On Wednesday, I made a quick foray into Gibraltar. To say the least, it is much more fiscally prosperous and physically lush than La Linea de la Concepción, the city with which it shares the border. It was a sunny and hot day, temps in the mid 90s, so I only did a limited exploration and did not try climbing any part of the Rock of Gibraltar - this is something I would try on a future visit.
As I walked from my hotel, I noticed that the traffic was backed up for at least a mile and was not moving.
As soon as I got through the Spanish departure and Gibraltar entrance inspections (less than cursory), I stepped out and saw that I was on Winston Churchill Ave.
As I continued on, I discovered why the traffic jam happened - the one and only road into and out of Gibraltar crosses the taxiway and runway of Gibraltar International Airport, an active airport which also houses the Royal Air Force. The road was closed for the departure of an Easy Jet A-320.
I continued on and took the first turn toward the marina. There is construction everywhere in Gibraltar, it is really thriving economically.
I also observed that the British term for sidewalk is footpath.
As big and busy as the La Linea marina was, the Gibraltar marina is more so, including even a casino on a ship.
The area around the marina is certainly high end financially.
I came across a memorial to the Gibraltar evacuations of 1940 - 1951. A quick search revealed that civilians were forcibly evacuated at the start of WWII, first to Morocco, then on to British ships, with most going to London but some to what is now the Portuguese island of Madeira and some to Jamaica. While many got back to Gibraltar at the end of the war, some were forcibly kept out until 1951.
As I continued towards the marina, I happened to catch a photo of this sailboat as it motored by the end of the runway that is constructed on rocks dumped into the bay (the western half of the runway is completely surrounded by water).
When I approached the port, I needed a pass to enter, so I turned and headed back into the city. I did glance at one of the cruise ships that was at the cruise ship marina; the ferry marina is around the corner from the cruise ship marina.
I noticed restaurants of many varieties.
Did I mention that there was construction everywhere I turned?
I eventually came to this lovely little park.
The park had these amazing self cleaning toilets - it was worth one Euro to see it in operation.
Commonwealth Park just opened in 2014 and is the only dedicated green space in the city - all 2.5 acres of it.
After exiting the path, I continued to wander and eventually found Main St., a long pedestrian mall with shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
So I stopped and had a delightful British lunch of fish and chips.
From the news, I recalled reading that Gibraltar had voted 98% to 2% against Brexit (against leaving the European Union). Since then, they have apparently strongly expressed their desire to stay in the European Union. I cam across these new signs where it appeared they were preparing for some event on Saturday Sept. 10, National Day. As noted on wikipedia: The day commemorates Gibraltar's first sovereignty referendum of 1967, in which Gibraltarian voters were asked whether they wished to either pass under Spanish sovereignty, or remain under British sovereignty, with institutions of self-government.
As I continued on, I saw remains of some of the various forts. And as luck would have it, as I am leaving Gibraltar because of the heat, I find information about them on a tourist info sign.
Then it was back to my hotel to cool off and relax.
As I walked from my hotel, I noticed that the traffic was backed up for at least a mile and was not moving.
As soon as I got through the Spanish departure and Gibraltar entrance inspections (less than cursory), I stepped out and saw that I was on Winston Churchill Ave.
As I continued on, I discovered why the traffic jam happened - the one and only road into and out of Gibraltar crosses the taxiway and runway of Gibraltar International Airport, an active airport which also houses the Royal Air Force. The road was closed for the departure of an Easy Jet A-320.
I continued on and took the first turn toward the marina. There is construction everywhere in Gibraltar, it is really thriving economically.
I also observed that the British term for sidewalk is footpath.
As big and busy as the La Linea marina was, the Gibraltar marina is more so, including even a casino on a ship.
The area around the marina is certainly high end financially.
I came across a memorial to the Gibraltar evacuations of 1940 - 1951. A quick search revealed that civilians were forcibly evacuated at the start of WWII, first to Morocco, then on to British ships, with most going to London but some to what is now the Portuguese island of Madeira and some to Jamaica. While many got back to Gibraltar at the end of the war, some were forcibly kept out until 1951.
As I continued towards the marina, I happened to catch a photo of this sailboat as it motored by the end of the runway that is constructed on rocks dumped into the bay (the western half of the runway is completely surrounded by water).
When I approached the port, I needed a pass to enter, so I turned and headed back into the city. I did glance at one of the cruise ships that was at the cruise ship marina; the ferry marina is around the corner from the cruise ship marina.
I noticed restaurants of many varieties.
Did I mention that there was construction everywhere I turned?
I eventually came to this lovely little park.
The park had these amazing self cleaning toilets - it was worth one Euro to see it in operation.
Commonwealth Park just opened in 2014 and is the only dedicated green space in the city - all 2.5 acres of it.
After exiting the path, I continued to wander and eventually found Main St., a long pedestrian mall with shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
So I stopped and had a delightful British lunch of fish and chips.
From the news, I recalled reading that Gibraltar had voted 98% to 2% against Brexit (against leaving the European Union). Since then, they have apparently strongly expressed their desire to stay in the European Union. I cam across these new signs where it appeared they were preparing for some event on Saturday Sept. 10, National Day. As noted on wikipedia: The day commemorates Gibraltar's first sovereignty referendum of 1967, in which Gibraltarian voters were asked whether they wished to either pass under Spanish sovereignty, or remain under British sovereignty, with institutions of self-government.
As I continued on, I saw remains of some of the various forts. And as luck would have it, as I am leaving Gibraltar because of the heat, I find information about them on a tourist info sign.
Then it was back to my hotel to cool off and relax.
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