen jälkeen, sillä Gibraltar oli Britannian ja sen siirtomaiden Intian ja Australian välisen tärkeän merireitin varrella. Toisen maailmansodan aikana asukkaat evakuoitiin ja Gibraltarin avulla liittoutuneet pystyivät kontrolloimaan liikennettä Välimerelle.[18] Sodan aikana italialaiset tekivät Gibraltariin useita vedenalaishyökkäyksiä. Natsi-Saksan suunnittelema operaatio Felix Gibraltarin valtaamiseksi kaatui Espanjan haluttomuuteen päästää Saksan joukkoja maaperälleen.[20] Francisco Francon diktatuurin aikana Espanja uusi vaatimuksensa Gibraltarin palauttamisesta hallintaansa. Vastavetona vuonna 1969 hyväksytylle perustuslaille, jolla Gibraltar sai itsehallinnon, Espanja sulki Gibraltarin-rajansa. Raja avattiin uudelleen vuonna 1985 ennen Espanjan liittymistä Euroopan yhteisöön.[18] Syyskuussa 2006 Espanjan, Gibraltarin ja Britannian edustajien välisissä historiallisissa neuvotteluissa päästiin sopimukseen useista Gibraltariin ja sen lähiympäristöön vaikuttavista seikoista, kuten rajaliikenteen sujuvoittamisesta, lentoaseman käytöstä, Gibraltarin kansainvälisen suuntanumeron hyväksymisestä ja 1960-luvulla rajan sulkemisen myötä työpaikkansa menettäneiden espanjalaisten eläkkeistä.[21] Politiikka Gibraltarin parlamenttitalo. Gibraltar ilmasta katsottuna Gibraltarin hallitsija on kuningatar Elisabet II, jota edustaa Gibraltarin kuvernööri.[22] Lokakuusta 2009 lähtien kuvernöörinä on toiminut Britannian Kuninkaallisen laivaston vara-amiraali Adrian Johns.[23] Kuvernööri nimittää vaalien jälkeen pääministerin ja hallituksen muut ministerit.[22] Hän on lisäksi vastuussa ulkopoliittisista-, puolustus- ja turvallisuusasioista.[24] Gibraltarin hallitus muodostetaan kerrallaan neljäksi vuodeksi. Hallituksen puheenjohtaja on pääministeri, vuodesta 2011 lähtien Fabian Picardo. Yksikamarinen parlamentti koostuu 17:stä vaaleilla valitusta jäsenestä ja parlamentin valitsemasta puhemiehestä.[1] Vuonna 2011 valitussa parlamentissa on edustettuna kolme puoluetta: vaaliliitossa olleet Gibraltarin sosialistinen työväenpuolue ja Gibraltarin liberaalipuolue sekä Gibraltarin sosiaalidemokraatit.[25] Äänioikeus on kaikilla yli 18-vuotiailla gibraltarilaisilla ja siellä yli puoli vuotta asuneilla brittikansalaisilla.[22] Gibraltar kuuluu Euroopan unioniin, mutta se on muutaman EU:n yhteisen järjestelmän ulkopuolella. Gibraltar ei kuulu EU:n sisämarkkinoihin, yhteiseen maatalouspolitiikkaan, eikä sillä ole velvollisuutta kantaa arvonlisäveroa. Gibraltarilaiset ovat saaneet vuodesta 2003 äänestää europarlamenttivaaleissa, ja alue kuuluu samaan vaalipiiriin Lounais-Englannin kanssa.[26] Gibraltarin perustuslaki vuodelta 1969 takaa sille huomattavan sisäisen itsemääräämisoikeuden. Edelleen tärkeä osa Gibraltarin politiikkaa on kysymys alueen hallinnasta. Paikalliset puolueet vastustavat hallinnan siirtämistä Espanjalle, joka edelleen vaatii aluetta itselleen. Asiasta on järjestetty Gibraltarissa kansanäänestykset vuosina 1967 ja 2002, ja molemmilla kerroilla yli 95 prosenttia äänesti Espanjaan liittymistä vastaan. Vuonna 2006 hyväksyttiin uusi nykyaikaistettu perustuslaki.[1] Asevoimat ja poliisi Gibraltarin kuninkaallisen poliisin kumivene. Gibraltarin puolustuksesta vastaa joukko-osasto nimeltään British Forces Gibraltar. Sen rungon muodostaa jalkaväkirykmentti (Royal Gibraltar Regiment), joka koostuu Gibraltarilta värvätyistä osaaikaisista sekä Britannian maavoimien vakinaisesta väestä. Kuninkaallinen laivasto ylläpitää laivuetta (Gibraltar Squadron), jonka tehtävänä on Gibraltarin aluevesien turvallisuudesta ja koskemattomuudesta huolehtiminen. Siihen kuuluu Scimitar-luokan partioveneet HMS Scimitar ja HMS Sabre sekä kolme 6,5metristä Arctic-kumivenettä.[27] Kolmannen osan joukoista muodostaa Britannian Kuninkaallisten ilmavoimien asema, jolla ei kuitenkaan enää ole yhtään konetta vakinaisella komennuksella, ja se on lähinnä siviilikäytössä (katso liikenne).[28] Gibraltarin sisäistä järjestystä valvoo Gibraltarin kuninkaallinen poliisi.[29] Special Air Service -erikoisjoukkojen sotilaat surmasivat vuonna 1988 osana operaatio Flaviusta kolme Irlannin tasavaltalaisarmeijan jäsentä, jotka olivat Gibraltarilla valmistelemassa autopommi-iskua. Surmatut paljastuivat aseettomiksi, mutta Espanjan puolelta löydettiin myöhemmin kolmikon vuokraama auto, joka oli pakattu 64 kilolla Semtex-muoviräjähdettä.[30] Thames Television teki tapauksesta kiistanalaisen dokumentin Death on the Rock.[31] Vuonna 2000 Britannian, paikallisten ja Espanjan välejä kiristivät Välimerellä reaktorivaurion kärsineen ydinsukellusvene HMS Tirelessin pitkään kestäneet korjaustyöt Gibraltarilla.[32] Alueet Gibraltarin kartta. Gibraltarilla ei ole hallinnollisia alueita, mutta tilastollisia tarkoituksia varten se on jaettu seitsemään suurasuinalueeseen (Major Residential Area). Alueet ja niiden asukasluvut (2001):[33] Alue Asukasluku %-osuus 1. East Side 429 1,6 2. North District 4 116 15,0 3. Reclamation Areas 9 599 34,9 4. Town Area 3 588 13,0 5. Upper Town 2 805 10,2 6. Sandpits Area 2 207 8,0 7. South District 4 257 15,5 Loput 494 1,8 Yhteensä 27 495 100 Talous ja infrastruktuuri Talous Matkailu ja merenkulku ovat tärkeitä tekijöitä Gibraltarin taloudessa. Gibraltarin satamassa käy paljon risteilyaluksia. Gibraltarin talouden merkittävimmät haarat ovat matkailu, offshore-pankkitoiminta ja merenkulku. Vuonna 2010 Gibraltarin bruttokansantuote oli 32 415 puntaa asukasta kohden. Siitä vähittäiskauppa ja matkailu muodostivat 25, finanssipalvelut 22 ja merenkulku 20 prosenttia.[34] Vielä vuonna 1984 Britannian asevoimien edustus tuotti Gibraltarin bruttokansantuotteesta peräti 60 prosenttia, mutta nykyään sen osuus on alle kymmenen prosenttia.[1] Maanviljelyä Gibraltarilla ei ole mahdollista harjoittaa ollenkaan, ja kevyttä teollisuutta siellä on vain vähän.[22] Gibraltarin tuloista suurin osa tulee tuloveroista ja tullitariffeista. Lisäksi se saa laajaa tukea Britannialta. Suurimmat kustannukset syntyvät sosiaalipalveluista, yleisistä töistä ja kunnallispalveluista.[22] Koska Gibraltarilla ei ole luonnonvaroja eikä teollisuutta, se joutuu tuomaan käytännössä kaikki tavarat ja ruokatuotteet ulkomailta. Gibraltarin tuonnin arvo olikin vuonna 2004 melkein kolme miljardia dollaria, kun vienti oli vain 271 miljoonaa dollaria. Vienti on pääosin muualta tulevien tavaroiden uudelleenvientiä.[1] Ulkomaalaisia sijoituksia Gibraltarille houkuttelee matalat verot.[1] Monet uhkapeliyritykset ovatkin sijoittaneet pääkonttorinsa Gibraltarille sen taloudellisen vapauden ansiosta. Lisäksi yrityksiä houkuttelevat Gibraltarin hyvät tietoliikenneyhteydet.[35] Matkailu on kasvanut selvästi 1900-luvun lopussa ja 2000-luvun alussa. Vuonna 2011 Gibraltariin saapui maitse 11,4 miljoonaa vierailijaa, risteilyvierailijoita yli 325 000 ja lentäen melkein 190 000 matkustajaa. Lentomatkustajista iso osa jatkoi suoraan Espanjan Costa del Soliin.[34] Matkailun määrä alkoi kasvaa, kun Gibraltariin rakennettiin uusia hotelleja, rantapalveluita ja kasinoja.[22] Merenkulkua palvelee Gibraltarin satama, joka on merkittävä tekijä maan taloudelle. Sataman tärkeimmät toiminnot ovat polttoainehuolto ja muut satamapalvelut.[36] Monet alukset, jotka tarvitsevat polttoainetäydennystä, tai alukset, jotka ovat menossa Välimereltä Englannin kanaalin ja Pohjanmeren rikkipäästöjen rajoitusalueelle ja näin tarvitsevat ympäristöystävällisempää polttoainetta vierailevat Gibraltarin satamassa.[37] Gibraltarinsalmesta kulkee vuosittain yli 110 000 alusta, joten satama sijaitsee strategisesti hyvässä paikassa sekä sotilas- että siviilimerenkulun tarpeisiin. Brittilaivaston telakalla on korjattu Nelsonin lippulaiva HMS Victory ja lukuisia muita aluksia. Telakka siirtyi siviiliyrityksen hallintaan vuonna 1985.[38] Gibraltarin eri museoissa käy vuosittain 15 000-20 000 vierasta, kun taas luonnonsuojelualueella käy vuosittain noin 800 000 vierailijaa, joista suurin osa elo- ja syyskuussa.[39][40] Rahayksikkö on Gibraltarin punta, jonka kurssi on kiinteästi sidottu Englannin puntaan, mutta myös brittiläiset rahat käyvät maksuvälineenä. Euro ei ole laillinen maksuväline, mutta useimmat kaupat ja ravintolat hyväksyvät pieniä euromääriä.[41] Energia Gibraltarin energialaitos tuottaa sähköä kolmella dieselgeneraattorilla Waterportin voimalaitoksessa. Se ostaa sähköä myös yksityiseltä OESCOn voimalaitokselta.[42] Vuonna 2011 hallitus teki päätöksen näiden vanhanaikaisten, riittämättömien ja saastuttavien laitosten korvaamisesta uudella kahdeksan dieselgeneraattorin yksiköllä.[43] Tuulivoiman, aaltovoiman ja jätteiden polton käyttöä energialähteinä tutkitaan, ja uusiutuvien energialähteiden on tarkoitus tyydyttää 12 prosenttia Gibraltarin sähköntarpeesta vuoteen 2032 mennessä.[44] Liikenne Gibraltarin lentoasema. Muista Britannian erillisalueista poiketen Gibraltarilla on käytössä oikeanpuoleinen liikenne, koska sillä on yhteinen maaraja Espanjan kanssa. Yleisin kulkuväline on henkilöauto, mutta aluetta palvelevat myös lähiliikenteen linja-autot.[45] Gibraltarilla on noin 29 kilometriä teitä,[1], ja ne ovat pääosin kapeita.[46] Gibraltarin tieverkkoon kuuluu myös Gibraltarinvuoren alittavia tunneleita. Vuorelle puolestaan pääsee köysiradalla.[22] Gibraltarinvuoren huipulle nouseva köysirata. Gibraltarin satamaan ajaa sekä rahti- että risteilyaluksia. Vuonna 2011 satamassa kävi kaikkiaan 10 350 alusta.[47] Sieltä on myös päivittäinen lauttayhteys Marokon puolelle Tangeriin.[22] Gibraltarin lentoasemalla operoivat vuonna 2011 British Airways, Monarch Airlines, EasyJet ja Bmibaby, ja sieltä on yhteydet Lontooseen, Manchesteriin, Liverpooliin ja East Midlandsin lentoasemalle.[48] Jäte- ja vesihuolto Gibraltarin jätehuolto on haasteellista, sillä se on vain 6,5 neliökilometrin laajuinen eikä siellä ole tilaa omalle jäteasemille. Lisäksi koska Gibraltarilla ei ole juurikaan teollisuutta, kaikki normaalit käyttötavarat on tuotava muualta, mikä lisää kuljetusjätteen määrää. Toisaalta siellä ei tuoteta teollisuuden vähyyden takia juurikaan ongelmajätettä. Kunnallisjäte kerätään kuudesti viikossa ja se viedään Espanjan Los Barriosiin. Ongelmajäte kuljetetaan myös Espanjan puolella sijaitseviin käsittelylaitoksiin.[49] Gibraltarilla oli oma jätteenpolttolaitos, mutta se lakkautettiin vuonna 2000.[50] Gibraltarissa ei ole pohjavesivaroja, vaan käyttövesi saadaan keräämällä sadevettä tai nykyisin yhä enemmän poistamalla suolaa merivedestä.[3] Väestö Pääartikkeli: Gibraltarin väestö Väestöjakauma Gibraltarin väestö 1725–2001. Gibraltarin väkiluku vuonna 2012 oli 29 034.[1] Alueen väestötiheys on noin 4 303 asukasta neliökilometrillä, ja se on yksi maailman tiheimmin asutetuista alueista. Gibraltarin pieni pinta-ala oli ongelma etenkin ennen 1990-luvun sotilasalueen pienentämistä, jolloin vain 20 prosenttia koko alueesta oli siviilien käytössä.[51] Vuoden 2001 väestönlaskennassa väestö jaettiin kuuteen kansallisuusryhmään. Gibraltarilaisia ilmoitti olevansa 83,2 prosenttia asukkaista, muita brittejä 9,6 prosenttia, marokkolaisia 3,5 prosenttia, espanjalaisia 1,2 prosenttia, muita EU-kansalaisia 1 prosentti ja muita 1,5 prosenttia.[52] Gibraltarin pääuskonto on kristinusko, jonka edustajista valtaosa (78 % väestöstä) kuuluu roomalaiskatoliseen kirkkoon. Alueella on myös muslimi-, juutalais- ja hinduvähemmistöt.[1] Katolisen kirkon vaikutusvalta on perinteisesti ollut voimakas. Kirkkoa johtaa paikallinen piispa. Gibraltarilla on lisäksi neljä synagogaa ja yksi rabbi. Hinduyhteisöllä on yksi temppeli, mutta ei ammattipapistoa. Paikalliseen hindulaisuuteen on vaikuttanut etenkin Sri Swatchidananda, mutta myös Radha Soami -liikkeellä on kannattajia.[53] Virallinen kieli on englanti, jota käytetään hallinnossa ja koulutuksessa. Useimmat gibraltarilaiset ovat kuitenkin kaksikielisiä ja puhuvat myös espanjaa.[22] Lisäksi monet puhuvat myös llanitoa, joka on englannin ja Andalusian espanjan sekoitus.[54] Koulutus ja terveys Gibraltarilainen toisen asteen koulu. Koulutus on ilmaista ja pakollista 5–15-vuotiaille.[22] Gibraltarin koulujärjestelmä noudattaa pitkälti brittiläistä mallia ja opetussuunnitelmaa, mutta koulujärjestelmästä vastaa kuitenkin Gibraltarin hallinto. Normaalien peruskoulujen lisäksi Gibraltarilla toimii heprealainen peruskoulu. Lisäksi siellä on kaksi toisen asteen oppilaitosta ja Gibraltar College of Further Education, jossa annetaan ammatti- ja uudelleenkoulutusta.[55] Peruskoulu on jaettu kahteen asteeseen; alaluokkiin 5–8-vuotiaille ja keskiluokkiin 8–12-vuotiaille. Toisen asteen koulutus on 12–15-vuotiaille. Englanti on opetuskieli,[56] mutta espanjaakin opetetaan neljännestä luokasta alkaen. Korkeakouluopintoja varten opiskelijoiden täytyy lähteä ulkomaille. Hallitus tarjoaa stipendejä Britannian yliopistoihin.[57] Gibraltarin kansanterveys on hyvällä länsimaisella tasolla. Naisten elinajanodote vuoden 2001 väestöraportin mukaan oli 83,3 vuotta, miesten 78,5 vuotta. Sydäntaudit ja syöpä ovat syynä kumpikin neljännekseen kuolemista. Lapsille on kattava rokotusohjelma, joka saavuttaa noin 95 % ikäluokasta. Ylipaino on samanlainen terveysriski kuin muuallakin länsimaissa, tupakointia koetetaan vähentää ja rintasyöpäseulonnat ovat suunnitteilla.[58] Kulttuuri Kansallispäivän ilmapallot. Kansallistunne ja arkikulttuuri Gibraltarin kulttuurissa on vaikutteita monista lähteistä, ei pelkästään Britanniasta ja Espanjasta. Useimpien gibraltarilaisten etninen tausta onkin jotain muuta kuin brittiläistä tai espanjalaista: muun muassa maltalaista, portugalilaista, genovalaista tai pohjoisafrikkalaista.[59] Gibraltar ei ole itsenäinen valtio, mutta sen asukkailla on silti voimakas kansallistunne. Gibraltarilainen ideologia painottaa eienglantilaista brittikulttuuria ja vastustaa Espanjan aikomuksia, jotka uhkaavat Gibraltarin itsemääräämisoikeutta.[60] Gibraltarilla on 1900-luvun lopulla panostettu voimakkaasti kansallissymbolien luomiseen, ja tämän seurauksena maalle on kehittynyt lippu ja kansallislaulu.[60] Lippu on pitkänomainen versio vaakunasta, jossa on kolmitorninen linnoitus ja sen keskellä riippuva kultainen avain. Vaakunan alla lukee usein Montis Insignia Calpe, ”Gibraltarinvuoren tunnus”.[61] Gibraltarin tärkeimmät juhlapäivät ovat Kansainyhteisön päivä, perustuslain päivä ja 9. lokakuuta vietettävä kansallispäivä, jolla juhlistetaan vuoden 1967 kansanäänestystä.[60] Se on yleinen vapaapäivä, jolloin suurin osa asukkaista pukeutuu kansallisväreihin punaiseen ja valkoiseen. Päivä huipentuu gibraltarilaisia symboloivan 30 000 punavalkoisen ilmapallon vapauttamiseen.[62][63] Gibraltarin voimakkaimmat kansallissymbolit ovat kuitenkin itse Gibraltarinvuori ja sen apinat. Kansallisidentiteettiä kuvaa myös kansalaisten vahva kiinnostus kauneuskilpailuja kohtaan.[60] Miss Gibraltar -kilpailua on järjestetty jo vuodesta 1959, ja gibraltarilainen Kaiane Aldorino voitti 2009 Miss Maailma -kilpailun.[64] Gibraltarin ruokakulttuuri on sekoitus brittiläisiä ja välimerellisiä vaikutteita. Siihen ovat vaikuttaneet erityisesti englantilainen, espanjalainen, italialainen ja juutalainen keittiö. Genovalaisperäinen kikhernepiiras calentita on Gibraltarin kansallisruoka.[51] Taiteet Gibraltarilaista kirjallisuutta on vähän, mutta joitakin teoksia on ilmestynyt. Ensimmäinen gibraltarilainen romaani oli todennäköisesti Héctor Licudin kirjoittama espanjankielinen Barbarita, joka ilmestyi 1929. Tämän jälkeen on ilmestynyt jonkin verran muita romaaneja, runoja ja näytelmiä.[65] Kulttuurikeskus John Mackintosh Hall puolestaan tukee paikallisia kuvataiteilijoita, ja siellä on esillä piirroksia, maalauksia ja veistoksia.[66] Gibraltarilla on myös joitakin esiintyviä taiteilijoita, kuten tanssi- ja teatteriryhmiä.[66] Tunnettuja gibraltarilaisia muusikoita ovat kitaristi Charles Ramirez ja Albert Hammond, joka on tehnyt kappaleita monille kansainvälisille muusikoille. Menestyneimpiä rockyhtyeitä ovat Breed 77, Melon Diesel ja Taxi.[65] Viestintä Gibraltarin ensimmäinen puhelinvaihde avattiin vuonna 1886. Yleisradioyhtiö Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation aloitti toimintansa 1963, ja se lähettää ohjelmaa televisio- ja radiokanavillaan ympäri vuorokauden.[67] Asevoimien British Forces Broadcasting Service ylläpitää kahta radiokanavaa ja yksityistä kaapelitelevisioverkkoa. Vanhin ja merkittävin sanomalehti on vuodesta 1801 lähtien yhtäjaksoisesti ilmestynyt Gibraltar Chronicle. Toinen merkittävä sanomalehti on Panorama, joka aloitti ensimmäisenä gibraltarilaislehtenä verkkolehden julkaisun.[68] Gibraltarin pääasiallisella viestintäpalveluntarjoajalla Gibtelecomilla on lankapuhelin-, gsm- ja internetpalveluja. Ensimmäinen internetpalveluntarjoaja Gibnet aloitti toimintansa tammikuussa 1996 ja muutti myöhemmin nimekseen Sapphire Networks. CTS:llä on WiMAX-pohjaisia langattomia internetyhteyksiä. Gibraltarin kansainvälinen suuntanumero on +350 ja ylätason verkkotunnus .gi. Urheilu Jalkapallostadion Victoria Stadium. Virallisen aseman on lajien kansainvälisiltä kattojärjestöiltä saanut 18 gibraltarilaista urheilun lajiliittoa.[69] Gibraltar on International Island Games Associationin jäsen ja on osallistunut sen järjestämään Island Games -monilajitapahtumaan vuodesta 1987 lähtien. Vuonna 1995 tapahtuma järjestettiin Gibraltarilla.[70] Se on osallistunut Kansainyhteisön kisoihin vuodesta 1958 alkaen, mutta ei ole saavuttanut kisoista yhtään mitalia.[71] Gibraltarin jalkapalloliitto (Gibraltar Football Association, GFA) perustettiin vuonna 1895, ja se kuuluu maailman vanhimpiin jalkapalloliittoihin. Gibraltar on hakenut Euroopan maanosaliiton Uefan jäsenyyttä, jota Espanjan kuninkaallinen jalkapalloliitto on voimakkaasti vastustanut. Vuonna 2007 pidetyssä virallisessa äänestyksessä Gibraltarin hakemus hylättiin, mutta asia tulee uudelleen esille 2013.[72] Gibraltarin maajoukkueen kotikenttä on lentoaseman läheisyydessä sijaitseva Victoria Stadium. Maajoukkue osallistui vuoden 2006 FIFI Wild Cupiin. Jalkapallon Gibraltarin-mestaruudesta on pelattu 1800-luvun lopulta lähtien.[73] Gibraltarilla on pelattu krikettia 1800-luvun alkupuolelta asti. Sen maajoukkue on voittanut Euroopan mestaruuskilpailujen kakkosdivisioonan vuosina 2000 ja 2002.[74] Gibraltarin historia Wikipedia Gibraltarinlahti 1700-luvulla tehdyssä kaiverruksessa. Gibraltarin historian varhaisiin vaiheisiin liittyvät neandertalinihmiset, joiden viimeisiin asuinpaikkoihin Gibraltar kuului. Antiikin aikana Gibraltarinvuorta pidettiin tunnetun maailman rajana, ja se oli toinen niin kutsutuista Herakleen pylväistä. Gibraltarista lähti 771 umaijadien Espanjan valloitus. Niemen nykyinen nimikin on johdettu nimestä Jebal Tarik, jonka se sai sotapäällikkö Tarik ibn Zijadin mukaan. Muslimit perustivat 1160 Gibraltarin ensimmäisen kaupungin. Espanjalaiset valtasivat 1462 Gibraltarin takaisin muslimeilta. Espanjan perimyssodan aikana 1704 englantilais-hollantilaiset joukot valtasivat niemen Espanjalta. Gibraltar siirtyi pian sen jälkeen Englannille. Utrechtin rauhassa Espanja tunnusti Gibraltarin kuuluvan Englannille, mutta yritti tämän jälkeen vallata sen useasti takaisin itselleen. Gibraltarista kehittyi 1800-luvulla merkittävä sotilastukikohta ja kauppakeskus, ja sen merkitys kasvoi entisestään 1869, kun Suezin kanava avattiin. Maailmansotien aikana Gibraltar oli merkittävä liittoutuneiden satama, ja toisen maailmansodan aikana sen siviiliväestö evakuoitiin Saksan valloituksen pelossa. Sodan jälkeen Francisco Francon hallinto alkoi vaatia voimakkaammin Gibraltarin liittämistä takaisin Espanjaan. Vuoden 1967 kansanäänestyksessä gibraltarilaiset äänestivät ylivoimaisella enemmistöllä säilymisestään brittien alaisuudessa. Protestiksi Espanja sulki Gibraltarin-vastaisen rajansa. Raja avattiin lopulta 1985, kun Britannia oli uhannut estää Espanjan jäsenyyden Euroopan yhteisössä. Gibraltarin talous on monipuolistunut 1900-luvun lopulla, ja se ei ole enää niin riippuvainen Britannian armeijan läsnäolosta. Esihistoria ja varhaiset vaiheet Gorhamin luolasta on löytynyt neandertalinihmisen jäänteitä. Gibraltar on ollut viimeisiä paikkoja, joissa neandertalinihminen on asunut. Gorhamin luolasta on löytynyt neandertalinihmisen jäänteitä, jotka ovat vain 24 000 vuotta vanhoja. Merenpinta oli tuolloin huomattavasti matalammalla, ja Gibraltarinvuorta ympäröi rannikkotasanko.[1] Neandertalinihmisen katoamisen jälkeisellä kivikaudella Gibraltaria asuttivat muun muassa Solutrén– ja Madeleinen kulttuurien nykyihmiset[2]. Gibraltarin ensimmäinen tunnettu nimi oli ”Calpe”, joksi foinikialaiset kutsuivat paikkaa. He eivät kuitenkaan asuttaneet Gibraltaria, vaikka todennäköisesti kävivätkin siellä usein.[3] Kreikkalaiset pitivät sekä Gibraltarinvuorta että Afrikan puolella olevaa Monte Hachoa Herakleen töinä ja kutsuivat niitä Herakleen pylväistä, jotka merkitsivät myös tunnetun maailman rajaa.[4] Muslimivalloitus Pääartikkeli: Maurien valta-aika Gibraltarilla Umaijadien sotapäällikkö Tarik ibn Zijad aloitti Espanjan valtauksen juuri Gibraltarilta. Espanjaa hallinneet visigootit olivat sekaannuksen tilassa, ja Ceutan visigoottikreivi Julian lupasi avustaa muslimeja Espanjan valloituksessa. Tangerin kuvernööri Tarik ibn Zijad lähti liikkeelle Ceutasta ja rantautui Gibraltarille huhtikuussa 771. Gibraltarilla hän kokosi joukkonsa ja valtasi Pyreneiden niemimaan Roderikilta. Gibraltaria alettiin kutsua nimellä Jebal Tarik, ”Tarikin vuori”, johon niemimaan nykyinenkin nimi pohjautuu.[5] Gibraltar kuului 1000-luvulla muslimien Sevillan kuningaskuntaan. Algecirasin kuvernööri pelkäsi pohjoisafrikkalaisten muslimien hyökkäystä ja perusti Gibraltarille linnoituksen. Ensimmäisen kaupungin paikalle rakensi vasta almohadikalifi Abd al-Mu'min. Hän kutsui kaupunkia nimellä Medinat al-Fath, voiton kaupunki, ja sen rakennustyöt alkoivat 1160.[5] Muslimien ja kristittyjen yhteenotot jatkuivat Pyreneillä, ja vuonna 1252 enää kaksi muslimikuningaskuntaa oli jäljellä. Vuonna 1309 Ferdinand IV oli piirittänyt Algecirasin ja havainnut Gibraltarin olevan haavoittuvainen. Hän lähetti Alonso Pérez de Guzmánin valtaamaan sen. Gibraltar antautui kuukauden piirityksen jälkeen. Gibraltar joutui jälleen muslimien haltuun vuonna 1333 neljän ja puolen kuukauden piirityksen jälkeen.[5] Myöhemmin Gibraltaria hallitsivat ensin Merinidit ja sittemmin Nasridit. Heidän aikanaan rakennettiin niin sanottu Moorish Castle, eli maurilinnoitus.[6] Espanjan hallussa Isabella Katolilaisen myöntämä alkuperäinen Gibraltarin vaakuna. Medina Sidonian herttua valloitti 1462 Gibraltarin takaisin kristityille Reconquistan aikana ja päätti näin maurien 750 vuotta kestäneen vallan. Kaupunki jäi aluksi herttuan haltuun, mutta Henrik IV yhdisti sen nopeasti viereisiin kaupunkeihin ja muodosti näin Campo de Gibraltarin alueen. Gibraltar palautui 1468 Medina Sidonian herttualle, joka myi 1474 sen kahdeksi vuodeksi Pedro de Herreran johtamille juutalaisille. Herttua karkotti kuitenkin juutalaiset 1476.[7] Isabella Katolilainen määräsi 1501 Gibraltarin kuuluvaksi Espanjan kruunulle. Seuraavana vuonna hän myönsi Gibraltarille vaakunan, joka sillä on edelleen käytössä.[5] Barbareskimerirosvot tekivät 1540 ryöstöretken huonosti puolustettuun Gibraltariin. Tämän jälkeen Kaarle I määräsi suojamuurin rakennuttamisen. Filip II laajensi muurin muutaman vuoden päästä ulottumaan Gibraltarinvuorelle.[5] Hollannin laivasto yllätti 25. huhtikuuta 1607 espanjalaiset ja tuhosi muutamassa tunnissa koko Espanjan laivaston.[7] Siirtyminen brittihallintoon Valtaus ja takaisinvaltausyritykset Espanjan perimyssodan aikana amiraali George Rooken johtamat englantilais-hollantilaiset joukot tunkeutuivat maihin 21. heinäkuuta 1704 ja eristivät niemen muusta mantereesta. Gibraltarin kuvernööri ei kuitenkaan suostunut antautumaan, ja 23. päivänä englantilaisten laivasto tulitti kaupunkia usean tunnin ajan. Seuraavana päivänä Gibraltar antautui.[5] Georg von Hessen-Darmstadt julisti tämän jälkeen niemimaan kuuluvan arkkiherttua Kaarlelle.[8] John Singleton Copleyn maalaus vuosien 1779–1783 piirityksestä. Gibraltarin valtauksen tarkoituksena oli saada Habsburg-sukuinen hallitsija Espanjaan. Englannilla oli kuitenkin muita suunnitelmia, ja maa halusi saada sotilastukikohdan Välimerelle turvatakseen kauppareittejä. Ensimmäinen englantilainen kuvernööri saapui syyskuussa 1705. Kuningatar Anna julisti 17. helmikuuta 1706 Gibraltarin vapaasatamaksi, ja se siirtyi 1713 virallisesti Englannille Utrechtin rauhassa.[8] Espanja pyrki useasti 1700-luvulla valtaamaan Gibraltarin takaisin. Yrityksistä tunnetuin on vuosien 1779–1783 piiritys.[9] Britannian asevoimat olivat heikentyneet Yhdysvaltain vapaussodan takia, joten Espanja käytti tilaisuuden hyväkseen ja julisti kesäkuussa 1779 sodan Britannialle. Gibraltarin kuvernööri oli tuolloin George Eliott, joka suunnitteli marraskuussa 1781 yllätyshyökkäyksen kannakselle olleita vihollisia vastaan. Eliott tiesi, että espanjalais-ranskalaiset joukot suunnittelivat hyökkäystä. Hän kuitenkin teki rynnäkön yöllä ja onnistui tunnissa tekemään merkittävää tuhoa vihollisjoukoissa. Britit menettivät rynnäkössä vain viisi sotilasta. Britannian ja Espanjan sota päättyi 17. joulukuuta 1783, eikä Gibraltaria ole tämän jälkeen yritetty vallata.[7] Kruununsiirtomaaksi Gibraltarista kehittyi 1800-luvulla merkittävä sotilastukikohta ja kaupankäynnin keskus. Napoleonin sotien aikana 1803–1815 Välimeren laivasto sai sen kautta tarvikkeita. Sotien aikana Britannia oli sijoittanut huomattavasti rahaa ja miesvoimia Gibraltarin linnoitusten vahvistamiseen. Britanniassa tajuttiin pian niemimaan merkitys Välimeren suulla, ja Gibraltarista tuli 1830 Britannian kruununsiirtomaa.[10] Suezin kanavan aukaisemisen jälkeen 1869 Gibraltarin merkitys kasvoi entisestään, sillä Välimerta pitkin kulki suurin osa laivoista, jotka menivät Britannian siirtomaihin Itä-Afrikkaan ja eteläiseen Aasiaan. Gibraltarinvuoreen tehtiin 1900-luvun alussa tunneleita, jotka helpottivat liikkumista niemimaan länsi- ja itäosien välillä. Kaivettu maa käytettiin alueen laajentamiseen, ja Gibraltar laajeni noin 26 hehtaarilla.[9] Varhainen näkymä Gibraltarin satamaan Britannian laivaston telakan rakennustöiden aikaan n. 1890. Gibraltar oli maailmansotien aikana liittoutuneiden merkittävä merisatama.[9] Toisen maailmansodan alussa Gibraltarin siviiliväestö evakuoitiin Britanniaan, Jamaikaan ja Madeiralle, jotta niemimaa voitaisiin linnoittaa mahdollisen Saksan hyökkäyksen varalta. Gibraltarilla oli 1942 yli 30 000 brittisotilasta. Asukkaiden palauttaminen alkoi 1944. Pääosa asukkaista oli palannut 1946, vaikkakin viimeiset palasi vasta 1950.[5] Sodan aikana italialaiset tekivät Gibraltariin useita vedenalaishyökkäyksiä. Natsi-Saksan suunnittelema operaatio Felix Gibraltarin valtaamiseksi kaatui Espanjan haluttomuuteen päästää Saksan joukkoja maaperälleen.[11] Espanjan ja Britannian 1900-luvun erimielisyydet Auton kylkeen maalattuja iskulauseita brittimielisten voitettua vuoden 1967 kansanäänestyksen. Gibraltarin tilanne ei heti toisen maailmansodan päättymisen jälkeen herättänyt suurtakaan mielenkiintoa, kun sekä Espanjan että Britannian intressit olivat muissa asioissa. Francisco Franco esitti kuitenkin jo vuonna 1950 espanjalaislehdessä vaatimuksen Gibraltarin palauttamiseksi Espanjalle.[10] Samana vuonna Gibraltar sai ensimmäisen oman lakiasäätävän elimensä, kun sinne perustettiin lakiasäätävä neuvosto.[12] Britannia ja Espanja veivät 1960-luvulla Gibraltarin-kysymyksen Yhdistyneisiin kansakuntiin saakka.[13] Espanja vaati Gibraltarin siirtomaavallan purkamista, ja asiasta järjestettiin 1967 jopa kansanäänestys. Brittihallinnon kannattajat voittivat äänestyksen ylivoimaisesti, sillä vain 44 äänestäjää yli 12 000:sta äänesti Espanjaan liittymisen puolesta.[9] Gibraltarilla kirjoitettiin 1969 uusi perustuslaki, joka liitti maan Britanniaan ja antoi sille laajan sisäisen itsehallinto-oikeuden.[9] Samalla perustettiin myös Gibraltarin parlamentti.[12] Espanja vastasi perustuslakiin sulkemalla Gibraltarin vastaisen rajansa ja esti näin Espanjan ja Gibraltarin välisen kaupan.[9] Espanja katkaisi jopa viestintälinjat Gibraltariin. Espanjan Gibraltar-politiikkaa kutsuttiin Castiellan politiikaksi Francon sisäministeri Fernando María Castiellan mukaan.[13] Francon kuoleman jälkeen Espanja palautui demokraattisen hallintoon, mutta Gibraltarin asema pysyi kiistojen aiheena. Espanja ja Britannia jatkoivat keskusteluja aiheesta, ja lopulta joulukuussa 1982 Espanja avasi rajan osittain jalankulkijoille. Lopullisesti rajan avautumisesta sovittiin marraskuussa 1984. Espanja oli pyrkinyt Euroopan yhteisöön, johon Gibraltar oli liittynyt osana Britanniaa 1973. Britannia uhkasi estää Espanjan jäsenyyden, jos raja ei olisi täysin auki.[14] 2000-luvulle Gibraltarin sotilaallinen merkitys alkoi 1970-luvulla pienentyä, ja maan talous alkoi monipuolistua. Aiemmin Gibraltar oli ollut lähes täysin riippuvainen sotilasvaroista, mutta pankkitoiminta, kansainvälinen kauppa, turismi ja vedonvälitystoimistot ovat korvanneet aiemmat rahatulot.[15] Vielä 1984 yli 60 prosenttia tuloista tuli brittiarmeijalta, mutta nykyään se tuottaa vain noin seitsemän prosenttia maan tuloista.[16] Vuonna 1981 gibraltarilaiset saivat Britannian täyden kansalaisuuden.[12] Vedonvälittäjät alkoivat tulla Gibraltarille 1990-luvun lopulla maan kevyen verotuksen ansiosta. Monet puhelimen ja Internetin kautta toimivat vedonvälitysfirmat karkasivat Britannian korkeita veroja Gibraltarille.[17] Gibraltarilla järjestettiin 2002 uusi kansanäänestys maan asemasta. Brittihallinto oli ehdottanut, että Gibraltar voisi olla Britannian ja Espanjan yhteisalue. Lähes kaikki äänestäjät vastustivat ehdotusta, ja Britannia ilmoitti, ettei se tulisi muuttamaan alueen hallintoa, jos ei saisi tukea alueen asukkailta.[12] Britannian, Gibraltarin ja Espanjan aloittivat 2000-luvulla kolminkeskeiset neuvottelut. Maiden ministerit sopivat 2006 Gibraltarin lentoaseman yhteiskäytöstä, Gibraltarilla aiemmin työskennelleiden espanjalaisten eläkkeistä ja viestintäyhteyksien uudistamisesta. Miguel Ángel Moratinos vieraili 2009 Gibraltarilla ensimmäisenä espanjalaisministerinä yli 300 vuoteen. Espanjasta kuitenkin vakuutettiin, että vierailu ei vaikuta Espanjan vaatimuksiin Gibraltaria kohtaan.[13] Gibraltar Travel Wiki Gibraltar, colloquially known as The Rock, (or simply 'Gib'), is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom sitting at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Spain to the north and the people of Gibraltar are ferociously loyal British citizens despite being bilingual in English and Spanish. Understand Gibraltar is a unique place for the curious traveler. Take time to explore the caves and tunnels especially those not meant for tourists! The inside of the rock is an absolute labyrinth with secret internal roads and tunnels four times longer than those on the surface. Military presence and security in this otherwise deserted area is strong but almost invisible. History In Greek mythology Gibraltar was Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules, which marked the edge of the Mediterranean and the known world. In 711 Tariq ibn Ziyad, the Muslim governor of Tangier, landed at Gibraltar to launch the Islamic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The Rock took his name - Jabal Tariq (Mountain of Tariq) eventually became Gibraltar. Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. Spain has made recent attempts to attain this territory that it legally ceded to Great Britain about 300 years ago. In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to stay a territory of the United Kingdom. On June 10th 2004, citizens of Gibraltar voted for the first time in the UK MEP (Member of the European Parliament) elections, as part of the South West constituency. The topmost part of the Rock is still a British military installation, and off-limits to the public. Get in Queues at the border may make it less time-consuming to park cars in La Línea and walk across. While parking in La Linea immediately next to the border charges, there is free parking throughout town and next to the stadium if you are willing to walk an extra kilometre. This also has the advantage of avoiding Gibraltar's complex one way system with very narrow and badly signposted streets, and limited parking. The land border is open 24 hours a day, though expect delays when planes are landing - the only road into Gibraltar runs right across the airport runway! However, once the airport expansion is complete, traffic (except buses) will be diverted around to the east side of the runway to ease overall traffic congestion. Motorists, and on occasion pedestrians, crossing the border have been subjected to long delays and searches by the Spanish authorities. Spain has closed the border during disputes or incidents involving the Gibraltar authorities, such as the Aurora cruise ship incident and when fishermen from the Spanish fishing vessel Piraña were arrested for illegal fishing in Gibraltar waters. [1]. As of mid-August 2013, a row over a concrete reef has caused the Spanish government to increase searches and so queues can be expected. Despite being an overseas territory of the UK, traffic in Gibraltar moves on the right-hand side of the road and the speed limits are in kilometres per hour. By bus Buses from Spain stop just short of Gibraltar in La Línea, but its bus station is only a three minute walk to the border. From Algeciras San Bernado bus station route 120 can be taken to La Linea. This costs 2.40 euros for an adult single (you buy the ticket from the driver); the bus runs till 23.00 about every 45 minutes. The bus station in Algeciras is opposite the railway station. To go to the bus station from the harbour, turn left, walk along the main street for about 100m and then turn right. Continue about 200m along this street to the small building with railroads. At the end of May 2011, bus routes and fares were revised for a trial period of 3 months. Most bus routes became free to travel on for all. However, at the end of the 3-month trial, and following public consultation, the Gibraltar Government decided that free travel should be available to Gibraltar residents only. As a result, tourists and Spanish commuters now have to pay a fare once more. Route 5, which is the only bus service between the Frontier/Airport and the bus station in town, was not affected by the trial or the subsequent changes, and visitors and residents alike are charged a fare on this service. Full details of bus routes (http://www.gibraltarbus.com). At La Línea there are regular buses to and from Seville, Malaga, Cadiz, Granada and regularly to Algeciras (the latter one direct or with stops on the way). Current info for Malaga bus station: Estación de Autobuses de Málaga Tour buses and coaches can be available at all Andalucian major cities, holiday resorts and some mainland hotels. Get around The airport runway and the border crossing with Spain Gibraltar is less than 7 square kilometres, so most of it can be seen on foot. Bear in mind, though, that some of the roads (especially up to the Upper Rock) are very steep. Taxis will take the strain out of the climbs, and all the taxi drivers seem to know all the Barbary macaques by name. There is a (number 3) bus service that runs from the frontier, through the town and on to Europa Point. This said, travelling in a small group is problematic as most taxis are "minibus" style and the drivers prefer to fill them- or you pay for the entire taxi! This often entails sharing a "Rock Tour" taxi with total strangers. Taxi drivers are also sometimes reluctant to run you up one of the sights on the Rock as they would much rather sell you a longer, more expensive tour! Talk Gibraltar's official language is English. Spanish and Llanito are also widely spoken. Llanito is essentially a mix of Andalusian Spanish and British English; a creole unique to Gibraltar. The term gibberish came from the Llanito habit of randomly alternating between English and Spanish words all the way through a sentence. (This is more formally known as "code switching". In the United States, it may be called Spanglish). New words appear at random and spread quickly through the tight-knit community of Gibraltar, then could disappear just as fast. Many businesses such as cafes and fast food outlets tend to employ Spanish workers from across the border, so many of these people speak only Spanish. Almost all locals are bilingual in English and Spanish. See • Europa Point - where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and from which the coast of Africa can be seen • Africa! (from above) - Great views for both east and west sides of colony + less common view of Africa with Rock in frame. Walk south along the western side of the Rock's top from the cable car station, until coming to chain link fence gate, then go up winding dirt path to left until walking on bare stone at rock's crest. • Upper Rock - military installation, and nature reserve where the famous monkeys live (Barbary Macaques) • St Michael's Cave - an impressive natural grotto used by the neolithic inhabitants of the Rock • Siege Tunnels - a system of tunnels dug during the Great Siege which acted as a defence system • Dolphin Watching - short trips in the bay (several times a day) - there are plenty of playful dolphins to see • Gibraltar Museum • The Mediterranian Steps - for those not afraid of walking (and with a head for heights), this is a walk that starts at Jew's Gate bird observatory (at the end of Engineer Road) and winds its way up the east side of the rock to the top. The views are fantastic, and the path underwent renovation work in 2007, so it is less treacherous than it has been in the past. If you don't fancy the uphill struggle, you can always get the cable car up and then come down this way. Stop by the tourist office in Casemates Square (if entering by land, this is immediately after passing through Landport tunnel). The tourist office will give you a map and recommend the following basic itinerary. Take bus #3 from Market Place (around the corner of the tourist office) to Europa Point. Take pictures and enjoy Europa Point with the rest of the tourists. Then take the bus back towards Market Place but get off at the cable cars. Ask the driver for help, but you will see the cable cars before the stop. Take the cable cars up to see the Upper Rock and Nature Reserve. Then take the cable car down and walk main street back to Landport tunnel. Cable cars run from 9.30AM until 5.45PM to the Upper Rock, but the last car up the hill might leave as early as 17.00PM. A "cable car and nature reserve" ticket costs around £28 return, this includes entrance to the cave, the Great Siege Tunnels, the City Under Siege exhibition, the Moorish Castle and the Apes' Den. The best option, however is to buy a one way version of this ticket (£25) and walk down the Rock, seeing the sights, monkeys and views on the way- although sensible shoes, a hat and plenty of water are required. Alternatively, a 'Taxi-Tour' (typically for 8 people in an MPV) will cost more for a 1.5 hr tour, and this includes the fees for entry to the Cave, tunnels and upper rock- this does of course save walking and is a more comfortable experience. In the summer season the middle cable car station is closed. The rest of the year however, you can do a return trip by taking the cable car up to the top, walking to St Michael's Cave and through the nature reserve to the Apes' Den intermediate station and returning to town by cable car. A very informative Historic Walking Guide to Gibraltar can be purchased online or in local book shops and provides an excellent companion for those wanting to enjoy Gibraltar's best sites on foot. Do Photo by Graham Hesketh taken from the Dolphin Safari boat November 2012 • Dolphin Safari, 6 The Square, Marina Bay, (cross the runway and take the first exit at the roundabout on the other side of the runway down Bayside Road. Approximately 100 meters walk down a small road on the right just past the pay and display carpark where the sign reads Marina Bay. At the end of that road in the bottom left hand corner walk through the black iron gates to see the two gold dolphins and the check-in offices), ☎ 00350 200 71914, [2]. 10am - 6pm. See the wild Common, Striped and Bottlenose dolphins of Gibraltar so close you could almost touch them. Sail in complete comfort, this boat has front-line cushioned seating and cushioned seating in the indoor observation lounge. £25pa - £15 pc. edit • Cinema, King's Bastion Leisure Centre, [3]. Gibraltar has a newly built multi-screen cinema in the popular King's Bastion Leisure Centre. Movies are generally released at the same time as the UK and are well priced. Snacks and drinks are available from the ticket office. £3 to £5. edit Buy The official currency of Gibraltar is the Gibraltar pound (GIP), which is pegged to the British pound sterling at a 1:1 exchange rate. While the British pound sterling is legal tender in Gibraltar, and is accepted by all banks, government offices, and businesses, the Gibraltar pound is not legal tender in the UK. While banks in the UK will exchange Gibraltar notes, they may charge a service charge for it. They are also highly unlikely to be accepted in any other country for exchange purposes, so unless you want to keep them as a souvenir it would be wise to spend them in Gibraltar. Shops in Gibraltar will usually give you change in UK notes on request, if they have them. Any leftover Gibraltar pound notes at the end of your trip can be exchanged for UK pounds at par in any of the local banks (but not at banks in the UK) with no service charge. If you find you have some Gibraltar coins left over then it is not such a big deal as they are identical in denomination, color and size to UK coins. While they are not technically legal tender you are extremely unlikely to have such coins refused in a shop back in the UK as most people wouldn't even notice them. It is actually fairly common to get Gibraltar (as well as many other UK dependencies and overseas regions) coins in your change in the UK anyway. Most shops in Gibraltar will accept US dollars and Euros. Bear in mind that shops will generally give you a more expensive rate of exchange than the numerous exchange offices and generally won't accept small change. Government offices, post offices and some payphones do not accept foreign currency, and will require you to pay in pounds. Credit and debit cards are sometimes not accepted in some shops (especially restaurants). Eat If you like to sit outside and watch the world go by, head for Casemates Square [4] where a number of pubs & restaurants serve fairly similar meals, with the exception of Cafe Solo which serves good Italian food. Irish Town, the road which runs parallel to Main Street has a number of bars, like The Clipper which has good food, friendly staff, and satellite television. They serve a hearty English breakfast. There is also Corks which serves more substantial lunches. If you fancy dining waterside the marinas are worth a visit. [5] The Edinburgh Arms - The most southerly pub in Europe. Good food, draught Bass and many others on tap. Happy hour daily at 6pm. Full Sunday lunch available. Queensway Quay [6] is home to The Waterfront, which serves a good quality, if somewhat eclectic menu which ranges from steak to high quality local fish and Indian food. Casa Pepe's, on the other side of the marina is worth a splurge. Marina Bay [7] is home to several restaurants. Bianca's and Charlie's Tavern at Marina Bay are worth a visit, the former being very well known for its busy ambience. Marina Bay has recently also become home to Gibraltar's first Mexican restaurant. Ocean Village [8], Gibraltar's newest marina, is an extension to Marina Bay. It is home to several new pubs and restaurants, including a Chinese, and an Indian. O'Reilly's Situated on Leisure Island, part of the Ocean Village marina complex, the traditional Victorian Irish bar has been designed and built by Ireland's leading design teams. The Gibraltar Arms is situated next to Stag Bros' at 184 Main Street, telephone 200 72133 or e-mail [email protected] and is open from 7.30am (9.30am on a Sunday) serving meals all day until late. The Star Bar in Parliament Lane holds itself out as Gibraltar's Oldest bar. With a menu and drinks selection to appeal to most tastes the pub seeks to cater to a wide audience. The Lord Nelson In Casemates Square, the official home of the Gibraltar Rugby Club and Live Music Venue Of The Year, top entertainment on stage every night. Offers free WiFi. The Horseshoe 193 Main Street, near King St & Bombhouse Lane & Gibraltar Museum. Small pub with nice outdoor seating, decent prices, homemade pies on the menu, and offers the local beer Gibraltar IPA Sleep Budget Options • • • Emile Youth Hostel, Montagu Bastion, Line Wall Road (Centrally located just off Casemates Square), ☎ +350 51106 / +350 57686000 ([email protected], fax: +350 51106), [9]. checkout: 10:30. A family-run hostel with basic shared rooms for £15 or €25, though the dad only wanted €20. including continental breakfast consisting of two prices of toast and jam.It should be noted that the kitchen is not for guests use. Certainly not the best,but closest thing to the border. As of 2011 the charge for a bed in the dorm is £17. They also charge for washing clothes £5 and for the wireless internet £5. Well they will probably never change the wifi password: E244F2DDE8 . Be sure to type it with caps. There is no longer any free breakfast, also you are not allowed to bring your own food into hostel (probably because they have their own cafe right now). Although expensive at £17 per night, it's a quiet nice place to relax. £17. edit The Cannon Hotel, 9 Cannon Lane, just off the middle of Main Street, [10]. Single room and breakfast for £30.00. The Queens Hotel, Boyd Street, is located at the south entrance to Main Street, [11]. Marketing themselves as "Gibraltar's 'only' Budget Hotel" (not what category they'd put the Cannon in), a single room starts at £60 per night, double is £70, if you want room with a sea view, you have to pay extra. There is breakfast, internet and AC included in the price, every room has TV. It's very close to bus stop, so you can take bus to Europa Point, and get out near cable car station. Luxury Options • The Bristol Hotel , Cathedral Square, [12] near the south end of Main Street. • The Elliot Hotel, Governor's Parade, [13] is just off Main Street, located roughly half-way between the Cannon, and The Queens. Good location and good quality. • The Rock Hotel, Europa Road, [14] located approximately 400 metres south of the Entrance to Main Street, up a fairly steep hill, the Rock Hotel isn't as central as some of the others mentioned here, but has great views of the bay. It's one of the more expensive hotels in Gibraltar and was where John Lennon and Yoko Ono got married. • The Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay, [15] on the opposite side of the rock, is about a 2 miles by road from the town centre. The upside to this is a quiet relaxing atmosphere, that you're unlikely to get in the Town Centre. Contact Phone Gibraltar's international telephone code is +350. Spain finally recognized this code in 2007 and the old domestic (Spanish) code of 9567 was discontinued, making calls from Spain into Gibraltar in sync with the rest of the world. Another indirect consequence of this was that all landline numbers in Gibraltar have been prefixed with 200 in October 2008, making all numbers 8-digit long now. If you come across with a 5-digit number, just prefix it with 200 (and, of course, with the country code prior to that if you are calling from out of Gibraltar). Mobile phone numbers have not been affected by this change, however. The prefix to dial prior to country code for international calls is 00 in Gibraltar. Internet Free wireless is available in the following places: • • • • • • • Fresh - a cafe/bar just down through the archway when leaving the main square towards the bus stops. The Gibraltar Arms - about half way down the main street. The Lord Nelson - just by the tunnel exiting the main square. The Cannon Bar - behind the Catholic Cathedral. The Clipper - on Irish Town near Tuckey's lane. Ask bartender for password. Corks Wine Bar - on Irish Town near the Clipper. WEP key is written on a chalkboard above the bar. The Horseshoe - on Main Street near the Gibraltar Museum & King Street. Ask bartender for password. Stay safe Gibraltar has a low crime rate and a large and efficient police force modelled on the British system to ensure it stays that way. There are a few recent reports, however, of people being attacked on the Spanish side of the border while returning to Gibraltar on foot late at night. It might be smart to take a taxi home after dark if you have been drinking at the bars in Spain, especially if you are by yourself. Stay healthy Medical treatment Gibraltar is part of the European Health Insurance Scheme and has a health service similar to the United Kingdom, with a modern Hospital. If you are from a participating country, your EHIC card will entitle you to full free emergency medical treatment. For more information see this wikipedia article: . Barbary Macaques Tourists should be aware that the Barbary macaques are wild animals and do bite. It is advisable not to feed the Barbary macaque, despite encouragement from irresponsible taxi drivers. In addition, there are kiosks recklessly selling 'monkey food', further encouraging this. It is indeed illegal (hefty fines are in force) and bad for their health. Never try to pick up a baby Barbary macaque - its mother will not be happy, and neither will you. If you are bitten by a Barbary macaque, you will require hospital treatment. Whilst the Barbary macaques are rabies-free they can infect you with hepatitis, and they are most aggressive on the top of the rock, as the most successful animals claim the uppermost reaches of the rock, with their less successful fellows being shoved down the rock and the social pecking order. This said, the macaques will generally ignore you if you are not openly carrying food or plastic bags in your hands. They associate plastic bags with food, so as long as you keep everything food-related inside your bag you will be safe. As of June 2013 there are no longer any kiosks that sell food for the macaques; some taxi drives will encourage you to touch them but it is better to avoid doing this. Respect Remember that Gibraltar is a British overseas territory. People from Gibraltar refer to themselves as Gibraltarian or 'Llanito' pronounced Ya-ni-to. Even though the vast majority of Gibraltarians speak Spanish (with a local dialect), they are easily offended if referred to as Spanish because they regard themselves as Gibraltarians and are very proud of their identity. Some Gibraltarians also feel sensitive to the erroneous use of the term 'colony' due to its connotations of being a depositied population or ruled by a foreign country or lacking in self-government, none of which apply to Gibraltar now or historically. Additionally the term 'colony' is legally incorrect, it is a 'British Overseas Territory'. The term 'colony' wasn't used in reference to Gibraltar until the 1830s, at this time there were other places that were colonies and their circumstances fitted use of the word and Gibraltar being grouped with them under the term colonies despite the circumstances being different. Although the popular view is that the Spanish Government is the cause of many problems concerning Gibraltar, there is no animosity to individuals and Spanish tourists and workers experience no problems. Recent airport agreements have opened up the relationship Gibraltar has with Spain. Once You Arrive Jun 2nd, 2013 | By admin | Category: General Information Gibraltar should be on everyone’s list of places to go and things to do. There is something to amaze and delight everyone, from the youngest to the oldest of visitors. Getting to Gibraltar can take place any number of ways, from cruise ship, to a flight from the UK, to walking across the border from Spain. Each method of arrival has something to recommend it, something unique that can be seen when you elect to arrive in Gibraltar from that path. Once you do arrive for your holiday in Gibraltar you’ll find that services and amenities are nearly endless, which comes as a surprise to many. The land mass of Gibraltar may not be great but the things to see and do are quite possibly enough to compete with even the largest or oldest of cities. Hotels in Gibraltar are renowned for their boundless hospitality, offering services such as child care and high speed internet for the business traveler, or tour arrangements for those who want to see as much as possible in a short time. There are rooms available that offer you complete handicapped accessible services, and guides who can point out to you which of the many sights of Gibraltar may be accessible, or partially accessible to the physically challenged visitor to Gibraltar. The assortment of foods that you can get when you decide you’re hungry and ready to explore will leave you wishing you had more time and more stomach room. Cuisines range from the spicy foods of Spanish origin, to the more traditional British cookery, upwards to fast foods such as hamburgers and French fries of the more popular fast food chain restaurants. The shopping is where Gibraltar really excels. Duty free, Gibraltar can offer you anything from fine china to crystal in the many small local shops that line the streets and beckon you to come inside and look around. Some of the larger of the UK chain stores and department stores are also in evidence, while smaller retail merchants give wonderful goods for a remarkable cost, such as leather goods, jewelry, wine and spirits, as well as even hand made clothing and souvenirs of the area. The night life is lively and laughter prevails as the local residents seek to show you a good time while you dance or enjoy a cool drink. Known for its multi faceted culture and the friendliness of the residents, you’re going to be glad you put Gibraltar on your itinerary. Notice, with all that we’ve mentioned, we haven’t even gotten to the attractions yet. The big guns, the caves, the Barbary Macaques and the natural beauty that will leave you breathless are all things you’re going to have to see. The assortment of land based attractions is rivaled only by those you can find on the water. Gibraltar may only be seven miles in size, but once you get here, you’re going to be hard pressed to see it all, and you’re not going to want to miss a single inch of it. Gibraltar Sightseeing and Attractions Jun 2nd, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing Sightseeing and Attractions of Gibraltar Gibraltar is an amazing co-mingling of past, present and future, and the list of things that a visit to Gibraltar should take in is as long as your arm in reality, but there are some things that you just can’t miss. Those things that literally speak to you, or beckon you in to view their stories are things that every visitor to Gibraltar wants to be certain to take a peek at. What do you want to do first? Well of course that depends on what you like most. If nature is your thing, the whales or dolphins, or the rare plants, or the monkeys are going to appeal to you. Gibraltar isn’t just history or shopping or outdoor sports, or even beaches. In reality, it’s all of the above and the best of nearly every world If you’re into shopping, well Gibraltar has some of the best goods and some amazing prices. What’s your pleasure? Hiking, boating or just wandering around the town in search of something interesting? The tax status of Gibraltar makes it a place that is well worth shopping with the smaller stores and local shops as interesting and intriguing as the larger ones. The top things that you just can’t miss when you hit the shores of Gibraltar are listed below, with a brief explanation of each attraction of Gibraltar, so you know what to expect once you arrive there. Cradle of History – A welcome monument that is shaped like the rock, showing the first skull of Neanderthal man from Gibraltar as well as other photos that show you the civilisations throughout the history of Gibraltar The Changing of the Guard – Several times daily on Gibraltar, undertaken by Gibraltars own Guard company. Whale Watching in the Strait – If you’re interested in nature, then Gibraltar is one of those places that has some diverse nature to show you. Whales in the area include Humpbacks, Killer Whales, False Killer Whales and several others. Dolphin Watching – Dolphins seem to love the Gibraltar and use the area waterways as a nursery. Its not at all uncommon to see them playing with their mothers in the waters around Gibraltar. Barbary Macaques – The Gibraltar Monkeys in other words, the last free ranging primate in Europe. Bird Migrations – Among other birds, Gibraltar is home to the Barbary Partridge as well as several other unique species and the migrations are amazing to view. In any given week you can see several thousand birds of a highly diverse nature–seabirds, song birds, storks, falcons and vultures will all be part of the group here. Springtime in Gibraltar is a butterfly lovers paradise, emerging by the thousands across the area. The Casinos – “The” place to be when it comes to elegant night life in Gibraltar. Alameda Botanical Gardens – Combining incredible beauty with exhibits of interest to the botanist as well as the ecologist, as well as multiple fountains, ponds and small waterfalls. Southport Gates – One of the more well known parts of the fortifications of Gibraltar, built by the Moors. Fortifications of Gibraltar – Including walls, gates, inner fortifications, built by multiple rulers, and for multiple reasons, each siege or battle saw these walls, gates and other fortifications made stronger. Some of them that you should see are the Kings Bastion, Jumpers Bastion, Prince Edwards Gate. Rosia Bay – One of the most lovely little beaches in the area, with adequate parking and great amenities Catalan Bay – A small village that is on the eastern side of Gibraltar, used by Genoese men who had come in to repair the ships of the British Fleet. Descendants of those men still live on Gibraltar, and some even fish from traditional boats. Excellent Beach and some wonderful small pubs are also here. The Convent – Convent of the Franciscans who took up residence on Gibraltar in about 1530, it is not the home of the Governor of Gibraltar, beginning in 1728. The convent is said to be haunted by the spirit of the Gray Lady, a nun who attempted to elope from the convent and was caught. The Kings Chapel – Church of the garrison since the British took over Gibraltar, bears the remains of two of Gibraltars British Governors. The Glass Factory – One of the very few glass factors to make hand blown glass in Southern Europe. They will still hand make the glass to your specifications, while you are watching. The shop sells hand blown glass at factory cost, so its a great gift to take home with you. The Frontier – The Spanish Government closed the frontier in 1969 and in 1985 it was reopened, with no restrictions. More than four million people cross the Frontier each year. Old Guard Room – Bears a model of the Port Sergeant who is holding the Keys of Gibraltar. This is representative of a tradition that began when General Sir George Elliott, who was Governor of Gibraltar during the Great Siege, always carried the keys on his person. It was said that they never left his body and that he slept with them under his pillow. Gibraltar Flag – Done in Lego’s. The John Mackintosh Hall has a lego flag of Gibraltar. It is about four metres high and 8 metres long. When it was built, the flag was the largest flag ever made from LEGO blocks with a total of 393,857 LEGO’s being used. The Lighthouse – Like all lighthouses now it is in fact controlled remotely but it was manned until just very recently. It is currently the only Trinity Lighthouse that is maintained outside the UK. The Mosque Ibrahim al Ibrahim – A gift that is reported to have cost several million dollars, the mosque is unique in design and in its multiple uses. The Public Market – Still used today by many small businesses, the foundation stone for the market was laid back in 1928. The Gibraltar Museum – Located in the Bomb House Lane, there are many very unique exhibits that tell a great deal about the history of Gibraltar. Nelsons Anchorage – Nelson’s body was brought aboard H.M.S. Victory after the Battle of Trafalgar. There are also some other interesting sites here. 100 ton gun – The Victorian built super gun which does in actuality weigh in at a bit over the 100 tons it is named for. Shrine of Our Lady of Europe – Located in a mosque, converted into a Catholic chapel in 1462 after the capture of Gibraltar by the Spanish. Since that time, a light was kept burning in a tower above the chapel – the precursor to the lighthouse in fact, and the oil for the light in the tower was often gifted to the church by the ships who relied on the light. Parsons Lodge – Built on the reinforced Spanish walls that are still visible, the Parsons Lodge Battery dates to 1875. Trafalgar Cemetery – Located by the Southport Gates, it was Gibraltar’s Military Cemetery. It was named The Trafalgar Cemetery to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar though only a few from that battle are buried here. Upper Rock Nature Reserve – The plants and animals of the Upper Rock Nature reserve are amazing in their diversity, and you will see rare and unique plants as well as animals here. A City Under Siege, the exhibition – The buildings in this exhibition are some of the first that were built by the British here, and among the unique aspects of them are the graffiti, some of which is said to date back to the early 1700′s. Great Siege Tunnels – The famous set of tunnels inside the Rock, running for about thirty miles. An amazing feat. (L1) The Moorish Castle – Dating to 1333, the Moorish castle was one of the largest in the vicinity, some say in Europe, and still seems to dominate the area. St Michael’s Cave – This Gibraltar attraction has been unique and visited since Roman times and during World War II the cave was prepared as an emergency hospital. L1 Great Siege Tunnels L2 Cable Cars, Europa Point L3 Cable Cars, Alameda Botanical Gardens, 100 ton gun L4 Cable Cars, Alameda Botanical Gardens, 100 ton gun L5 The Route 5 is the only bus route in Gibraltar that goes to the Frontier (airport and border with Spain) and operates from the Frontier to the city centre. This route is operated jointly by Calypso Transport Ltd. and Gibraltar Bus Company Ltd. whereas all other routes are operated solely by Gibraltar Bus Company Ltd. The bus timetable operates every 15 minutes during the week and Saturdays, and every 20 minutes on Sundays. Full timetable details can be found below. The buses operating on this route are easily identifiable as they are red instead of the usual blue buses we see operating all other routes within the country of Gibraltar. You will also notice double-decker buses on this route, which is also unique to Gibraltar, although not all of the buses operating on this route are double deckers. In the summer months, typically June to September, you will also have the opportunity to ride on an open top twin deck bus, allowing easier viewing of the beautiful views of the rock as you make your way from the Frontier to Main Street. L7 Mount Alvernia L8 Eastern Beach, Caleta Hotel L9 Cable Cars, Alameda Botanical Gardens, 100 ton gun Main Street Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing Main Street Gibraltar seems, from an outsiders point of view, when one visits or views it as if to be Mardis Gras in New Orleans, or Disney World, or a bit of both rolled into one pleasant and inexpensive package. Main Street in Gibraltar is of course, like Main Street in any other town in the world in that it is probably named appropriately, and is most likely the main street. In Gibraltar, Main Street is this and a touch more. Main Street Gibraltar is in fact the only large street, and is the main site of both commerce, shopping, night life and day to day needs. Running north and south through Gibraltar, the streets are lined with hurrying residents, the hustle and the chat a constant undertone as you move down pavement lined with buildings that could have come from any one of a plethora of cities world wide. Main Street Gibraltar has been largely pedestrianised, its sidewalks lined, as if for your amusement with buildings that offer up a rich diversity, styled as they are in Portuguese, Spanish, Moorish, British and Genoan style and architecture. Most of the buildings you are faced with will provide shops on the lower floors, reminiscent of the much vaunted Portabellow Road, you can find any thing on Main Street Gibraltar, from antiques to dry goods to restaurants to drinks and alcohol, while the upper floors of these interesting buildings offer a variety of different spaces, from residences to offices. One of the many sub districts of Main Street Gibraltar is Irish Town, so called from its inhabitants in the days of the early part of the 19th century when Gibraltar was divided into different quarters. Main Street will branch out in many places, adjoin with lanes and small byways, that will themselves offer a wide and diverse range of goods, making Main Street Gibraltar live up to its nick name, that being the Shopping Centre of the Mediterranean. Main street Gibraltar offers you such a diverse array of goods at such wonderful prices that you won’t know what to purchase first. You might select from blown glassware to antique or delicate porcelain to pottery baked in the Gibraltar sun, to wine or spirits or precious stones, silks or the brightly hued cottons that are brought in from Africa. Your vacation in Gibraltar must of course include Main Street, offering the most variety at the very best prices you will find throughout the UK. Shopping in Gibraltar takes place at a rate of exchange that is roughly the same as Pounds of sterling, but is termed Gibraltar pounds. If you choose to exchange your currency while you are in Gibraltar, there are a large number of shops and banks which will do so for you, many being open all seven days of the week to accommodate your needs in Gibraltar. When your sightseeing and shopping is done, Main street is also a lovely place to eat an evening meal al fresco in the summer months, and you’re going to find multiple places which serve wonderful food. Take in historic, fascinating, always celebrating Main Street Gibraltar. Casemate Square Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing Casemate Square is one of the two main areas people congregate in Gibraltar, currently for fun and entertainment, but that wasn’t always the case. It was under the control of Spain until the Treaty of Utrecht in the early seventeen hundreds when Britain received control. The word casemate comes from the Spanish term meaning a fortified position, chamber or an armored enclosure; in fact early seventeenth century Spanish plans show this area as La Barcina. Most of the popular open air restaurants and venders for food and drink are located here whereas Main Street is the area where the tourists shop alongside local residents; finding everything needed and often more than is expected at first glance. The Casemate Square area and Main Street run parallel to each other and visitors can find local history and culture entwined by visiting sites such as Saint Andrew’s Church. One other comforting fact that visitors can take comfort in is that both the Main Street and Casemate Square are preferable for first time visitors since it is a public place that is not frequented by people with unscrupulous intentions due to the crowds of people that can be found here night and day alike.Gibraltarians are proud of the Casemate Square which they consider their central plaza, is located just a short distance away from the Gibraltar wall entrance and considered the principal entry way into Gibraltar. The street leading to the Main Street passes by Casemate Square. For United States citizens homesick for American food a Burger King and Pizza Hut can be found in the Casemate Square.In Casemate Square, as with much of Gibraltar, there are many different ethnic peoples represented, for example in the second zone, the Moroccans lived. They came to Gibraltar in the late nineteen sixties after General Franco closed the gates of the frontier. In the 1770’s the chief engineer added the Casemates building as a bombproof barracks for the soldiers but it was not finished until 1817. The history of the Casemates area really begins with the Muslim engineers who decided that the beach was perfect place to lay down the foundations for the City of Victory in 1160. This was in preparation to take over Gibraltar which was mostly unpopulated. The Sultan of Morocco, Abd-al-Mummin had a grand scheme to establish the Muslim presence here. The settled area was from the castle to the land below and the calm anchorage made the perfect place to bring in boats for repairs.The area came under Spanish control in the early thirteen hundreds, and the Casemate Square was a walled city with towers and gates. The monarch of Spain, Ferdinand IV ordered a shipyard to be built but eventually it fell into disuse because the sea and sand caused the foundation to drop.This was the problem the British encountered when they took over in the seventeen hundreds. They built the fortress walls and battlements on higher more solid ground, some not being completed until after the infamous Great Siege. After the Great Siege, the government of the United Kingdom decided to demolish the buildings that had suffered great damage. Few of the buildings were saved and the area became the open plaza area known today as the Casemate Square. It was a popular place for the rulers to carry out the punishment of the known enemies of the state until the practice was stopped. Now in the twenty-first century, the bands and partying are an important part of the tourism and economy of Gibraltar. During the day, the hot summer days provide the perfect chance to take meals and drink outside. One of the interesting places to visit is nearby Irish Town, with a calmer atmosphere prevails and several notable bars worthy of the name. In Casemate Square, one of the popular bars is named after the noted Admiral Nelson. The Lord Nelson features the best in steak and fresh fish, all prepared with care and the drink is chosen with care. The music features live bands specializing in classic rock.The reclaimed land near the Gibraltar airport just before the Casemate Square is important for the Marina Inn. This seafood restaurant offers food influenced by the culture of Spain. The local specialties, the raciones, are meant to be shared. Veal, pork, baby octopi and anchovies are also popular.But the chief attraction at the Casemates Square is the Ceremony of the Keys, that re-enacting the locking of the gates that lead to the old Gibraltar garrisons. Like its counterpart in London, the Ceremony of the Keys, carries on the tradition that history is not dull but a living part of life. Perhaps that only adds to the mystery and attraction of the Casemate area, the ghosts of the people who fought and died for the lonely bit of strategic ground. Southport Gates Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing Southport Gates Gibraltar Among the most impressive of the fortifications of Gibraltar are the Southport Gates, still in evidence today, and still impressive by any standards and well worth spending some time to view. The Southport gates are part of what was once a series of walls and fortifications that were part of Gibraltar’s defenses for literally hundreds of years. Built originally in the mid 1500′s, they were renewed, or rebuilt, according to whom one asks, in the mid 1800′s. Gibraltar was an area that was prone to sieges, wars, neighbor accosting neighbor and when that wasn’t taking place, piracy was rampant in the area. the days when law evidence and in made right. Imagine if you will was not so much in actuality, might, This area was home to a pirate called Barbarossa, who at one point in Gibraltar’s history attacked the city and captured myriad of its citizens to sell for slaves. Not content with just the slaves, they sacked the Shrine of the Lady, taking many valuables and left the area. They were intercepted by Mendoza who had given chase and were defeated near Cartagena, with many of the captives being freed and returned. In addition to this, nine sieges of major proportions took place. It is then, understandable to us, this necessity for walls, gates, tunnels and fortresses, and the evidence of their existence is part of the charm, the mystique and the excitement of a visit to Gibraltar. They are reminders, ancient landmarks that tell us of a time when things were a bit more barbaric than today. Evidence of a time when the Moors landed on the shores of Gibraltar, or the Spaniards drove them out, only to be themselves ousted by a British invasion. The walls, the gates and the land itself offer up a story of a past that was rife with conflict, represented by the many fortifications that stand as evidence to the need of the people for security. The Southport Gates offer up their own story of such times, originating (though not yet physically as these gates) when Gibraltar was under Spanish rule, around the time when Tarik invaded Spain, declared Gibraltar his own( it is in fact believed that Gibraltar is named for this what it was called in this time span) and built upon the spot where those gates now stand, a formidable fortress, that are widely believed to be the foundation for the Southport Gates. Many years later, when again under the rule of the Spaniards, the Southport Gates were built, with a treatise written on the defenses that were necessary to keep the city safe. Today the remainder of the Southport gates are a visible reminder of the past that Gibraltar lived through, a hold over from a time less peaceful than that which we enjoy today. The tourist to Gibraltar who views the Southport Gates, or the Puerta De Africa, will see the arms of Charles of Spain above it, columns on either side which carry a scroll reading, Plus Ultra, a reference to the Pillars of Hercules, and on the bottom, left side, you will see the arms of Gibraltar, flanked on the right by those of the Spanish Governor who was then in control. The Southport Gates are more than just one of the splendid attractions of Gibraltar, more than a symbol of a more violent time, or of the many fortifications of a city, but a living breathing story, that the visitor to Gibraltar should take the time to read for themselves. St Andrew’s Church Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing St Andrews Church of Scotland Gibraltar St Andrew’s Church Gibraltar, the rough rocky peninsula, which remains an overseas territory of Britain, is located southwest of Spain at the northeastern pillar of Hercules that guard where the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet. The British have had a fortress here since 1704. Gibraltar was ceded to them by Spain in the Treaty of Utrecht, in 1713. The British stationed soldiers from Great Britain, Ireland and Scotland, with the Scottish soldiers being an important part of the defense of the Rock of Gibraltar. In the mid 1840’s, the soldiers from Scotland started to gather funds for a church of Saint Andrew. The cornerstone was laid in 1853 and Saint Andrew’s Church of Gibraltar consecrated in 1854 and built of limestone. The tower looks down near the south end of the Governor’s Parade, near the main street. The church of Saint Andrews is part of the Presbytery of Europe under the Church of Scotland. The historical aspect of Saint Andrew’s is evident in the furnishings, memorabilia and artifacts from the different militia that have been stationed here provides an interesting highlight to the architecture of the building itself. The stained glass windows were installed in the middle of nineteen hundred fifty-three in the chancel area, decking the area where the sacraments are kept with multicolored, soft light. Tourism is very important to Gibraltar, and to the church of Saint Andrews. Residents and visitors alike are able to see what the blending of church and history that is exemplified within this building and grounds. Saint Andrews is unusual in offering a choice to the visitor, either guided tours or self guided tours that allow the visitor to see and experience the sense of Saint Andrews on his or her own terms and timing. Many churches have strict expectations and distinctions of class and culture, Saint Andrews prefers to concentrate on more important matters, such as treating all types and classes of people equally. The country of Spain has long contested the British territory as belonging to itself, yet every time the referendum comes before the residents of Gibraltar, they chose to remain a British territory. During the last quarter of a century, the border between Spain and Gibraltar was closed, necessitating in a change of military personal. This allowed more work to be accomplished in areas that needed it, primarily the northwestern areas of Gibraltar. These incidents were instrumental in comprising the uniqueness of the congregation that worships at Saint Andrews. Most members are expatriates who hold membership, others are temporary British servicemen. Members from Spain also are part, as are settlers and retirees from the military. Tourists add their special flavor to the congregation and all of these comprise a unique church that offers a place for many diverse ages and occupations. Saint Andrew’s Church is unique in how it is administered because it shares ministers with the church in Costa del Sol; this came about because of financial reasons. Encouraged by the Kirk Session, the minister serves Saint Andrew’s for seventy five percent of the time and the rest of the services are conducted by guest ministers, usually during less visited times. The financial approval was for a part time position but Saint Andrew’s needed a full time minister, so a compromise was born. Bi-annual meetings of the Presbytery and the equal number of elders and ministers compose the administrative offices needed for administrative duties. This enables the church of Saint Andrews to be semi autonomous with the central church in Edinburgh. Many activities of Saint Andrew’s church can be attended, offering greater opportunities to understand and experience the historical traditions of the church. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious organization in Gibraltar and Saint Andrew’s shares services and activities such as Holy Week, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Lent. There is also a local Ministers’ Fraternal that coordinates most of the joint activities. Annual events such as Saint Andrew’s Day and the Carol Service are broadcast via radio and attended by the governor of Gibraltar, the Chief Minister and other political figures. The services are held in English. Numerous charity events such as bazaars are held throughout the year with the Christmas Bazaar being the highlight of the year. These provide needed funds for projects and special outreaches. In Gibraltar, an English marriage ceremony can be conducted within three days of a couple personally applying for a Governors Special Licenses. Many people choose this as a way to avoid the problems that bureaucracy causes. Unlike other more traditional churches, Saint Andrews offers the chance for divorced couples and divorced individual can be married here, with the minister’s approval. Gibraltar offers much to visitor and resident alike and Saint Andrew’s Church of Gibraltar is one interesting place to visit and see an upcoming forward looking church with a solid history behind it. The Mediterranean Steps Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing If hiking is something you love, your visit to Gibraltar can offer you that as well but not of course without risks. While one can hike most of the Upper Reserve, and do a walking tour of the town, one of those hikes that is not without risks, but still quite often hiked, is the Mediterranean steps. Though not for those who are out of shape, the Mediterranean steps offer you the chance to combine a good long hike, with amazing views and a bit of risk as well as a bit of skill thrown in. The government of Gibraltar posted the steps as unfit, and in essence said they should not be used, however, since that time, a major refurbishing of the Mediterranean steps has taken place. Many areas of the Mediterranean steps were considered to be unscaleable and as such were posted to that effect, but in 2007 a major refurbishing of the Mediterranean Steps was completed, financed by The Bonita Trust and managed and overseen by the Government of Gibraltar. The Mediterranean Steps history is as unique as the area itself, and as much involved with the defenses of the area as many of the other attractions of Gibraltar. The Mediterranean Steps were created by the military as part of a system of communication that would run between two defense points of Gibraltar. The highest point of the Mediterranean Steps hosts two gun batteries, and midway through the trek are placements for guns and buildings that date to the second World War. The Mediterranean Steps were one of the most important links between the batteries that were situated at the top of the Rock and what was called Jews Gate. There are of course also some aspects of the steps which are prehistoric in nature and there are natural sites that also appear on the steps. Some evidence of this can be seen in the raised beaches as well as the evidence of higher water levels that existed in the far gone past. A major refurbishment project for the Mediterranean Steps was completed in June 2007. The project was fully financed by The Bonita Trust and project-managed by the Government of Gibraltar. The path winds round Gibraltar, at times becoming very rough, can be quite windy and some of the steps are cut out of the limestone and may be set against the faces of cliffs, while others will be completely level in nature, so as you can see, the walk itself is not for the faint hearted. The Mediterranean steps appear to be, and in fact are, a flight of stairs that have been cut from the limestone and will take you on a circuitous route around the city. Steep and often uneven, the steps can leave you dizzied by the very height of them, and in combination with the winds and the absolutely breath taking views one can see, it is easy to see why so many choose to scale the heights. About two feet in width, much of the path is without challenge, while the second part has some risks from vegetation that has overgrown the pathway and the slippery surface that can take place in any area that combines great heights with watery depths. Many of those who choose not to hike the upward path, but would like to see the view from the Mediterranean Steps will choose to ride a cable car to the crest, rather than hike it, and navigate the Mediterranean steps for their descent. During the trip along the Mediterranean Steps, as has been mentioned, various opportunities to view some of the more wonderful of Gibraltar’s sceneries and attractions will be given to you. If you brave the Mediterranean Steps, don’t do so without a camera in hand, since you will want to record much of what you do see. The best time to visit the Mediterranean steps Will be in the spring, when the sun hasn’t yet reached its zenith, and offers cool days and evenings, and when the multiple types of wildflowers will be blooming, washing the landscape with colours. A few of the attractions of Gibraltar that will present themselves for viewing while you are walking the Mediterranean steps will be some very unusual plant life, such as may grow nowhere else in Europe. The generally unique nature of Gibraltar is what makes it a venue for equally unique plant life. The limestone of Gibraltar, surrounded by the sandstone means that the flora of Gibraltar has influences from other areas, such as North Africa, but is also unique to itself. More than 500 different species of plants are hosted by just 2 and a half square miles of Gibraltar, which is an enormous ecosystem for such a small area. No other place in Europe hosts the plants known as Gibraltar Candytuft and the Gibraltar Thyme, and Gibraltar Sea Lavender, a coastal plant grows only a few places on Gibraltar as well One plant that you should look for during your Mediterranean Steps trek, as well as in other areas, is the Gibraltar Campion, a true species to itself as well as bring one of the most rare and critically endangered plants in the world today. Take the time to at least view the Mediterranean steps, even if you cannot hike them. Their unique history makes them among the most interesting of the attractions of Gibraltar. St Michael’s Cave May 30th, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing St Michael’s Cave is a series, or network, of caves made of limestone, which are found on the Rock, or the Rock of Gibraltar. St Michaels Cave is located on what is called the Upper Rock, inside the Upper Rock Nature Reserve of Gibraltar and sites at a dizzying height of well over 300 metres above sea level. The name St Michaels comes from a grotto, or cave of a similar nature which is located in Monte Gargano, in Apulia Italy, and it is where the Archangel Gabriel is said to have shown himself. The first real mention and description of the caves came to us from Pomponius Mela a geographer from Algeciras who described Gibraltar as: “A mountain with wonderful concavities, which has its western side almost opened by a large cave which may be penetrated far into the interior.” Homer, the poet also wrote of the Caverns, and artifacts that have been found inside the caverns tell us that it was known to Greeks, Romans and Phoenicians in ancient times. The Cathedral Cave, part of St Michaels cave was at one time thought to be bottomless, and was long spoken of in the legends of Gibraltar. It was believed that the cave was one end of a passage of a subterranean nature that moves more than fifteen miles long and passes through under the strait of Gibraltar, and further legend says that the Barbary Apes, or Gibraltar Monkeys entered Gibraltar from Morocco from this passage long ago. The Rock of Gibraltar has long been considered to be one of the pillars of Hercules, and this too adds to the mystique and legend, and since it hosted the cave, the caverns themselves were thought to be the Gates to Hades, or Hell, an entryway to the Underworld where the dead rested. St Michaels cave was created by the slow seepage of rainwater through the rock, which turned into a carbonic acid solution that actually dissolved the rocks of the cave. The process made the tiny cracks of the geological faults of Gibraltar grew into very long passage and deep caverns over the thousands of years of its formation. It has also resulted in amazing stalactites and stalagmites being formed in the caverns by permitting the accumulation of bits of the dissolved rock that drips in much the same way as a candle will build up wax along its sides as the melted wax builds up. A Neolithic bowl has also in recent years been discovered. In the latter part of 1974, proof that the cave was known to and used by prehistoric men was made clear with the finding of art on the cave walls, showing an ibex drawn there that was traced to the Solutrean period (dating the cave art to about 15-20 thousand years ago), but later, two Neanderthal skulls that were found in Gibraltar tell us that this cave could have been discovered and used as early as 40,000 BC. Later history of the caverns saw it the scene of some few tragedies as well. Officers of the military installations would seek out some adventure by exploring the caverns, and at some point prior to 1840, a Colonel Mitchell in the company of a second officer who wished to explore the caverns interiors were lost, were never found nor heard from again. This disappearance led to some very extensive explorations but no evidence of them was ever found, not were the pair ever seen or heard from. It does tend to make one conjecture if they grew tired of military service and found another way out, or if in fact there are crevasses within the system where a man can be lost. Additional explorations were then carried out some hundred years later, about 1936 – 1938, when a scientific expedition took place in the caverns with a view to finding those remains. Each and every aspect of the cave system that was known at the time was explored, but no remains of humans from the time span in which they disappeared was ever found. The Victorian era saw the caverns used for parties, weddings, picnics and even such events as duels. The interior of the caves would be brightly lit and decorated and it is said that soldiers would stand on stalagmites with torches to light a path for distinguished visitors to the caverns. The first actual officiated excavation of the caverns by archeologists took place in 1867, overseen by the governor of the military prisons, Captain Brome, who found stone axes, arrow heads, jewelry, and a very extensive collection of pottery. Having used prisoners to accomplish this, Brome’s excavation in the end cost him his job. Other uses of the cave have been conjectured as well. It seems possible that it was used by the Berber general Tariq ibn Ziyad who led the Umayyad conquest in 711 AD. Additionally, not long after the capture of Gibraltar by the English -Dutch forces in the early 1700′s Spanish soldiers numbering more than 500 successfully hid themselves in the cave overnight before making a (NOT successful) surprise attack on the British. Just after Gibraltar’s capture by Anglo-Dutch forces in 1704, 500 Spanish soldiers concealed themselves within the cave overnight before an unsuccessful attempt at attacking the British by surprise. World War two saw the cave prepped in case it was required for use as a military hospital, which is was not necessary for thankfully. Today’s ST Michaels Caves houses an auditorium, (in the largest chamber, called Cathedral Cave) which has wonderful acoustics, and is now set up with a concrete stage and seating for about 100 people. It has hosted the light shows, Miss Gibraltar beauty pageants, philharmonic orchestras and even rock bands.. The caves are one of the top attractions for tourists to Gibraltar today, receiving more than a million visitors per year, who view displays which tell them of the caverns formation and long, colorful history. You can reach St Michaels caves by car, by cable car, by foot or by taxi with prices for entry about £8.00, including other tourists attractions on Gibraltar such as the Siege Tunnels and the Moorish Castle. Great Siege Tunnels Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing The Siege Tunnels of Gibraltar are something to be seen, and should be at the least peeked into with a view to what they mean to the history of the area. One of the great attractions of Gibraltar, they were carved out by the Merchant Marines in order to defend Gibraltar during one of the many sieges, this one aptly called the Great Siege of 1779 to 1783. During the time of the American War of Independence against Britain, perhaps taking advantage of a time when Britain’s attentions were focused elsewhere, Spain and France took the opportunity to advance and attempt to recapture the “rock” from the British, and began what was the fourteenth siege against Gibraltar, always known as the Great Siege. In July of 1779 till February of 1783, the Rock was under siege, and gradually the troops advanced, until in the latter part of 1782, the troops were so close to the Rock that it appeared that none of the existing batteries of Gibraltar could fire upon them due to the angle. It is said that the governor then, General Elliot, offered a substantial reward to anyone who could find a way to get the cannons onto the northern face of the rock, which was known as the “notch”. Sergeant-Major Ince is credited with finding the answer, though its unknown if he achieved his reward. Ince, who was a member of a company of Military Artificers said that he believed this could be accomplished by tunneling and he was granted permission to begin the work. Relying only on brute force, the muscle of their arms, their sledgehammers and metal bars, the company of men used gunpowder to blast out part of the tunnel, and made their way through about eighty feet of rock and dirt. In the beginning there was no such idea as cannon mounting and the end result, however as the work moved along, the fumes that emitted from the blasting powder began to take its toll on the men and they decided to vent the area to release it and afford themselves some fresh air. The original goal of the tunnels was to give the men the ability to get a cannon from where they were, over to the northern face of the rock which is known as the Notch, not to mount them within the tunnels but this was a great idea.. Nearly as one the men realized what a wonder opportunity this would be and how well it would work for the cannons, and one was mounted there, without waiting for their tunnel to reach the “Notch” area. The cannons were taken into the tunnels and holes were cut into the rock all along the face of the side that faced the mainland. When the visitor to Gibraltar is crossing into Gibraltar, if you look carefully, you will see the holes in the face of the rock that tell of the cities past. When the cannons were laid in place, a rod was placed above them and a wet cloth hung from it, to prevent the sparks from the cannon from flying backwards and igniting the remaining powder. Some areas in the tunnels went up nearly a story or two, and were for the very brave or the very foolhardy to traverse, while other areas lay on the ground, so the shooting could take place from multiple levels. In the beginning the tunnel was only 82 feet long, however by the end of the second World War, when diamond drills and better methods of tunneling existed, the tunnels traversed a distance of more than thirty miles in length, winding and turning as they went. Today, the visitor to the Siege Tunnels will note that the seem to go on for eternity, and that upon entering on one side of Gibraltar, you will quite literally end up nearly on the other side of the Rock. Make sure that you wear comfy shoes when you visit the Siege tunnels of Gibraltar. Its been said that the hike down into the tunnels is fairly easily accomplished as its downhill all the way, but lest we forget, there is also that return trip. The unique perspective of a history of multiple sieges and multiple rulers makes it well worth the trek. Take in the Siege Tunnels of Gibraltar on your next vacation to the “Rock”. The 100 Tonne Gun Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing For the visitor to Gibraltar, no vacation in Gibraltar is going to be complete without the viewing of the 100 Tonne Gun. The late 1800′s saw four of these giants built by the naval authorities of Britain, with a view toward securing their holdings. Two were built for Gibraltar, while another two were built for Malta. Manufactured by Sir W C Armstrong in a factor at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, the guns were built in 1870 and for the time span in which they were built they were amazing state of the art, completely unique, and in fact remain so today. Two of those built still survive in the world today and one resides in Gibraltar, at Napier of Magdala Battery. For informational purposes, the second gun’s location on Gibraltar was at Victoria Battery, on the site of what is now the Gibraltar Fire Station. Aspects of what was the below-ground infrastructure of that gun position still survives as well and remains in use for training by the Fire Brigade of Gibraltar. The gun which you will see currently at the Napier of Magdala is the one that was originally situated at the Victoria Battery, and it was moved to Napier when the gun itself split during firing. The gun is singularly unique in several ways, built to be the very impressive weapons that they were. The 17.72 inch Rifled Muzzle loader, or 100 Tonne Gun, has a barrel that is more than 32 feet long and can fire a shot that will range up to 8 miles in distance. Truly an amazing weapon in its time. They were the largest guns of any kind that needed to be loaded through the muzzle, and were so large that it required an hydraulic system powered by steam to carry out the loading and firing operations. Not entirely practical, the gun, which did in fact weigh a bit more than 100 tonnes, took about three hours time to build up the steam necessary to load the gun, but during the time span in which it was used, that amount of time was actually practical, since the speeds of the war craft approaching them would have been still less than the time it took to load the gun, and the ships would, after being sighted on the point, take at least three hours to arrive in Gibraltar. Each gun required a crew of men to operate it, a crew of about 35 men to be exact, and after the initial head of steam was built up, the crew could fire the gun every four minutes. The shells, which as mentioned reached a distance of 8 miles, fired a shell that weighed in at about 2000 pounds at speeds of about 1500 feet per second. This gave the gun the ability to penetrate more than two feet of iron, which was certainly sufficient in those days. All in all, the gun is well worth a visit, a testament to another, far more violent and uncertain time, when the Rock was unbreachable and the supremacy of the British naval fleets were tested and retested and found to be unwanting. There is a story told about the 100 tonne gun that is interesting to the visitor to Gibraltar, and speaks to us of the technologies of the time. It tells of a visit of the Inspector General in about 1902. Reportedly they were preparing to fire five rounds at a full charge and on their first try, the tube was all that fired. Further tries on their part as well as misfire drills were attempted but nothing seemed to work. At the end of the waiting time, which was thirty minutes, the General requested that a volunteer step forward and be put down the gun and fasten a shell extractor to the unfired projectile so that it could be removed. There was, as one might imagine, a quite long pause prior to a tall thin soldier’s stepping forward and stripping to the waist to be lowered into the gun. He was safely removed from the gun and had completed the task for which he entered it, and it is said that he was, on the spot, promoted to bombardier. Not the most prolific of rewards for having risked life and limb, but certainly one that changed his life. Ceremonially, the gun is still in use today, though not literally, and in 2002, a reenactment of the gun firing was held for the Gibraltar Malta conference. Europa Point Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing You’re apparently interested in visiting, or relocating to Gibraltar, or you’d not be here checking us out. To facilitate your visit to Gibraltar, there are a few places that stand out as areas that you just can’t miss on your trip. Well for the visitor to Gibraltar, the one who wants to know more about the area, and the separations that exist there, you will probably like to know that there are five very distinct parts of Gibraltar, and that each of them has something wonderful to offer to the person who takes the time to visit those areas and sample their offerings. The history of the area, more even than the attractions are part and parcel of what has made Gibraltar area what it is today. It’s the vast array of things which have taken place here, and the marks they’ve left on the area around them that will give you a reason to explore still deeper into the Gibraltar area, and to take in the sights and sounds and flavor that are Gibraltar. Gibraltar is more than history, more than sites to visit that offer landmarks and scenic vistas, its a flavor as well. An atmosphere if you will, a co-mingling of a wild past and an exciting future that will slowly pervade your senses as you walk the area. Some of the areas of Gibraltar aren’t going to offer you quite as much in history, or quite as much in scenery as the other, and some people will advise you to skip those areas, in deference to others. The reality is that history isn’t all there there is to Gibraltar, and you do want to take in all that the area offers. Each and every area will have something to see or do, and as such should not be missed by the visitor to Gibraltar, being full of other things such as breath taking scenery and amazing waterways. The waterways near Europa Point themselves are the scene of much history and controversy, sailed by pirates and freighters alike, the scene of triumph and tragedy, of ship wrecks that have taken place in the treacherous waters just as recently as 2007 and 2008. Natural wonders exist here such as the cliffs of Gibraltar and the awe inspiring bay of Catalan, both of which are located in the eastern portion of Gibraltar. When given the opportunity, take in all of Gibraltar’s sections, and you will in fact take it away with you when you return home. Europa Point is in fact the best of the best of the natural attractions that can be viewed by the Gibraltar visitor for more than one reason. Of course, the scenery is fantastic and the buildings are amazing and the local color is there, and the monkeys are a serious draw, but the trip itself, the actual getting to this most southern corner of Gibraltar is going to be more than half the fun of actually going. A trip to Europa Point is very much like reaching out to the edges of the earth, or at least, the very edges of Gibraltar and the European continent and being able to turn back and view it all, and more. During your trip to Europa Point you will have the opportunity to see the continent of Africa, the Rif Mountains of Morocco, the Strait of Gibraltar, multiple smaller Spanish towns and the awe inspiring shoreline of Gibraltar as the gentle breeze wafts its way across the landscape and the waves come ashore reminiscent of the rocking of a cradle. The end of Rock of Gibraltar is a flat area that shows you the unimpeded views of North Africa, lying across the Strait of Gibraltar, and you will additionally view Ceuta and the Rif Mountains of Morocco. Also you will see the lovely Bay of Gibraltar and the smaller and rustic Spanish towns along the shoreline. Traveling around Gibraltar can be done multiple ways, or to Europa Point is easy enough to accomplish, and you can always find a bus to take you there, or a tour taxi, which will offer certain other amenities to the traveler, but probably the best way for those who want a self guided tour and to do things in their own way, at their own pace, will be the bus, which runs at intervals all day long. Europa Point was at one point linked up with the Eastern aspects of the Rock, that included Sandy and Catalan Bays by what was called the Dudley Ward Tunnel, closed in 2002 for safety reasons after a rock fall fatality. Today, although the way is a bit more convoluted to get you there, you’re going to see a little bit of everything along the way, and once you do arrive, you’ll find that the trip was well worth your time and trouble. There are three buildings, in fact three prime things to see when you arrive at the point, those being the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, the Roman Catholic shrine of Our Lady of Europe, and a lighthouse. The Lighthouse One of the first things your eyes catch on will be the lighthouse, stately and looming out over the area, its red and white stripes visible for miles, its light viewable over an area of about 25 KM. The Lighthouse at Europa Point was built between the years of 1838 and 1841, and is currently the southern most lighthouse that Trinity House is responsible for, as well as being the only lighthouse outside of the UK for which they claim responsibility. The Lighthouse was commissioned by Governor Sir Alexander Woodford, and quite often when spoken of in the native Llanito, you will hear it referred to as La Farola. One interesting thing about the lighthouse is that the Gibraltar Amateur Radio operators transmit from the area around the lighthouse once annually. Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque Another of the interesting buildings of Europa Point is the mosque, which is also called the King Fahd bin Abdulaziz al-Saud Mosque,and has a third name, that being the Mosque of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Situated at, and visible en route to Europa Point, the building itself took about two years to build and was reported to cost more than £ 5 million. Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque was a gift from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and opened officially on 8 August 1997. The mosque is more than a simple house of worship, but is also a complex which contains a school, library, and lecture hall. Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque was built to serve the needs of the Muslims in the territory who are currently more than 2000 in number. Additionally, when one arrives at Europa Point, you can very clearly view the fortresses of Windmill Hill and the batteries of the south ridges. Aside from the scenic aspects of Europa, it does afford other attractions as well, not the least of which is the argument about whether or not it is one of the pillars, or is not. Europa Point has been named as one of the two Pillars of Hercules, with the second being Jebel Musa, on the northern wing of Africa. Scholars point out that this may not be entirely accurate as the first pillar is likely the land of Gibraltar itself, and the argument continues to this day. Our personal view point is, discrepancies aside, the area is rich in beauty and history, enough so that such small arguments don’t generally matter much once you arrive on the scene. Europa Point and the surrounding area is a virtually limitless view of what seems to be half the earth, unopposed by anything at all, and on a particularly clear day you will see the landscape of the continent of Africa. Europa point is widely viewed as the closest point between the two vast continents of Europe and Africa. Enjoy your holiday in Gibraltar, and while you are here, don’t you dare miss Europa Point. Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing Hailed as a great gift, the most southerly mosque in Europe, Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, was in fact a gift to Gibraltar and its people, from the late King Fahd Al-Saud. Gibraltar was of course vastly influenced by the Moors, who at one time held control of the Rock, and their contributions to the city cannot be undermined. Many of the greatest attractions of Gibraltar or those sites which serve to bring in the greatest numbers of persons to view them are Muslim, or Moor in origin, and include in their numbers castles, mosques or other buildings. In many cases, these buildings have been razed through warfare, or destroyed to pave the way for other buildings. Such is the case with the mosque that stood once where now stands the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned. The Moors at that time ruled over Gibraltar, and when the forces of the Christians were driven out of the town, the Spanish rulers, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella made a decree that Gibraltar must have every single thing stripped away from it that might remind it of its past connections with the Muslims. Such was the history of Gibraltar’s past, and the mosques, churches and libraries were in fact the casualty of such harsh decrees, yet so too were the people who lost much as those things were taken from them. Gibraltar could not however be so easily swayed from remembering its past, and although many items of the Moors were destroyed during the Great Siege, several of the structures that were inspired by the Moors still remain, and are visited enthusiastically by travelers to Gibraltar. One example of this is the remaining Moorish castle, or more correctly, the remnants of the Moorish castle, which are several buildings, multiple towers, gates and walls whose origins are lost to us, but which were said to have been built by the conqueror Tarik Ibn Ziyad probably at some time during the eighth century. Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque sits atop a flat ground on Europa Point, and to the side of it a large underwater cistern that purportedly dates back to the Muslim Moors reign over Gibraltar is ensconced. Oddly enough, the area of the cistern has come to be called the Nun’s well. Although there are few reasons why this should be so, one local explanation is that the early nuns who were walking from the Shrine of Our Lady of Europa used the cistern. One map, unearthed has actually verified this legend of sorts, by naming the cistern as an underground water tank that was a “bathing place for ye Nuns ot Nostra Senora D: Europa”. The water for the cistern enters the tanks through the limestone rocks from a geo fault in the cliffs nearby. The new mosque which is situated at Europa Point actually has several names, among them, Mosque of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdulaziz al-Saud Mosque, and its more correct name, Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim mosque. Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, among the most often visited places in Gibraltar is, as previously mentioned, a gift from the late king of Saudia Arabia. The mosque took about two years in the building and is in fact a complex of sorts rather than a simple building. It holds within it a lecture hall, a small school house, a library and other rooms that are used for a variety of things, and it is said that a sum of about five million pounds was required to build the complex for the people of Gibraltar. The Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque was inaugurated on the 8th of July of 1997, and is used regularly by Muslims of Gibraltar for offering prayer. About seven percent of the Gibraltar residents are Muslims. Our Lady of Europe Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe Gibraltar When first the Iberian Peninsula was occupied, it had been invaded by the Moors, who came first, about 710 to check out the land and find out what it was made of, so to speak. Several thousand Moors, en route to a Spanish destination and finding that not possible, came ashore and the Rock was officially named Jebel-Tarik, mountain of Tarik. The years passed as they do, and a mosque had been built to offer up prayers, a place of worship for themselves. The mosque was built, or so it seems to historians, sometime prior to 1309, at the most southerly tip of the land of Gibraltar, so, after the building of the Moorish Castle. August of 1462 saw the Spaniards of Don Rodrigo Ponce de Leon capture Gibraltar from the Moors and they left with finality this time. The small mosque as converted post haste into a shrine to the Lady, to honor Our Lady as Patroness of Europe, with the firm intent to devote all of the continent to their God, from a place that was at the most southerly tip of the continent. A large chapel was built near the mosques eastern wall and the entire area became the “Shrine of Our Lady of Europe.” Not long after this, there was installed a statue of the Virgin and her child, diminutive in nature, just two feet tall, carved from wood and colored royal blue, gold and red. Seated with the baby Jesus on her lap, the Virgin mother held a scepter with there flowers, each given a different meaning, Love, Justice and Truth. The shrine became more and more famous, and over the centuries it was revered by soldier, sailor and pirate alike for what it offered to them. It became so popular for the light that it afforded the ships that the men who sailed past stopped to salute the lady and very often gave gifts to those who were in residence as they sailed past Europa Point. They asked, and were granted that a light could be kept burning for them, not just in the front of the image of Mary and the Baby, but also in the tower, and the ships between them made provisions that the small chapel never be without oil, a constant supply guaranteed to them for their lights. The mariners and others were also, according to the writings of the time, given special favors when they “invoked her name”. It was, as has been noted, a time of unrest for the area, and of multiple sieges for Gibraltar, as well as piracy and other such events in these waters. Each year Gibraltar would take many raids from pirates, primarily Turkish, but also others, and among the most famous, or perhaps infamous is a better word, was that which took place on the 10th of September in 1540. The corsair, Hali Hamat, commanded by one of a captains of the Pirate Barbarossa who was guided there by an Italian named Caramanli took the shrine, robbing it of every valuable item that was in the possession of the shrine, and then, moving into the town, captured many people to be sold as slaves. They then tried to enter the cathedral but found it well guarded by a priest, Francisco Saavedra. They sailed away without the cathedral goods, but did have many treasures from the shrine as well as their captives. The Spanish fleet, at that time under the command of Bernardino Mendoza, pursued and clashed with them near Cartegena. The pirates were defeated, and Caramanli was killed in this battle. The razing of the shrine led to a letter being sent to the King of Spain, Charles V, by a hermit who lived at the shrine. Charles V, as history recalls, did exactly nothing, but the letter was answered, when his son Phillip II had very thick tall walls installed around it, making it a refuge for the towns people when there was a need for it. A Spanish historian, Portillo, in the 17th century, tells of how richly decorated and well cared for the shrine was and how many miracles were said to have taken place there. The fourth of August in 1704, saw Gibraltar captured by the British, commanded by Admiral Rooke. The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe was stripped completely of every valuable by the landing Marines and the Virgin and Child were flung down to the rocks below, but oddly enough, or perhaps not, as it was made of wooden construction, the pieces were found by a fisherman, having floated, and taken to father Figueroa, who placed the pieces of the statue in Algeciras where it was safeguarded. The shrine was not now a place of worship, but instead, nearly decayed, being damaged badly during the Great Siege, but the Gibraltar people continuously requested the return of the statue, so a model of it was made, and decorated by the people with various gemstones and taken to the cathedral. That model still holds multiple small holes that held the gems in place on the neck of the Lady. Also around this time, the devoted to the shrine formed a group of sorts and organised treks to the shrine, and offered money for those who had died without enough to be buried. 1779 during the great siege, the caretaker, Father Mesa, who saw that the Cathedral was on fire, took the statue to Windmill Hill flats were numerous towns people had sough shelter. They housed the statue there and when the siege was over it was returned to the main altar to reside there until 1932, when it was taken to the sacristy. Forty years later, late 1973 saw the statue/image unearthed again, when it reigned over the Monsignor Rapallo’s ordination. The original of course still remained in Algeciras, until 1864 hen the Bishop Scandella, assisted by Pope Pius attained permission to replace the image in Gibraltar. On the day that it was returned to the Shrine, the entire route was lined with the army as the procession moved from Waterport to the Franciscan Convent, opposite what is now the Government House. Gibraltar’s issues too, were taken an interest in during the First Vatican Council, when that same Bishop Scandella won the Pope’s enthusiastic in the shrine of Our Lady of Europe and he offered to see built a temporary chapel which was completed in May 1866. The Pope donated the marble for the altar. The front piece of the altar depicted the coat of arms of Pope Pius IX and Bishop Scandella, along with a monogram of Our Lady. As the war ensued, in 1939 the image was taken to the Cathedral to be safeguarded. The shrine, in the meantime, had been further decimated by being used as a storehouse for oil for the army. In 1910, E.R. Kenyon described the shrine, in a book about Gibraltar, as “an ugly only little building which stands among the army barracks.” Records state that in 1928 it was being used as a library for the garrison of Gibraltar. In the Second World War it again became a store house. The Marian Year –1954– on the evening of Sunday 15th August, the Feast of the Assumption, a torch-lit procession took place and the image of Our Lady was moved from the Cathedral to St Joseph’s Church, which was at the time the nearest parish church to the shrine. 1959 saw the military with no more use for the Shrine building and it was decided to demolish it, and it would nearly have been accomplished, had it not been for the efforts of just a few. It was saved by being named an ancient monument and was preserved for those reasons. The restoration began in 1962 and on the 28th September of that same year, Bishop Healy celebrated the first Mass at the shrine after 258 years. The first Baptism was held in November 1966 and the first wedding was celebrated in July 1976. On the 7th October 1968 the statue of Our Lady was restored to the shrine, in a public procession from St Joseph’s Church. On the Tenth of September 1995, Gibraltar’s National Day, plans were revealed for more renovation and further refurbishment of the Shrine. Those plans included building an extension, an office, museum and a tower. The restoration was funded by the European Commission and the Gibraltar Government. Additionally, for fund raising, a set of gold, silver and nickel commemorative medals were produced to be sold. The Pope, is said to have taken a particular interest in the proposed renovation and sent the following letter to the Bishop. From the Vatican, 6th September 1995 My Lord Bishop, The Holy Father was pleased to be informed of the ceremonies to be held at the Shrine, set up by King Ferdinand IV in the year 1309 and dedicated to the Mother of Christ under the title of Our Lady of Europe. He has noted with particular interest that the venerable building is currently being extended and refurbished as a more worthy focus of the Marian devotion of the people of Gibraltar and of the many pilgrims from elsewhere in Europe and beyond. At a time when the unity of the continent of Europe is being fostered and strengthened, it is indeed appropriate that Gibraltar should house such a potent symbol of such unity, which belongs not only to the civil and political level but is also and specially a reality in the spiritual sphere. It is the prayer of His Holiness that the Shrine will be an ever effective centre of unification, a place where, under the patronage of Mary, the human family will be drawn ever more closely into fraternal unity and peaceful coexistence. With these sentiments the Holy Father invokes abundant divine graces upon those gathering for the religious observances, and with affection in the Lord he imparts his Apostolic Blessing to you and to the whole Church in Gibraltar. With fraternal best wishes, I remain Yours in Christ G. B. RE Gibraltar’s Shrine of Our Lady of Europa has seen vast changes, vast decay trials and sieges, watched as they all passed with time. She sits now, restored to her former glory, offering testament to Gibraltar’s spirit. The Shrine now shines as it once did, watching over the tip of the continent. The Great Tunnel In Catalan Bay Gibraltar Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing The Dudley Ward Tunnel, named after Sir Alfred Dudley Ward, runs through the Rock of Gibraltar, the south easterly aspects. The tunnel was named after Sir Ward for his governorship of Gibraltar which ran from 1962-1965. The road tunnel links the eastern aspects of Gibraltar with Europa Point, and includes Catalan Bay, Sandy Bay and takes its path along the Sir Herbert Miles Road, ending up at the southern most tip of Gibraltar at Europa Point. The tunnel was used to ease traffic in Gibraltar, and was in fact a well used tunnel simply for those reasons. At some point in February of 2002, a landslide took place just before the tunnels entrance way, which killed a man who had been traveling inside his car in the tunnel. A second victim was treated for shock at the same time. Due to this injury and death, albeit the investigation showed it to be likely caused by the heavier rains that had taken place the weekend before, the tunnel was closed. In the beginning the closure was said to be only temporary, however the government of Gibraltar, fearing that like issues could recur, said within days that the tunnel accident was very likely to be repeated, and as such, indefinite closure was the best option. That closure remains in effect today. In 2007 the Government of Gibraltar suggested reopening that tunnel in an effort to ease traffic flow which had become more congested near the new residential development in Rosia area. Gibraltar Monkeys Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing Gibraltar Monkeys – Barbary Macaques Your holiday in Gibraltar, or your relocation to the area of Gibraltar will bring you in contact with a few neighbors you may not know about. Unofficially called the National animal of Gibraltar, the Barbary Macaque is known the length and breadth of the area, and is in most cases, simply referred to as the Gibraltar monkey, or when spoken of in Spanish or the local language, are simply called monos. Scientists believe that the Barbary Macaque population, the proper name of the Monkeys of Gibraltar, the last of such a population on the continent of Europe (although they do thrive in North Africa) was introduced to the area of Gibraltar by the Moors who lived there between 700 and 1492. The Gibraltar Monkeys were likely used as pets by the occupants, however there is another school of thought that believes that the original macaques were holdovers from a population that had spread over southern Europe up to 5 million years ago. One absolute certainty is that before the area became British territory, in the early 1700′s, the macaque population was present there. This is known to be fact in that Portillo wrote, in about 1610 about those very Barbary Macaques, (Gibraltar Monkeys) saying “But now let us speak of other and living producers which in spite of the asperity of the rock still maintain themselves in the mountain, there are monkeys, who may be called the true owners, with possession from time immemorial, always tenacious of the dominion, living for the most part on the eastern side in high and inaccessible chasms.” In 1782 Ayala, another Spanish historian also wrote of the Gibraltar monkeys: “Neither the incursions of Moor, the Spaniards nor the English, nor cannon nor bomb of either have been able to dislodge them.” There are presently about 250 of the Gibraltar Monkeys, divided into five troops that live in the area that is known as the Upper Rock, and once in a while make brief forays into town that sometimes result in a bit of a fright of a little damage to personal property, but most of the locals believe that they are certainly worth the trouble as they are an integral part of Gibraltar and the Monkeys of Gibraltar certainly a draw to the tourists of Gibraltar. Considered by many in the area, and vacationers to be the top attraction of Gibraltar, the Gibraltar monkeys attract attention where ever they are seen. One troop, which is called the Queen’s Gate group, living at Apes Den, are tame enough that they permit people to get exceptionally close to them, and will often come up to the tourists and quite often climb up on them. You are of course encouraged to use caution when this happens, as they are, regardless of how tame they appear, still wild animals and can bite or scratch if they are frightened or upset. The Gibraltar Monkeys, or Barbary Macaques have so much contact with so many, including both tourist and local alike, that their social groups began to break down over time and they became quite dependent upon human interaction to feed them, which encouraged their foraging in the town, and doing damage to both clothing and people, as well as to buildings and automobiles. This resulted in a law in Gibraltar that makes feeding the macaques punishable by law, so that if you are caught feeding the monkeys of Gibraltar you may net yourself a fine of up t £500. The populace of Gibraltar Macaques was taken care of by the British Amry, and later on, by the Gibraltar Regiment, so that from about 1915 to 1991,they were under military supervision, who controlled their population, and appointed an officer who supervised their welfare, including food allowances of such items as fruit, vegetables and nuts, which they included in the budget that was made for the care of the monkeys. The officers also recorded the births of the macaques, and in proper military fashion, every single new infant was named when they were seen, many of them named after a governor, a brigadier or a higher ranking official. Any which were taken ill or were injured in any way were taken to the Royal Naval Hospital and in fact received treatment equal to that of any other enlisted person. With the withdrawal of the garrison, the Gibraltar Government received the responsibility for the care of the Macaques. Today things are a bit different and the monkeys are managed now by the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) and the monkeys medical and nutritional care is provided by the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic (GVC). Each day the macaques receive a supply of fresh water, are given vegetables, fruit and seeds as supplement to the natural food resources that they forage, and are regularly caught and checked to assure their good health. With a nod to new technologies, today the animals are given a tattoo number and a micro chip as a means of identification. Once each year, a census is conducted to monitor reproductive success of the whole population, and to prevent what could prove to be a problem with the increasing population and the limited habitat of Gibraltar. The fact that the monkeys are one of the tourist attractions of Gibraltar aside, there is also a legend, or a belief that exists here which also impels the locals to care for the monkeys. The belief holds that as long as Barbary Macaques exist on Gibraltar, the territory will remain under British rule. In 1942 the population dwindled to just seven of the Gibraltar monkeys, and the British Prime Minister of the time, Sir Winston Churchill ordered that the numbers of the monkeys of Gibraltar be replenished immediately from both Morocco and Algeria due to this traditional belief. For more photos and videos of the monkeys, visit: www.gibraltarmonkey.com For something unusual, when it’s time to relax and unwind, to get away from the things that you need a break from, what better way to do that than a family vacation. What possible way could you better spend a vacation trip with your family than on an Africa safari tour. Share the love of the wild and the wildlife with your family on an adventure vacation. African safari tours are definitely a get away to remember. You simply can’t beat an African safari tour for the best way to show them a good time. Upper Rock Nature Reserve Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing Perched precariously about 1400 feet (420 m) above the sea lies one of the greatest areas for natural beauty in Europe, The Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Considered by visitors to Gibraltar to be the one of the biggest of the attractions of Gibraltar, the Upper Rock Nature Reserve is where the visitor to Gibraltar can see multiple natural attractions including the wildlife as well as numerous plant species that are unknown or rarities elsewhere in the world. He or she will also be able to view the entire area, as well as the Bay from the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, and the view is nothing short of breathtaking. The Upper Rock, or upper mountain as is it sometimes mistakenly called, is home to the Barbary Macaques, as well as somewhat less famous denizens of Gibraltar. Nestled on the limestone peninsular of Gibraltar, the most famous of the residents of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve– the Barbary Macaques, which have lived out their lives here for several hundred years, remain the only free ranging apes of Europe. Legend says that when the last of the apes leave here, Gibraltar will no longer be in the hands of the British. Aside from the apes, the Upper Rock Nature Reserve is home to multiple types of birds, including the Barbary Partridge and Buzzards. There are about 311 species of birds who are present, and make their home here, or appear when migrating through. Gibraltar, being at the heading area of the Strait, is a very prominent area for accumulating the birds during their migrations, with the vegetation there, unique in all of Southern Iberia offering them a fleeting home as they stop to take a breather, and to rest and feed from the migrations. The Upper Rock Nature Reserve serves as a temporary home to many of them prior to a continuation of the long trip that may take them over water or desert en route to areas as far away as Russia or Greenland. The birds you may see on Gibraltar, both near the shore and in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve are part of the many attractions of Gibraltar and what make the Upper Rock Nature Reserve truly an ornithologists paradise are: # Herons # Egrets # Ibis’ # Spoonbills # Flamingo # Golden Eagle # Egyptian Vulture # Rüppell’s Vulture # Griffon Vulture # Eurasian Black Vulture # Short-toed Eagle # European Shag (These also breed on the cliffs of Gibraltar) # Western Marsh-Harrier # Northern Harrier # Pallid Harrier # Montagu’s Harrier # Eurasian Sparrow Hawk # Northern Goshawk # Eurasian Buzzard # Long-legged Buzzard # Lesser Spotted Eagle # Greater Spotted Eagle # Merganser # White Stork Among the mammalian species who make Gibraltar their home are the Red Fox, European Rabbits and Mouse Eared Bats, and it is one of the few places where one may see the Critically Endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal. Other wonderful things to see on the Upper Rock Nature Reserve are the plant life, including the sweetly scented jasmine, honeysuckle, and Sea Lavender, as well as some of the more popular flowers here, including Candy Tuft, Thyme and Chickweed. Visitors to Gibraltar will also want to take the time to see St Michaels Caves, one of a wide range of caves that contain an incredible array of stalagmites and stalactites. Also in the Upper Rock Reserve, you can take a climb if you’re the hardy type take a walk up to visit the Apes’ Den, where many of the Barbary apes live, but a word to the wise. The locals say that you shouldn’t carry food with you to the Apes Den. The monkeys tend to be quite curious and its not at all uncommon for one of these inquisitive little folks to grab the food from your hands, or even from your backpack. If you’re up for a bit of a longer climb, hike up to the area that is called the Jews Gate, which will offer you a breathtaking scenic view of the Rif Mountains of Morocco. The Upper Rock Reserve is also the home of the last remaining lime kilm that exits in Gibraltar and its well worth your time to take peek. There are multiple very rare plant and animal species in the park, and some of the things you see here are such that you won’t see them elsewhere in Europe, or in some cases, in the world. As such, of course, the park is protected so taking anything from it, or picking flowers or other plants is something you are prevented by law from doing, so do bear that in mind. The Moorish Castle Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing Throughout the entire history of Gibraltar, it seems that the Rock has been particularly significant to various people at varying times and that they were willing to go to great lengths to secure it throughout the ages that it has stood. Visitors or occupants to Gibraltar have been, over time, Neanderthals, Moors, Spanish and British, and each people who occupied the grounds of this small dominion went to great trouble to secure and protect it. The Moorish Castle Complex is made up of some diverse buildings, multiple numbers of gates, more than just a few fortified walls and its most striking attributes, those of the Tower of Homage and The Gate House. The Tower of Homage is a very impressive, nearly an awe inspiring site even today. How much more so would it have been, when it was new, in the height of its power and magnificence. Although it is often said that the Moorish Castle at Gibraltar was begun in the 8th century, there is no real way of knowing exactly when it was begun or when it was completed, since the records of those things are long since passed out of time. What is known is that in about 1068,according to records, the Governor of Algeciras, which was the city on the western side of the bay, an Arab, ordered that they build a fort on Jebel Tarik, (what is now known as Gibraltar) in order that they might guard the area and watch the events playing out on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar. It is believed by many that this may well have been the roots of the castle, the present day Tower of Homage ince there does appear to have been a castle on this site, and from that, it is believed that the original walled town grew. The frightened townspeople would certainly have withdrawn into that walled city when times grew less secure. With certainty it is known that the Castle was rebuilt to what it now is during the 14th century, and stands on the soil of the actual site where the first Moors fortifications were built on the soils of Europe. In time it became the main fortress on the Rock of Jebel, and holds the distinction of being the tallest tower and the largest keep in the entirety of the Iberian Peninsula. The walls of this important fortress closed in a large area, sweeping down from the upper aspect of the Rock of Gibraltar, down nearly to the sea, with what must have been the most interesting and well seen parts of the castle being some of those which still remain there today, notably, The Tower of Homage, the battlements and the enormous Gate House, along with the cupola roof. The occupation of the Moors was the longest in the recorded history of Gibraltar, and lasted from about 700 through 1309, and then when retaken in 1350, their occupation of Gibraltar lasted a further hundred odd years, until 1462. The total time of the Moors on Gibraltar was about 700 years, give or take a few, and their contributions to the culture, the atmosphere and the economy of Gibraltar are certainly well documented. The importance that Gibraltar held for them is attested to by the fact that their occupation of it began in 711 and lasted till the final recapturing of it by the Spanish, with the Moors fighting to hold the rock every step of the way. Led by Tarik ibn Ziyad and Musa ibn Nasayr, the attempts to conquer Spain by the Moors began at Gibraltar and the Rock was viewed as what might be called a stepping stone toward bigger and better things. What can only be considered an amazing feat, took no more than twenty years, and twenty years at a time when no vast weaponry or great mechanics were available to the Moors. The Castle that the Moors built here holds the highest tower of any other castle built during the Islamic era on the Iberian Peninsula, and the Castles Qasbah and Keep, the largest that is known in the area. This castle too, played its out part in the history of the Arabian conquests in the Iberian Peninsula. The Moorish Castle itself had its own very important role in the conquest that took place on the Iberian Peninsula, a conquest that led to dominion of the Arabs in a portion of Europe for more than seven centuries, so the castle is not merely significant as a part of Gibraltar’s history, but that of all of Europe. The Moorish castle begins at the highest point within the tower of Homage, which lies at the eastern most point. Surrounding the Tower of Homage is the Inner Keep, and the Outer Keep. Lying West of the Keeps is the Quasbah, which houses the famed Gate House. Down the Rock rests the Old Town, and from there to La Barcina, the Original dockyard, where stood the Sea Gates, at the sites of the present casemates Gate. Entire lengths of these amazing fortifications, gates and walls remain standing offering silent examples of the wondrous architectures of the Islamic period of Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Heritage Trust, at this point is faced with the challenge to protect and shield these remnants, these silent story tellers, so that they may endure for future generations to see and study, and restoring them to former glories with the same materials that were used in the original buildings. When you travel to Gibraltar, make it a point to visit this piece of enduring history of Gibraltar. Visit the Moorish Castle and marvel at what could be done, using only strength of hands and sheer determination. Parson’s Lodge Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing Parson’s lodge is perhaps the most strategically important place on Gibraltar because it covers the entrance to Rosia Bay. The Spanish discovered this as did the British when they strove with Spain to gain access to the site. During the American War of Independence, both Spain and France declared war on Great Britain, and attacked forces at Gibraltar. The old Spanish site received many renovations and additions. In the early seventeen hundreds, it boasted four guns, and a pair of two by eighteen pounders and shortly afterwards a pair of two by twelve pounders was added. The fortress received the name Parson’s Lodge, in the year 1761, referring to a book in the library garrison. The name also was listed in an armaments list ten years later and supposedly referred to the nearby monastery and chapel that was built to honor Saint John the Green. It was about thirty years later when further improvements were made on the battery, when three ten inch rifled muzzle loading weapons, each weighing about eighteen tons were added. This increased the range and defensibility of the army, the new guns being able to reach over two and a half miles when over four hundred pounds of projectile were being fired. The guns were place behind unusual crafted Gibraltar Shields, composed of teak and armor plate. They were in use until the late eighteen hundred nineties. Along with the new guns, new living quarters were built on ground below the Parson’s Lodge battery. It was during this time that the large searchlights were installed, they measured up to ninety centimeters each and had candlepower estimated at over 200 million and the ability to be focused tightly, within a three degree beam that could be projected as far as five thousand yards distant. Before the First World War, Parson’s Lodge became a coast auxiliary with a new searchlight, while the artillery batteries falling into disuse. This changed when fighting started up again and the defensive skills of that artillery were needed again to defend freedom. In the second World War, the building of more batteries inside the Parson’s Lodge as well as anti tank, anti aircraft guns, and searchlights to aid in the firing upon aircraft. There was a six pounder gun placed where the landing parties could be easily monitored, it was capable of firing a six pound shell over two miles and was in use until the end of World War II. One of the more famous sections is where the C18th gun position; it provided protection to the Camp Bay area. It was capable of firing a projectile that had a range of over a mile. On Christmas Eve, the famed light infantry Somerset brigade finished with the construction of the concrete block two tiered Six Pounder weapon position to prevent enemies from landing on either Camp Bay or Little Bay. The Vickers Medium Machine Gun is capable of firing five hundred rounds of ammunition per minute. The areas that held storage of shells and ammunition are interesting because there were a variety of precautions that needed to be taken to prevent explosions and the destruction of the whole installation. Some of these were spark free copper fittings, rope shows and the important measure of lighting magazines through plate glass fronted passages or special niches. A carriage was used to hoist cartridges that were mounted above the Parson’s Lodge. Parson’s Lodge was abandoned in 1956 by the British, but is still used by them as a training area for military exercises. Time has worn on Parson’s Lodge but there are efforts to preserve and protect the historical site from further damage and decay. Two of the organizations that have put forth a herculean effort to save Parson’s Lodge from eroding further, they are: The Friends of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Heritage Trust. This work has not been in vain, the increasing tourism has brought more interest and more money to further this work. The Gibraltar Heritage Trust has been working on many different sites all over Gibraltar, with the honor in 1989 of joining membership on the Europa Nostra, a European body that increases public awareness of national heritage and the benefits it has. This was recognized in 1996, when the Europa Nostra acknowledged Parson’s Lodge as a historic fortress, picked from over one hundred entries from twenty nations, thus emphasizing the Gibraltar Heritage Trust as a vital part of reconstructing the site and keeping this important part of history alive for future generations to visit and learn from. Rosia Bay Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing Situated at the opposite end of the “Rock” from Spain, Rosia Bay is a historic area, where it was said that Nelsons body was brought after his death aboard the HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. It was here that he rested prior to being returned home to England. It is more than just history however, but also present day, with a bright welcoming area, lots of parking, great little shops and some wonderful things to do to entertain you. Rosia Bay holds the distinction of being more than just a beach and more than just a bay. It is a unique attraction in its own right, a coastal area that is part port, part tourist attraction and part local entertainment. Summers in Gibraltar can be quite hot, and the Rosia Bay area is one of the better beaches around, holding some great amenities for both traveler, tourist to Gibraltar and local resident alike. The Rosia Bay area is also home to some incredible fishing opportunities as both locals and tourists will attest. The shores of Rosia Bay are lined with superb cafes that will serve up anything from a cold drink to a hot meal, and the prices that you pay will surprise you with how reasonable they are. Rosia Bay is not the typical tourist area, but full of history, of local colour and a wonderful atmosphere of small town. The locals say that one of the best things about Rosia Bay is that there is usually parking available. Unknown to many, the parking in Gibraltar can get to be a bit nightmarish, with minimal chance to park close to what you want to view. Not so in Rosia, which offers adequate parking, though you may have a bit of a problem availing yourself of it, as the spaces are a bit tight. As you arrive in Rosia Bay you will find two more bays, much smaller in size. Rosia Bay, being a natural cove or sorts, offers its own shelter from the breezes that can blow through, and does also offer you a choice of two swimming pools as well. Rosia Bay though is more than just a beach. It also happens to be a pier area, a port area, and though it is primarily an entertainment area now, perhaps, it has in the past assumed a much larger role in the culture, the interaction, the growth and economy of Gibraltar. Rosia Bay is also the site of Nelsons Anchorage. South of Trafalgar Cemetery, Nelsons anchorage is a museum that hosts a multitude of things to view that will give you a closer picture of what the area was like in that time frame of the Battle of Trafalgar. More than just a museum, Nelson’s anchorage is the older port of Gibraltar on Rosia Bay, and for the historian or just the avid history buff, Nelsons Anchorage also pin points for you where the body of Admiral Nelson was brought ashore, preserved–so the legend says, inside of a rum barrel. Along here are two more little bays, one called Camp Bay and the other named Little Bay, which form the protective type cove that Rosia Bay enjoys. Nelson’s Anchorage Museum is Open 9.30 – 3.15pm Monday – Saturday Last entry 5.00pm It is Closed Sundays Admission £1.00 If you choose to continue walking past the two small bays, you will find a small road tunnel that will see you arriving at Europa Point, where you can view the three primary tourist attractions of Europa point and indeed attractions of Gibraltar, the lighthouse, the Shrine and the mosque. Take some time to visit Rosia Bay, part of Gibraltar’s historic past and its beautiful present. Alameda Gardens Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing The Alameda Botanic Gardens The Rock of Gibraltar has a lengthy history that includes many long sieges, multiple conquests and a lengthy military culture, but more than this, it has a fascinating eco-system as well that is unmatched elsewhere on earth. Just as the culture, the architecture and the people are all influenced by multiple cultures and areas, so too is the plant and animal life here influenced by areas other than the Rocks immediate location. The cultures include Moors, Spanish, Genoese and British and each of them have brought with them their own influence on the botanical inclusions of the area, bringing with them ideas on planting, cultivation, deforestation, and new plant life that is seen in Gibraltar. By an large, much of Gibraltar’s history of necessity included military, since the many attempts at conquest and siege meant that was first and foremost in everyone’s mind, so it wasn’t until about the 1800′s that anyone really took a hard look at what was necessary for the well being of those who lived there day to day. Sir George Don, who was then the Lieutenant-Governor of Gibraltar, was viewed as being probably the first public leader of Gibraltar who saw fit to dedicate any amount of public resources to the well being of the general population, including founding a hospital for civilians. About 1815 he is noted as stating that in consideration of the fact that “there being no place of public recreation in this Garrison” he “was induced…..to establish a walk around the Grand Parade, and form what is called in this country an Alameda, where the inhabitants might enjoy the air protected from the extreme heat of the sun”. He avoided using public money by taking contributions from the citizens and military as well as some from the theatre, and raised funds in lotteries as well to create what he had in mind. The Grand Parade, his choice of sites, was a grounds used for assembly and other purposes, that was south of Gibraltar town, and had been a red sand desert, that was used for multiple things, including a sort of planning and building area, a vegetable garden for the troops during the siege times and also as a cemetery in other areas. It have been a hub for the military activity for the various rulers also over the years, as it was an easy landing area as well. Gradually the land around that Parade was built up, and was gradually expanded to include about 8 hectares for what is now called Alameda Gardens. The name used is taken from the Spanish, Alamo, which is a tree that according to the older writings, was grown along the Grand Parade. Alameda Garden was opened in 1816, and was covered by the paper, The Gibraltar Chronicle, who are quoted as saying, “The walks at the New Alameda being completed they will be opened to the public tomorrow afternoon, at 4 o’clock, when three Bands of Music will attend.” The gardens were laid out in with paths that intersected and interconnected, beds were terraced and much of it was done in the Jurassic limestone that is native to the area, some tinted a pale pink by the red sand that is also local. Later, gas lights were adding and a whales jawbone was used to make an archway in the gardens. The gardens went along quite well used until the early 1970′s when they were in such total disrepair as to be unsightly in areas. They remained so until the early 1990′s when the Gibraltar Government consulted with a group of environmental managers and consultants who were then contracted to take the gardens in hand, bring them back up to par and manage them. They were converted into the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens, with a view toward continued development of the gardens to promote conservation, education and simply enjoyment of the gardens themselves. There are conservation programs taking place there, as well as daily viewing for the enjoyment of the public. Among the sights of interest the visitor to Alameda Gardens will see are such things as the Red sand soil, lovely plants such as the Paper Narcissus, rare plants such as the Gibraltar sea Lavender, and multiple plants found only on Gibraltar. The garden’s hours are as follows: 8am to 9pm or sunset, which ever is earlier. Admission: Free The Gardens are staffed by: Director: Dr John Cortes Curator: Brian M Lamb Horticulturist: Andrew Abrines Contact Address: The Alameda Red Sands Road PO Box 843 Gibraltar Telephone: Administration/Reception +350 20041235 Trafalgar Cemetery Mar 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Sightseeing The Trafalgar Cemetery, noted as an attraction for tourists to visit, was purportedly the cemetery in Gibraltar that was used to bury the dead for those who were killed in the battle of Trafalgar, however the reality is that there are curiously only a few buried here who were killed in the battle of Trafalgar. Trafalgar Cemetery was used between 1798 and 1814 for burials of those who died in Gibraltar. Consecrated for use in 1798 it began being used seven years prior to the battle of Trafalgar, which was fought on 21 October 1805. At that time known as the Southport Ditch Cemetery, the majority of those it contained would die of several severe epidemics of Yellow Fever, which took place in Gibraltar in the years 1804, 1813, and 1814. At the time, called, as previously mentioned, the Southport Ditch Cemetery, it was also sometimes viewed as part and parcel of the older, more noteworthy St. Jago’s Cemetery, which was sitting on the opposite side of Charles V Wall. Just outside of the Southport Gate, Southport Ditch made what was part of the natural defenses of the town, as far back as the time of the Spaniards in Gibraltar. Southport Ditch shows up on maps of Gibraltar that were made in 1627 (as a “Fosso” just south of “Puerta de Africa” or Southport Gate) by Luis Bravo which maps reside now in the British Museum. The western part of the ditch, which had been always been used as a market garden for most of the nineteenth century was backfilled when the Referendum arch opened in 1967. It appears that the association of the cemetery with the battle of Trafalgar didn’t take place until a score of years after the actual event, and it is even conjectured that the two victims of the Battle of Trafalgar buried there may have been the reason for the renaming. Of those buried in the Trafalgar Cemetery, only two known graves belong to victims of the Trafalgar battle, most of the others who perished in that hard fought battle would be buried at sea. The British Navy, after the battle, would later transport Lord Nelson’s body to London for a state funeral, leaving just two heroes of the conflict to be buried in the Cemetery that earned the name of the battle so many years after the event. Those graves, numbered 121 and 101, contain the remains of the Lieut. William Forster of the Royal Marine Corps, serving on the H.M.S. Mars and Lieut. Thomas Norman, who served on the H.M.S. Columbus. The remainder of the seamen who took wounds in the battle were brought to Gibraltar, and if they later died of wounds received there, were buried north of the Charles V Wall, which lies on the opposite side of the Trafalgar Cemetery. Recently it is reported that a plaque was placed there to commemorate the site for visitors to the area. There are however, buried within the confines of Trafalgar Cemetery, victims of multiple other sea battles in the area, such as the battle of Algeciras, which took place in 1801 and similar actions around Cádiz and Málaga that occurred in 1810 and 1812. The Napoleonic Wars offered up a share of their victims to the Trafalgar cemetery, even if they were not of the Battle of Trafalgar. After 1814, when the majority of the burials took place, the cemetery fell into disarray and was no longer used, save for one single exception, a burial which took place in 1838. There are multiple interesting stones, which commemorate those buried there, and some which remind us of the perils of the past, commemorate the dead in the terrible epidemics of the past years. Among the most interesting and unique attractions of Gibraltar, those things you write down to see while you visit the Rock, don’t forget to add Trafalgar Cemetery. The Cable Car Ride May 21st, 2013 | By admin | Category: Tours / Activities The Cable Car at Gibraltar is among the most fascinating attractions of Gibraltar and something that you absolutely don’t want to miss on your visit to Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Cable Car carries about thirty passengers at a time on a trip to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar, taking about 6 minutes to complete the trip to the top. See pricing and time schedules for the Cable Car Once you arrive at the top, you will have the opportunity for a snack, see the apes getting up to whatever mischief is in store for the day and admire the view while you plan what’s next on your agenda. The summit also offers you the chance to use their interactive tour, that will permit you to discover the Rock of Gibraltar at your own pace, through the use of a hand held guide. * Languages available are: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Swedish and Portuguese. Its a fantastic means to introduce yourself to Gibraltar, and will give you a complete view of the amazing history of Gibraltar, as well as a little knowledge about the geology and the plant and animal life that lives on the Rock of Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Cable Car was built by Swiss experts in cable car systems, Von Roll Ltd and opened to the public in 1966 but has since undergone several upgrades. In 1986 the original Cable Cars, one of which can still be seen in the waiting area, were replaced by the current cabins. As well has having in-house engineers who checks the system on a daily basis a team from Switzerland comes out to Gibraltar usually in January to give the entire installation yearly safety check. In 2007 an extensive refurbishment program to the Top Station was begun with works starting on the souvenir shop and the indoor viewing area/eating area. The ride itself takes just about 6-8 minutes with a possible stop at the middle station or Apes Den. Please be advised that between the months of April to September (inclusive) the Cable Car will not be stopping at the middle station. As the name suggests this is where you can find more apes. Should you want to get out and wonder around it is recommended you do this on your way back down. A cabin attendant will ride with you in the cabin and is there to ensure your safety and also to answer any questions you may have. On arrival to the Top of the Rock of Gibraltar, there is a top station complex that features various spectacular terraces, a souvenir shop and an inside viewing area and eating area. Drinks and snacks are available and don’t forget to pick up your Multimedia unit on your arrival which is included in the price of your ticket. You can also access the Nature Reserve from the Top Station should you so wish. It is only a 15-20 min walk down hill to St Michael’s Cave from the top station. The view is nothing short of spectacular, and the entire event can take as little or as much time as you care to spend. How to find the cable car The Cable Car will be well within your reach, whether you arrive from the land frontier, the cruise terminal or at the coach park. When arriving from the land frontier, take the number three (3) bus which will take you directly to the Cable Car. Catch the bus at the bus stop which is located about 100 metres from the entry point to the frontier. Passengers who arrive in Gibraltar by organised transportation will be dropped off at the Coach Park. Those passengers can take the number four (4) bus to the Cable Car from a bus stop that is just opposite of the Coach Park or from any Town Centre bus stop. You will find all of the information that you need to assist you in finding the cable car boarding area if you’d care to stop at the Gibraltar Tourist board information desk. They are located at both the Frontier and the Coach Park. You’re going to find the Cable Car base station at the south end of Main Street, Shopping Centre area, which will allow you to walk the full distance of the shopping area, a great way to take advantage of some fantastic duty free deals on your way back from the Cable Car to the Coach Park or Frontier. See pricing and time schedules for the Cable Car When you arrive in Gibraltar by cruise ship, your trip on the cable car will be best accomplished by walking about five minutes to the coach park and taking the bus from there, as directed above. Here is a simple map, which will help you find your way. There are many ways to book tickets for all the attractions we have in Gibraltar, by far the easiest is by clicking on the links on this website or visiting the Gibraltarinfo booth at the frontier before you enter Gibraltar from Spain located just by the taxi rank. To give you an idea or two we have a few suggestions that you and your family may enjoy. NB: 13+ years = adults, 4 to 12 years = child & 0 to 4 years = FREE Adult Single: €11.90 Child Single: €6.30 Adult Return: €14.70 Child Return: €7.00 Contact us for group (20 or more persons)/alternate bookings Collect your Gibraltar Bus Tickets from the Gibraltarinfo kiosk, located on the Spanish side of the frontier before entering Gibraltar, with every purchase. Simply show the staff your printer voucher and they shall issue you your free bus tickets. Gibraltarinfo Kiosk Opening Times Summer 1st April – 31st Oct 09:00-16:00 Winter 1st Nov – 31st March 09:30-15:00 Cable Car Opening Times 09:30-19:15 7 days a week. Last Cable Car down 19:45 Except 1st Nov to 31st March 09:30-17:15. Last Cable Car down 17:45 N.B. The Cable Car will not stop at the middle station between the months of April to September Cable Car - Apes - Viewpoint - Multimedia Adult Single: €11.90 Child Single: €6.30 Adult Return: €14.70 Child Return: €7.00 Contact us for group (20 or more persons)/alternate bookings If you have a limited time available don't miss out on the chance on the 6 minute ride to the Top of the Rock. Our 'CABLE CAR' ticket gives you the exhilarating Cable Car ride to the Top Station where Apes abound, the views are magnificent and you feel you're on top of the world. Cable Car ticket includes: • • • Cable Car ticket (options single or return and child or adult) Multimedia Tour (hand held guide included in adult ticket only and for use exclusively within the Cable Car Top Station) Apes (The apes are wild animals and roam freely throughout the Upper Rock area. However they are usually seen at both the Cable Car Top and Middle Station otherwise known as Apes Den.) The CABLE CAR ticket can be used on any given day within 6 months from the date of purchase. E-ticket must be exchanged at the Cable Car ticket office and is valid for the day of exchange only. N.B. This is NOT an organised tour. Cable Car - Apes - Viewpoint - Multimedia - Nature Reserve Attractions Adult Single: €25.90 Child Single: €16.80 Adult Return: €28.70 Child Return: €17.50 Contact us for group (20 or more persons)/alternate bookings If you have more time and you want to enjoy a stroll around the Nature reserve then try our 'CABLE CAR & NATURE RESERVE' ticket which combines the exhilaration of the Cable Car ride with access to the Nature Reserve including the other attractions. Take that 6 minute ride up to 412m above sea level and enjoy the multimedia tour, the views all in the company of our friendly but wild apes. After a hot or cold drink and a light snack return the Multimedia unit and head off 800m downhill towards St Michael's Cave. After marveling at its splendor you can continue your walk a further 900m where you can visit with some more apes at Apes Den. The choice then is to catch the Cable Car back down to town or continue northwards another 2km in the direction of the Great Siege Tunnels. If you feel up to the walk you will be rewarded by a fantastic piece of tunneling that is more than 200 years old and marvel at the work of the soldiers who lived, worked and slept in them. Alternatively if you are not interested in St Michael's Cave you can head north 1.6km straight to the Great Siege Tunnels from the Cable Car Top Station and then walk down into town. The no1 bus also makes it's way up to Moorish Castle. See maps page for details. CABLE CAR & NATURE RESERVE ticket includes: • • • • Cable Car ticket (options single or return and child or adult) Multimedia Tour (hand held guide included in adult ticket only and for use exclusively within the Cable Car Top Station) Apes (The apes are wild animals and roam freely throughout the Upper Rock area. However they are usually seen at both the Cable Car Top and Middle Station otherwise known as Apes Den.) Nature Reserve entrance ticket - Entrance to: St Michael's Cave, Great Siege Tunnels, City Under Siege Exhibition, Moorish Castle and 100 Ton Gun. (this ticket must be redeemed at the Cable Cart ticket office BEFORE entering any of the sights.) The Nature Reserve ticket must be used on the same day as the Cable Car ticket, see below.) The Cable Car & Nature Reserve ticket can be used on any given day within 6 months from the date of purchase. E-ticket must be exchanged at the Cable Car ticket office and is valid for the day of exchange only. The Nature Reserve ticket must be used on the same day as the Cable Car ticket. You will NOT be able to enter the attractions with your e-ticket. You MUST first exchange your eticket at the Cable Car base station ticket office. N.B. This is NOT an organised tour. Collect your Gibraltar Bus Tickets from the Gibraltarinfo kiosk, located on the Spanish side of the frontier before entering Gibraltar, with every purchase. Simply show the staff your printer voucher and they shall issue you your free bus tickets. Gibraltarinfo Kiosk Opening Times Summer 1st April – 31st Oct 09:00-16:00 Winter 1st Nov – 31st March 09:30-15:00 Cable Car Opening Times 09:30-19:15 7 days a week. Last Cable Car down 19:45 Except 1st Nov to 31st March 09:30-17:15. Last Cable Car down 17:45 N.B. The Cable Car will not stop at the middle station between the months of April to October
