Gibraltar

November 14, 2012

Gibraltar is a small state located in the spot where Spain approaches Morocco, forming a narrow straight. Half the country’s territory is occupied by the Rock of Gibraltar, which makes a convenient orientation landmark.

The country’s entire area is only six and a half square kilometers. When relations with Spain were strained and the border wasn’t operating, the British were forced to build their own airstrip here. Because space is tight, half the runway sticks out into the sea, and the other half functions as a road and sidewalk when there are no planes.

Whenever a plane needs to take off or land, the boom gate goes down and everyone is shooed away. Once the plane flies off, the road is opened to cars and pedestrians once again (Tuvalu has a similar system).

By and large, all the details here are British.

The police.

The pillar boxes.

The phone boxes.

Everything is just like on the island, except that this is the continent. The only difference is that cars drive on the right side of the road here. Although the double-decker bus souvenir says “Gibraltar” on it, the bus wouldn’t be able to operate properly in Gibraltar because you can’t let passengers off on the traffic side.

The public toilet is so nice that there’s no shame in sticking the national coat of arms on it.

Garbage dumpsters.

A trash can.

The entire country can be walked on foot in a couple of hours.

Let’s go take a look.

In general, it’s pretty dull.

Bus shelters are shielded with additional glass panels on the front.

A license place.

Gibraltar payphones.

Water meter panels.

Gibraltar’s main object of interest is its fire hydrant. It looks like a gas cylinder stuck into the ground. It’s always interesting how microscopic countries come up with unique technical solutions.

Firefighters conduct training exercises right on the fire department building.

Children crossing the street near a school.

There’s a cable car which runs up to the top of the Rock. The top is inhabited by apes.

Grubby Spanish hands reach for the little country from all sides.

But the little country soldiers on. Gibraltar lives off the giant cruise ships that stop here, as well as off the fact that it’s the registered home of half the offshore companies in the world.