Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located at the southernmost tip of
the Iberian Penninsula.The Strait of Gibraltar’s narrows are ten miles wide
and thirty miles long (18km x 55km). The territory shares a border with
Spain to the north. Today, Gibraltar is known colloquially as Gib or The
Rock and sometimes is also called The Pillar of Hercules.
There are about 28,000Eenglish nationals living in the city at the base of
The Rock.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
ROCK OF
GIBRALTAR
EUROPE
AFRICA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
SATELLITE VIEW
ROCK OF
GIBRALTAR
BAY OF GIBRALTAR AND BAY OF ALGECIRAS
EASTERN SIDE OF THE ROCK
WESTERN SIDE OF THE ROCK
THE BORDER
BETWEEN SPAIN
AND GIBRALTAR.
MOST OF THE
PEOPLE CROSS BY
FOOT AND
PASSPORTS ARE
CHECKED.
The "Rock" is really a big chunk of
limestone promontory
A road is going around and you can drive up to mid height of the rock. On your way
there is the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque. The building was a gift from King Fahd of
Saudia Arabia at a cost of around $9 million. It was officially inaugurated on 1997.
On the same area a
lighthouse stands
guard
Another attraction on this road is the
Saint Michael Cave. This Cave was
believed to be bottomless, probably
giving birth to the story that
Gibraltar was linked to Africa by a
subterranean passage over 15 miles
(24 Km) long under the Strait of
Gibraltar.
Gibraltar is where the British May Reign, but the Monkeys Rule
Legend has it that as long as the Barbary apes roam the rock of Gibraltar, the
territory will remain safely under British rule. The British have embraced this
particular piece of folklore. Not even Churchill dared to disregard it. In 1944 the
Rock's monkey population was dwindling. He ordered a shipment of Barbary
macaques from Morocco. There are now nearly 230 tailless Barbary monkeys
on Gibraltar, and they do not merely live on the Rock so much as dominate it.
The monkeys do have a dedicated home, an ape den. But they are free to stray,
and they do so, mostly in a quest for Kit-Kat bars, shady spaces, fruit trees,
swimming pools and human toys. They have a special affinity for the purses,
shiny cameras and plastic shopping bags that tourists tote around.
Do you want to be my friend?
The monkeys do their best to charm and distract before making off with the loot. They
have learned to smile in front of cameras and mimic snapping a picture; they jump on
the heads of tourists for a laugh and wait for their treats; they have even figured out how
to unwrap candy bars.
One of their favorite tricks is swiping ice cream cones from children, leaving behind a
trail of crumbs and tears. (Not surprisingly, the monkeys now suffer from tooth decay).
Nobody is supposed to feed or touch the monkeys, doing so which carries a fine of
nearly $1,000. The last time someone was punished for the offense, though, was 1918.
Parking reserved for Monkeys
I am watching you
Family council
Even on the
hard rocks
wild flowers
make their magical
appearance
With the cable car you can
reach to the top of the rock
The city viewed from the top of the mountain
Gibraltar is also an important port
The top of the mountain
has two peaks. An
observatory is located
on one of them.
The other side of the peak
Only the birds can
travel directly from
one peak to another
Africa seen from Europe at the top
of Gibraltar Rock
Monument near the border
crossing dedicated to the
Spanish workers in Gibraltar.
The bicycle perhaps indicates
the lack of parking spaces in
the city.
The Prudential Insurance Company has
its logo, "Strong as the Rock of Gibraltar"
and its motto "With Prudential you own a
piece of the Rock".
One of Prudential's
CEO, even put his face
on the rock!
My good friends the
monkeys and I, hope you
had a good time visiting
Gibraltar. See you next time
in other places.
Presentation and Pictures
(some from Internet) by
Dan Calistrat
[email protected]
Music: "I am a Rock" sung
by Simon and Garfunkel