Gibraltar – just a British colony or an exotic place?

Gibraltarians celebrate the fact that despite the British presence there for 300 years, Gibraltar has evolved from a British colony with a military enclave into a financial hub with luxury.

When you get close to the rock, the views from the plane are amazing. Views at ground level can be equally dramatic with the Mediterranean Sea on one side, the Atlantic Ocean on the other, and the familiar lines of limestone rocks dominating the horizon.

Only two and a half hours from London Gatwick Airport, with British pounds as currency, VAT and duty free shopping, Gibraltar is a great location for a weekend break. If you’ve been there in the past and thought “it’s just tired old pubs and lots of fish and chip shops”, think again. Gib went into all the cocktails and cappuccinos.

Gibraltar has the world’s smallest airport, and I love the story of one planeload of visitors, as they approached for landing, where their pilot told them, “No worries, but it looks like we’ve got a ship on the way to the runway! I’ve asked the Gibraltar police to get it out of our way so we’ll land soon.”

Although most people speak both English and Spanish and English is considered the official language, you will hear a mixture of Spanish and English called “Llanito” spoken all over the rock. The Rock has a population of around 29,000, a unique mix of Portuguese, Indians, British, Genoese, Jews, Maltese, Moors and of course, Spaniards. They combined a quick wit with a dry British sense of humor and a zest for life in Andalusia, which is only a few miles away.

Book yourself into one of the many good hotels, such as Hotel Caleta in Catalan Bay, which was once a small fishing village. Once there, you can enjoy its Mediterranean side setting to watch the waves or catch the amazing sunrise if you manage to get up early enough. The beach is lined with small bars and some restaurants including La Mamela, at the southern end, which serves excellent seafood alongside Andalusian paella, fish stews and pepper steaks.

After a very civilized lunch, remove yourself from your seat and head to the pedestrianized city center for some of the bargains that Jeep is famous for. While you’re in town, stroll past the shops and climb narrow lanes that will remind you of the charming towns and villages of Spain just a few miles to the north. If you’re lucky, you might catch the wonderful aroma of Moroccan, Indian, or Chinese spices combined with the sautéed garlic used in many recipes, or waft through the air.