Vandog Traveller

Quit job, build campervan, travel

12 reasons why Gibraltar is so… strange?

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gibraltar-town-night

 

Red phone boxes, Royal Mail, police with those old hard-hats, wild monkeys eating rich teas on the street. Gibraltar Its strange. I think I like it… apart from one thing; the ‘English pubs’ and the lack of good music. Maybe I don’t like Gibraltar. I cannot decide.

We decided to drive right into Gibraltar rather than park in La Linea and walk across. The queue took 2 hours to get in and nearly the same on the way out so probably only worth driving in if you’re staying more than a day.

We made lunch in the back during our wait in the queue for border control, occasionally joining in with this beeping game that the locals seem to do.

1. Always a huge queue getting in and out

The long queue of cars waiting to get into Gibraltar on a Sunday afternoon
The long queue of cars waiting to get into Gibraltar on a Sunday afternoon

2. English high street

All the English high-street shops are here; M&S, Next, Topshop.
All the English high-street shops are here; M&S, Next, Topshop.

3. Fuel is priced as if it were the 90s again

Cheap fuel. £1.05 per litre of Diesel.
Cheap fuel. £1.05 per litre of Diesel.

4. Alcohol is really cheap

Alcohol is cheap. 1 litre of Glens gin for £3.50
Alcohol is cheap. 1 litre of Glens gin for £3.50

5. Their own version of the british Pound

They print their own version of the Pound.
They print their own version of the Pound.

6. Big guns everywhere

They have big guns everywhere. There is even a 100 Ton gun, made in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1870 and brought here by ship.
They have big guns everywhere. There is even a 100 Ton gun, made in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1870 and brought here by ship.

7. English pubs

The English pubs. They do look nice but all you’ll find is fat old English men and pop music played through broken speakers. Ahhh home.
The English pubs. They do look nice but all you’ll find is fat old English men and pop music played through broken speakers. Ahhh home.

8. Wild Monkeys

Monkeys in the street. They come down from the rock every now and then to steal stuff from the shops.
Monkeys in the street. They come down from the rock every now and then to steal stuff from the shops.

9. Red phone boxes

Red phone boxes with every pane of glass present AND I went inside and it didn’t stink of piss.
Red phone boxes with every pane of glass present AND I went inside and it didn’t stink of piss

10. They have Royal mail

royal-mail-post-box
They have Royal Mail. The post boxes have no graffiti and the post office is, like, posh

11. No homeless. Not anywhere!

Many perfect spots to drink special brew but no one is interested here
Many perfect spots to drink special brew but no one is interested here

12. Maybe the coolest airport in the world

gibraltar-airport-7[2]
This is my favourite! The airport runway intersects a road. cars have to wait at barriers when a plane lands. Fortunately for the locals there’s only about 30 flights a week
Gibraltar was definitely worth the visit and 2-hour wait. It’s a really nice place with friendliness of the English and the incredibly relaxed feel of Spain. I think I was just expecting there to be more of a scene. The young people all speak with English accents but don’t seem to do what many English people do in England. They seem to jog, keep fit, meet up with friends for lunch and probably do all their maths homework. I don’t know. The Truman show or something… There is not even a any litter anywhere!