Gibraltar: The “llanito” experience
Translated by 
Elizabet Alarcón Martínez
— 14 years ago
Original text by
Daniel Garrido Rivera
7 0
Tags: Erasmus experiences Gibraltar,
Gibraltar,
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is an overseas British territory located in the Iberian Peninsula southern coast, to the east of Algeciras bay. It takes up a rocky formation, called The Rock of Gibraltar (“El Peñón” in Spanish). This city borders on La Línea de la Concepción to the north, its population is 29,000. Since it is located to the south of Cádiz province, Gibraltar has a marvellous Mediterranean climate. Gibraltarian (gibraltareño in Spanish) is the name of its inhabitants, although in Spanish the word “llanito” is more used. Gibraltar is mostly known by its Rock, but there is much more.
Gibraltar is a British colony with tax exemption, which means that many things such as cigarettes, petrol, sugar, cds, and a non end of things cost much cheaper; so a lot of people go there just for shopping. But, pay attention because to go out of the border with more than one pack of cigarettes is an offence and is punished. But is a great advantage as it is a good place to go shopping, in Main Street you could find a lot of shops.
As for parties, Friday is the best day for going out. At night, all young people go to the main place in the city centre, where there are pubs and discos. Last time I went there, to come in a disco cost £7 and there was a good atmosphere.
Generally, the public transport is good, but it is not really useful since the city is small and you can go walking everywhere. Just in the case you want to go up to the Rock, you’d better hire a coach or get the cable railway. The Rock is one of the tourist interest places that you must visit. Inside it, there are numerous grottos dug in the mountain with cannon aimed at the sea which were used in order to protect The Rock from invasions in the past. These caves are beautiful and worth a visit. Outside the Rock, you could see the typical Gibraltarian monkeys, but watch out for them, they seem nice but are dangerous and can steal you.
In the city, there are buildings such us Anglican churches, an old cemetery, cannons in specific places and some curious things. Although the architectonic beauty is not so bright because it does not remain so much from the British colonial period, there are many little details which get your attention and remind you that you are in the United Kingdom, such us some red telephone boxes. You also may find the typical guards which do not move at all in the door of some city buildings.
Leisure is important, if you go in summertime, you could take a bath in the swimming pools of the south. There are beaches as well, as the East Beach (Playa de Levante) behind the Rock and many others in the front part. In the Strait of Gibraltar, in the most southern point, where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean water get together, there is a viewpoint. In the centre, there are many bars and pubs where you can take something to eat or drink.
The culture is a mixture of Anglo-Saxon with Spanish influence, but there is nothing to do with any other, it is unique and different. The language spoken is English and Spanish. Sometimes they get confused and give rise to a phenomenon called “Spanglish”. The official currency is the sterling pound “£”, but euro “€” is usually accepted.
In short, a curious city. In a small space, it has a lot to offer being not a great metropolis. Obviously, if it were not British, it will only be a Rock.
I recommend you to visit it if someday you have the opportunity to. You will like it. I have been there many times because I live near, in Barbate, a coast town that I also recommend to visit in summer.
Gibraltar is a British colony with tax exemption, which means that many things such as cigarettes, petrol, sugar, cds, and a non end of things cost much cheaper; so a lot of people go there just for shopping. But, pay attention because to go out of the border with more than one pack of cigarettes is an offence and is punished. But is a great advantage as it is a good place to go shopping, in Main Street you could find a lot of shops.
As for parties, Friday is the best day for going out. At night, all young people go to the main place in the city centre, where there are pubs and discos. Last time I went there, to come in a disco cost £7 and there was a good atmosphere.
Generally, the public transport is good, but it is not really useful since the city is small and you can go walking everywhere. Just in the case you want to go up to the Rock, you’d better hire a coach or get the cable railway. The Rock is one of the tourist interest places that you must visit. Inside it, there are numerous grottos dug in the mountain with cannon aimed at the sea which were used in order to protect The Rock from invasions in the past. These caves are beautiful and worth a visit. Outside the Rock, you could see the typical Gibraltarian monkeys, but watch out for them, they seem nice but are dangerous and can steal you.
In the city, there are buildings such us Anglican churches, an old cemetery, cannons in specific places and some curious things. Although the architectonic beauty is not so bright because it does not remain so much from the British colonial period, there are many little details which get your attention and remind you that you are in the United Kingdom, such us some red telephone boxes. You also may find the typical guards which do not move at all in the door of some city buildings.
Leisure is important, if you go in summertime, you could take a bath in the swimming pools of the south. There are beaches as well, as the East Beach (Playa de Levante) behind the Rock and many others in the front part. In the Strait of Gibraltar, in the most southern point, where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean water get together, there is a viewpoint. In the centre, there are many bars and pubs where you can take something to eat or drink.
The culture is a mixture of Anglo-Saxon with Spanish influence, but there is nothing to do with any other, it is unique and different. The language spoken is English and Spanish. Sometimes they get confused and give rise to a phenomenon called “Spanglish”. The official currency is the sterling pound “£”, but euro “€” is usually accepted.
In short, a curious city. In a small space, it has a lot to offer being not a great metropolis. Obviously, if it were not British, it will only be a Rock.
I recommend you to visit it if someday you have the opportunity to. You will like it. I have been there many times because I live near, in Barbate, a coast town that I also recommend to visit in summer.
Content available in other languages
- Español: Gibraltar: The llanito experience
- Português: Gibraltar: The “llanito” experience
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