Country info for backpacking in Gibraltar

This is a very strange place for the curious traveller. Take time to explore the caves and tunnels especially those not meant for tourists! The inside of the rock is an absolute labyrinth with the secret internal roads and tunnels 4 times longer than those on the surface. Military presence and security in this otherwise deserted area is strong.

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. The topmost part of the Rock is still a British military installation, and off-limits to the public. In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, the 27,800 Gibraltarians (2004 figure) ignored foreign pressure and voted overwhelmingly to reject any involvment by Spain in their government. 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.

Respect

Remember that Gibraltar is British. People from Gibraltar refer to themselves as Gibraltarian or 'Llanito' pronounced Ya-ni-to. They are easily offended if refered to as Spanish. Remember that Gibraltar has been British longer than the USA has existed, and indeed longer than Gibraltar was previously occupied by Spain. Take an interest in why they feel British, but never point out anything that you may think link them to Spain. Some Gibraltarians also feel sensitive to the use of the term 'colony' for their territory due to its connotations of being ruled or lacking in self-government. Although the popular view is that the Spanish Government are the cause of many problems concerning Gibraltar, there is no animosity to individuals and Spanish tourists and workers experience no problems.

Talk

Gibraltar residents speak English and Spanish (with a local dialect). The term gibberish came from the llanito habit of randomly alternating between English and Spanish words all the way through a sentence. New words appear at random and spread quickly through the tight-knit community, then disappear just as fast. The language of choice at any fast food joint is Spanish--everyone else is bi-lingual.

Gibraltar has a low crime rate and a large and efficient police force modelled on the British system to ensure it stays that way.

Gibraltar is part of the European health insurance scheme and has a health service similar to the United Kingdom, with a modern Hospital. Tourists should be aware that the apes are wild animals and can bite and scratch.