Gibraltar

Gibraltar has a low crime rate and a large and efficient police force modelled on the British system to ensure it stays that way.

There are a few recent reports, however, of people being attacked on the Spanish side of the border while returning to Gibraltar on foot late at night. It might be smart to take a taxi home after dark if you have been drinking at the bars in Spain, especially if you are by yourself.

talk

Gibraltar's official language is English. Spanish and Llanito are also widely spoken. Llanito is essentially a mix of Andalusian Spanish and British English; a creole unique to Gibraltar.

The term gibberish came from the Llanito habit of randomly alternating between English and Spanish words all the way through a sentence. This is more formally known as "code switching". In the United States, it may be called Spanglish. New words appear at random and spread quickly through the tight-knit community of Gibraltar, then could disappear just as fast. Many businesses such as cafes and fast food joints tend to employ Spanish workers from across the border, so many of these people speak only Spanish. Almost all locals are bilingual in English and Spanish.

internet

Free wireless is available in the following places:

Fresh - a cafe/bar just down through the archway when leaving the main square towards the bus stops.

The Gibraltar Arms - about half way down the main street.

The Lord Nelson - just by the tunnel exiting the main square.

The Cannon Bar - behind the Catholic Cathedral.

The Clipper - on Irish Town near Tuckey's lane. Ask bartender for password.

Corks Wine Bar - on Irish Town near the Clipper. WEP key is written on a chalkboard above the bar.

The Horseshoe - on Main Street near the Gibraltar Museum & King Street. Ask bartender for password.

phone

Gibraltar's international telephone code is +350. Spain finally recognized this code in 2007 and the old domestic Spanish code of 9567 was discontinued, making calls from Spain into Gibraltar in sync with the rest of the world. Another indirect consequence of this was that all landline numbers in Gibraltar have been prefixed with 200 in October 2008, making all numbers 8-digit long now. If you come across with a 5-digit number, just prefix it with 200 and, of course, with the country code prior to that if you are calling from out of Gibraltar. Mobile phone numbers have not been affected by this change, however.

The prefix to dial prior to country code for international calls is 00 in Gibraltar.

medical treatment

Gibraltar is part of the European Health Insurance Scheme and has a health service similar to the United Kingdom, with a modern Hospital. If you are from a participating country, your EHIC card will entitle you to full free emergency medical treatment. For more information see this wikipedia article: .