latedaytraveler

Hi TRAVELINGGABY,

I enjoyed our brief visit to Gibraltar. A beautiful spring day, happened to be Good Friday and also Passover with folks spilling out of the synagogue dressed in finery that would have been appropriate for the Queen's garden party.

I found the tour of the Rock fascinating - minus the monkeys which I managed to avoid for the most part. But some people love them. As mentioned above, the Rock was essential to British defenses during WWII. I believe there was a military hospital there.

PalenQ

I loved the Rock but I think it should be a part of Spain which would not take its uniqueness as a British enclave away, much like Hong Kong belonging to China has not changed its uniqueness much.

tower

Lateday: There are/were four synagogues in Gib. We went to one as there was a celebration for welcoming a new Rabbi from Israel. The other 3 are neighborhood "shtieblach" and quite small in contrast to the main synagogue.

bilboburgler

Well most of Hong Kong was on loan (ok we had their arms up their backs at the time but HK was only a barren rock at the time and they thought we had taken the short straw).

Gib was a deal in perpetuity.

Maybe Alaska should be sold back to Russia at the original terms, while Louisiana should go back to La Belle France and as for California and the Kingdom of Ohio!

isabel

I enjoyed a short trip to Gibraltar, I took the bus from Malaga and then walking in there is no queue, you just flash your passport, then walk over the airport tarmac which is kind of an interesting experience. Then I flew back to the UK two days later from Gibraltar. (so I had one full day there)

I thought the monkeys were fun to watch, the cable car up to the top had gorgeous views and the caves were among the better caves I've toured (I'm talking about the caves, not the military tunnels, they were only of mild interest to someone not interested in military history),

I stayed in a B&B that is a boat, in the harbor, another kind of different experience.

Photos: http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/mala...da_white_towns
(Gibraltar photos are at the end of this gallery)

Bedar

Isabel, exactly when did you go to Gib ? This year ? Last year ? Five years ago ? And on what kind of passport were you traveling ?

isabel

It was March of 2011. I have a US passport.

Bedar

Oh, OK, so that was before the current round of Spanish silliness with the border.

latedaytraveler

Hi TOWER,

"There are/were four synagogues in Gib." Interesting. I believe that the one we saw was on the main street. Wow, I remember how snappy these folks were dressed, especially the younger ones.

We also saw a jewel of a new mosque on the other side of the Rock - facing across the Med to Mecca, of course. Glad I saw Gibraltar, but would not put it on the top of my travel experiences.

PalenQ

Gibraltar may not be all enthralling but it is a place you are much more likely to remember than many other places you traipse around.

I am really glad I took the bother to go and to stay overnight in a B&B - at nights pretty quiet and boring.

IMDonehere

I would, however, not recommend Gib for people with limited time on their first trip to Spain. There is too much to see in the South w/o Gib. Someone with a lot of time, second or third trip, yes.

Bedar

Hey, Michigander, all of us who have visited are happy we did. But, with today's delays on the border, one has to think hard on whether or not to go. It might be better just to look at a piece of Prudential stationery.

PalenQ

Michiganian or Michigander? None is official. But yes if it were a hassle getting in - lenghty time I'd forego it which is of course Spain's desire and again I agree with Spanish claims to something Brits stole under threat of force eons ago.

Bedar

And Michigan back to the Potawatomi ?

Go Lioms !

Robert2533

"Since you're an ex-pat, maybe this is meaningless, "he who runs with the bulls!" Making any Fodorite money on your travel pages?"

You really don't want to enter such contentious grounds. Knowing you're from the land of my brother Chumash says quite enough.