5/8/12

Gibraltar -- The Rock

Gibraltar was our first tour, & we were excited to get started.

Just a bit of history about Gibraltar.  It is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean.  It has an area of about 2.6 sq. mi. and a northern border with Andalusia, Spain.  The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region.  At its foot is the densely populated city area, home to about 30,000 Gibraltarians & other nationalities.

An Anglo-Dutch force captured Gibraltar from Spain in 1704 & the territory was subsequently ceded to Britain "in perpetuity" in 1713.  It was an important base for the Royal Navy; today its economy is based largely on tourism, financial services, and shipping.

The sovereignty of Gibraltar is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations as Spain asserts a claim to the territory.  This claim was rejected in 1967 & again in 2002.  Under the Gibraltar constitution of 2006, Gibraltar governs its own affairs, though some powers, such as defense & foreign relations, remain the responsibility of the UK Government.

From this map, you can kind of understand why Spain thinks this should be part of their country.

8 comments:

  1. I also don't like smokers around. I feel that they should render some respect to people who don't smoke. I love the pictures and that part of the ocean where you can already see Africa is wow! Can't wait for your next post :)

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  2. BLECH, can't stand smoking! The views are just so pretty! That whole not disturbing the monkeys after they steal is crazy nuts.

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  3. Oh, I'm not bored at all! Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

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  4. Looks like an amazing trip! No, I wasn't bored with this post at all! I loved reading about it and seeing everything. I've never been there. What about those monkey's and the government protection they get? So different over there huh?

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  5. Thanks for sharing. I so enjoyed the photos of the trip. I don't like smoking either. I hate going to the casinos for that very reason. Some bingo parlors still let people smoke too. Can't wait to see the other pictures. Hugs.

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  6. I don't like the smell of smokers, so people should respect who's next to them. Yes, I do imegine why the Rock of Gibraltar could be claimed by Spain...just like the Falkland Island is claimed by Argentina...who knows, humans will forever have wars over land. Love your trip and thanks for sharing such great shots with us, Hugs,
    FABBY

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  7. What beautiful pictures! I lived in Spain all my life and I never visited Gibraltar! Shame on me! :)

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  8. I love seeing your trip. It is a good way to have a small escape at least while reading and looking at the photos. I am jealous looks like a wonderful time.

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Make this a great day!
Carol