Served there for 2.5 years with the Army in early 00,s. Daughter was born in the RNH and we had a lovely married quarter at Europa point which had an absolutley fantastic view of the Strait and the Atlas mountains in Morrocco. After 22 years and countless moves in UK and abroad, its the only place my wife would move back to. Loved the place, loved the people ( some of them) and always found it strickingly more patriotic and prouder to be British than Britain
We have 2 options, Gibraltar or Belize. If the UK keeps going at this pace, I will be out of here in less than 6 months. This place is turning into Nazi Germany..
Great concept for a video and you've clearly put so much research into it, thanks mate! I don't think I could live there either, but I do remember going there when I lived in Spain and hadn't been home for about a year. Let's just say that Morrisons and the rest of the UK brands felt like a big hug after being away for so long :D
I was speaking to a local who mentioned Morrisons was probably the most expensive place to shop. I think it's down to land prices. Considering land is at a premium, having a huge car park and large single storey building comes at a price.
Really enjoyed your video and agree with everything you said wee man. I've been to Gib many times, and it's a cool place to visit but has no soul to it? The small town of La Linea next door across the border is much more interesting and friendly, too. It's a place I go to stay a few times a year. Malaga airport is only just over an hours drive away and convenient for onward travel to the rest of Europe.
Cheap petrol costs are swallowed by parking fees for most. It was a different place 30 years ago, its certainly cleaned up, but becoming another Monaco is never good for the locals who cant afford to live there.
Hi Scott. I’ve frequented The Rock, for a number of years now and I have to agree that there is ‘something missing’. After being able to watch your report, it suddenly dawned on me. . . Open countryside! (Or complete lack of) I can see every reason why though. It’s just strange.
I think it is because everybody is from somewhere else and the place feels transient. Locals from the Rock that I knew had homes in Spain and lived there most of the time
Spot on. My ancestors came from Paisley and I went last year. Sorry but I would move to Gibraltar like a shot if I lived there. Even Glasgow or Greenock would be preferable. I see why my ancestors left.
My daughter had her ice cream nicked by an ape up on the Rock, I’d just handed it to her and in he swooped, opened it like a human, it was a mint magnum, daughter cried for ages! Glad I photographed it for the record.
I lived in GIB for 2.5 years great people and great apes. plenty of notices to warn you about the indiscriminate actions of the apes. they may go into your pockets if they see you put something in them or your bags anything in fact. READ the notices and then decide if you want to chance it. . READ THEM.The Apes own the rocks were they live and are protected. Injure one at your peril. I have many many photographs of the Apes (Useing a 1000mm lens from a distance knowing that my camera and lens would be taken if the Apes decided to) so keep your distance & for goodness sake dont open any bags or feed them. whenever I was going to see the apes my wife and family took notice of the rules, leave valuables at home or you may never see them again. The apes can undo watch straps when they have a mind to. Harry Cleworth RAF Gibraltar 1969 1971 Hi everyone I was 90 years old last Saturday 24th Aug 2024. I love GIBRALTAR and the Apes.
52 years ago after traveling around Europe i ended up in Gibraltar via Morocco, the border was closed permanently but needing money i got a job digging ditches for a Scottish construction company called Whatlings who had the contract to build and repair in the MOD dock yard after a month or 2 igot a pss to get into work in side the Rock ,made some great mates and never to be forgotten memories, after 20 months of cheap drink and living in HMS Rooke barracks i had to get of that rock, so many photos of great lads mostly Highlanders or Islanders,,have watched vidios of Gib but apart from Europa point and Caleta Palace Hotel and Beach i recognise very little, it was all Moroccans doing all the menial work ,a time in my life i will never forget😊
I used to live in Gibraltar. The location where you did your summary - Behind you on your right the block of apartments. We lived in there. They were pristine white. They look tatty now and the sea began where the block of flats ends. I would listen to the waves every night when I went to sleep. Everything else behind the flats, with all the high rises, they are built on reclaimed land. The big wall wasn't there, neither was the road. Opposite the flats was a Junior school. The Gibraltarian people are what make Gibraltar special. They are very friendly, kind and welcoming. If you like the sea and an outdoor social lifestyle it's a great place to live and very safe. You can walk down Main Street late on a Saturday night, teenagers are polite and will give up their seat on the bus for you, get up and help the elderly or mother's with children on and off the bus. Accomodation costs are very high. London prices. As much as I love Gibraltar and have considered returning to live there again several times, I think in all honesty, I would find it a bit caustrophic now, as I enjoy travelling to events and places around the UK. Never say never though ;-)
@@joline2730 I believe Scott shared his impressions of Gibraltar based on his personal experience being there. It's difficult to really understand a place and make life choices unless you actually live and work in a place, and then there's the friends we meet, relationships and networks we build, etc. And what suits one person doesn't suit another. For example, here in the UK we tend to like our privacy and prefer not to be over-looked by or hear our neighbours, but in Gibraltar, people are rarely home. They are always out and chatting to people over coffee or a beer in the cafes or down at the beach, out on a boat, round at a friends, etc. I now live in the countryside. I hear silence and birds and see green things and big skies. In Gibraltar there is a constant, ambient noise of life. I would miss the green, the open space I have and especially the complete silence, but then I don't have the nice warm sunny weather or the sea and the beach. Everything is a compromise. If you haven't been you should go and visit... you will have a lovely time.
I did! 1972... loved it. Borders closed so used to sail on the mons calpe ferry to Tangiers, drive down to casablanca, Rabat etc.. had an amazing time. Wasnt a tourist actually lived there. Remember, you are not on a permanent holiday, same ups and downs...
Scott, I've been to Gibraltar a few times, you can find proper, middle-ground Gibraltarians with the family after school on the beach at Catalan Bay. Going around the back of the rock to the beaches or taking the Mediterranean steps from up the top and then down the back of the rock are some of my favourite things to do in Gib! And you're right, there does feel like there's something missing, perhaps it's the isolated feeling of a town-sized City sitting completely alone, lacking the same interconnectedness and portals to other locations you'd usually find elsewhere? I'm not sure. But Gibraltar does feel out the way so to speak.
My own impressions from his video. How big is the place? If you want to travel, forget it. I'm 72 years old, but I still want to see a few places. Not all pensioners or retirees want to have the same all the time. We still have some life left in us..
We have lived in Gibraltar and yes met lots of Gibraltarians. The in between lot as you called them work long hours in call centers and only come out at night and weekends. You can take a buss or a taxi from the airport, you dont have to walk. Where the boats were, not necessarily apartment owners as anyone can pay to moore their boat there. We did. Living in Gibraltar, however, is not so simple. You have to prove that you can support yourself, ie a job or enough money in the bank, no tax to pay but you pay health insurance which is compulsory. Buying property is one way of becoming resident. Alcohol has a lot of tax on it. Before Brexit you could nip out to Spain and get most of your shopping cheaper but now the eager beavers at the customs on the border forbid it. You can fly to most places from Malaga and Seville airports as well as Jerez de la Frontier to some UK and German destinations. The border tends to be very slow. Huge lines of traffic form every day. If you are visiting from Spain park your car in La Linea and walk.
Thanks for showing us Gibraltar. I visited there years ago from Spain and just had a look around and went up The Rock. Looks lovely but would not like some of the restrictions.
In Gibraltar, you'll hear Spanish spoken as much as English, as well as the unique Gibraltar dialect. Traffic drives on the right as in Spain, not the left. Most of the pubs will remind you of Britain in the 1970s and look as though they only just stopped selling Watney's beer.
Though, when I lived in Gibraltar from 1969 to 1973 they drove on the left. It was changed to drive on the right because there were so many crashes over the border in La Linea!
A lot of Gibraltarians don’t live there either. They have an address of convenience for perks from the UK, and live in Spain where they can have a larger home, garden, pool. That’s why when the border crossing runs slow, because of Spanish authorities’ checks, there are so many complaints… from the Gibraltarians.
Agreed. I visited Gibraltar from Morocco many times between 1978 and 1982 and loved it. I certainly wouldn't bother to go there now. Did you ever sit at the top of the back side of Gibraltar that is covered with corrugated sheeting to catch rainwater and watch the Gannets diving into the sea? It was mesmerising. My best memory of the Rock.
I think you've pretty much nailed it Scott. Gibraltar looks a canny enough place but there's just something about it that just doesn't float my boat. If I could afford one of those boats!
Hi Davey, it seems to lack soul. I was speaking to a local - yes an actual local - who said Gib was heading the same way as Monaco. In 10 years it will be full of tax exiles with locals pushed out because of the cost of living.
@@davidcritchley3509I’m confused why people say this Think about literally ANY town in the UK. How does that compare to Gib? It doesn’t. Gibraltar is far more exciting and has more amenities than any other place with a 36k population
@@PlanesTrainsEverything having known Gib from the days when it was a bit of a backwater, only just benefiting from the concept of cruises and the jet age, I think you've just hit the nail right on the head. It's no longer that historic British outpost but just another over-populated few square miles full of whomever happens to not want to pay their tax at home.
I worked in Gibraltar in the early 2000s for a period - although I still had a flat in the UK in Middlesex. Gibraltar was described as "being like the UK but 30 years ago". I never felt like moving there. If you park your car outside it would be covered in bird crap and I mean covered. From speaking to the locals the army used to cull the bird nests which kept the bird crap under control. The apes were also out of control. I initially stayed at a hotel in the East side (Caletta) but it appears to have closed and demolished. We were told to make sure the windows and doors were closed. The receptionist told me some guy had come home opened the windows and doors and had a shower. He came out to find a large ape sitting on his bed going through his possessions!
We love Gibratar and been on holiday there several times. We spoke to a local about living there and they said you will soon tire of it as it’s like being trapped on a small island
@@Stand663because there isn't much even on the Spanish side of the border. And when they close the runway... you have to wait. I had a job offer there about 10 or 15 years ago. Went there for a weekend and decided not to take it.
Great video mate. We had a villa near Alicante until a few years ago and always popped into Gibraltar when touring along the coast in our motorhome. On our first trip we filled our fridge/freezer and parked up at Europa Point for a picnic and watched an inter service cricket match, which i believe you can't do anymore, also found an acceptable chippy on the way back. Unfortunately you can't park up overnight in the motorhome, so spent a few nights outside! Remember, always fill up with diesel before you leave 👍
I've visited Gibraltar a few times over the years and have always loved it, so much so that I keep a webcam of Sandy Beach in my bookmarks for those days when I need a vicarious dose of sunshine. Very much enjoyed this video - thank you!
Been there a few times over the last few years, love it. Sundays is the best day when almost everything apart form pubs close, like the UK was 30 years ago..... great booze prices, expensive food though ( supermarkets not pubs etc unless you really splurge ).
I was stationed at Gib 1985-87, when it was British in fact, not just in name. In 2013/14 I lived in La Línea de la Concepción, and I could get a bottle of good rum at Morrisons Gib at a really great price. If I lived in Gib now I would shop at Lidl in La Línea, great choice of goods, especially the quezo at decent prices!
I live in Gibraltar, perhaps one might have looked at the domestic rates here, I was paying hundreds a month in the UK…here I pay £56 a QUARTER for a 3 bedroom apartment, that certainly helps with the budget. Electricity is around £40 a month for the same apartment For smokers cigarettes from £3 a pack, wine from around £1.60 a bottle. No road tax and no TV license…it’s not such a bad place…OH, almost forgot, it’s also almost crime free with very safe streets 24 hours a day.
Been to Gib. a few times when I was still working, was there in connection with the construction work and met a number of both Gibraltarians and UKexpats. I was, like you, trying to put my finger on the missing component, and one of the ‘locals’ said - it is very high density housing and there is not much to do and nowhere to go without leaving the Rock - and he pointed out the resident teenagers riding motor scooters around in circles, then drew a comparison with animals in cages. Perhaps the lack of space that we take for granted is the missing component’? Did you experience the same’ closeness’ ?
Gibraltar has become an overbuilt resort like so many other places in the Med, it sold its soul to the gambling corporate and tourist industry. Was it for the better ? The jury is out on that, but it badly needs to do away with the border controls and reach an accommodation with Spain.
Enjoyed your Gibraltar vlog. We are going there this Sunday for weeks holiday. Lived there for few years when younger (father in RAF) will be nice to see the changes! ☀️
Great video. You got me a bit excited with your comment that Brits can live and work in Gibraltar because it's a British Overseas Territory. I immediately made plans to relocate to Bermuda / other Caribbean BOT but sadly I've learned this right doesn't apply there!
I was in Gibralter in April 2024. It was awful. Grey, dirty, crowded, garbage strewn about like you see in the UK. The food was just as bad as the stuff they provide/serve in the UK. My 4 day stop didn't last 24 hours. A run to Spain and a Malaga hotel vastly vastly improved the trip.
OMG! that shot at 13.55 makes me so want to go there. That scene is so iconic. Gibraltar has so much history buried in that `Rock` it is unbelievable, Shame I cannot afford it! Great video!!
@@jacquelinebutters1201what’s living in Australia like may I ask 😊 I’m an 18 year old German who’s lived in the UK since the age of 6 and it’s always been a dream to move to Australia 😊😂
@@Tom-uk1ekyou should come while your young, start looking into it now. Best to have a trade they need on the mines to make a lot of money, electrician etc, look at backpacking fruit picking jobs to see if you like oz first 😊
I was sent to Gibraltar in the 1960s when Franco was threatening to invade. Things were quite tense at the time. I returned several times during my naval career. I served two years there in 1974/5, and the border was closed so the only way in or out was by sea or air. The people of Gibraltar are very proud to be British with their very close links with the Royal Navy. The island has changed a lot since I was there, but I still have contact with people there. I would recommend it as a holiday destination and if you can afford it, a great place to live because the weather is good most of the time. Thank you for the video. It was great to see the place again.
I was freezing in Bristol one winter and jumped a flight to Gibraltar to warm up. I really wanted to see the airport and the road across the runway, but there is so much more. I stayed on the permanently moored super yacht that has splendid views, food, and service. Would I stay here, definitely for a few months, but not forever.
I'm not alone in having spent a few years living there as a child because of a job landed by one of my parents. I fell in love with the place and now visit as often as I can afford. Live there? I'd love to, but I'd need to be a hell of a lot wealthier than I am. Wouldn't bother with a car though. And I wouldn't get my beer from Morrisons, you can do much better than that!
Live and work there. Great place to be. Downsides are cost of rental. The prices he quoted are unrealistic. Expect to pay £2K plus a month for a 2 bed apartment. Food prices are much higher than the UK. Morrisons is hit and miss whether they have items on the shelf (thanks Brexit). Freedom of travel into Spain is restricted due to the over zealous Spanish Border police. You have to have a valid reason to cross, such as hotel or flight booking. They can and do turn people away (again thanks to Brexit). Wages are generally lower than UK, hence lots of people rent in Spain and commute across the border each day. Upsides are, Great weather, friendly locals, cheap petrol and cheaper spirits (£7 for a litre of Famous Grouse). Cheap electricity, no council tax, no road tax. But most importantly Gibraltar is very safe. You can walk round at any time of day and night without worrying about personal safety. How many cities in the UK can you do that? I love the quality of life here in Gib and so pleased my wife and I made the move.
Yep, agreed. I’m Scottish and lived in Andalucía a few years and now Gibraltar for about 3. Have a nice 2 bed but pay £2k+ for it. Gib is safe and easy, good for a family. Access to Spain is becoming a problem brought on by Brexit. Which is a shame as you can get cabin fever a little in Gib and it’s ideal to be able to go to Cádiz, Sevilla, Malaga, Granada, Córdoba etc whenever you want. Even the checks at the border are fine or id be happy to be stamped or even pay for a temp visa each time, if there was consistency. It’s very hit or miss right now (with agreement negotiations going on). Also I’m not sure if it’s an Urban myth but llanitos here tell me Gib Morrisons is the most profitable in the whole chain 😂
Brexit doesn’t effect food supply and great news about keeping people off the rock who don’t need to be there. Like Venice and the rioting Spanish for their tourism issues.
Great Vlog, I live near Alicante and my wife and I married in Gibraltar. Stayed a few nights, no life/bars/restaurants in the town area after dark. Lots of scooters due to lack of roads and felt claustrophobic.
I was in Gibraltar roughly the same time as you, I think, judging from the big ships offshore waiting. I found it fascinating, being what it is. However, my mam went with me because she lived there in the 70's. She said she was disappointed in what it is now, but she couldn't pin it down to one thing. Her best guess was it was way too built up, and was more of a community feel back then. I just found it interesting that you felt something not quite right too, like her. Great video, as always!
Bloody hell Paisley? Me too. I was awarded the freedom of Gibraltar when the British army marched off the rock (a ceremonial thing only really and nothing more than that day). The bronze statue in front of Marks and Spenser of a sapper was erected to signify the army leaving and the hand over to the Gibraltar regiment. Great times and a terrific parade by the Chief Royal Engineer at the time. Great memories too and so spooky inside the rock with all the world war 2 set up the public can't access. Thanks for the video it was a real blast from the past.
Whenever I go to the south of Spain I visit Gib and I love going there, I would never buy alcohol or olive oil from the store, it’s far cheaper in any of the shops in the main shopping street in Gibraltar. I don’t think I could live there either, it’s a beautiful place but not much there without going through border control to Spain. As for flying back to the U.K. it’s an easy drive to Malaga, Faro or even Seville, so a lot more flights to choose from if you don’t mind a drive. A very informative vlog, I wish you’d visited the main street where Marks and Sparks is or maybe I blinked and missed that bit!
it’s a very small store but useful, also has small food area with freezers. There is also a small BHS and it’s surprisingly good with great staff. I like Gib but not sure I could live there. Hate the apes though!
I visit Gibraltar every year, it’s my happy place. All the Mediterranean sun you need, without all the EU/Euro nonsense to get it. Gauchos is my favourite restaurant just outside Casemates Square - an amazing steak house. I would live there in a heartbeat.
…but only if you stay inside its city limits - as otherwise you would have to deal with all the EU/Euro nonsense, right? Right. Well, at least you would incarcerate yourself in a sunny place.
Hi Scott. I wish east jet would put the direct flight back on from Edinburgh to Gibraltar 🇬🇮 Cracking shot at the end with the Rock in the background 👍🏻
I visited first time for a few days holiday in September two years ago. Really enjoyed the quirkiness of flying in . Runway directly at the rock face and walking into gib from airport. Surprised how quiet it was around the Marina,, million pound apartments mostly empty.
That was as unexpected as it was interesting. Never visited but I don't know how helpful that would be given it's one thing to go on holiday somewhere but another thing completely to live there. My impression from your video is that it's like living on an inland island.
I sailed the Med from Gibraltar in 2014, we were birthed next to that Jolly Parrot Sailing School boat for a few weeks! Also had a great burger in the bar in the marina. It's a cool place. It was my great uncles boat, similar size to the others on the jetty, he lived in the north west but paid mooring fees etc and flew between the UK and Gibraltar fairly regularly, staying on the boat.
@@nancyproco1076 I lived & worked on a tiny island off the east coast of Oz for over 10 years, nothing but a resort on the island & you could walk around it in 90mins. It was paradise for a while, I can imagine that Gib is much the same.
Spent a year living there 06/07 and do have fond memories. Only spent the first 6 months in gib, then moved to a place over the border as much cheaper. Used to work in a building next to the marina you saw with the 'nice' restaurants....you can imagine where we were every friday lunchtime onwards :) One thing to note is that despite tax haven status, personal income tax used to be a little higher in Gib than the UK unless you owned property. Rules may have changed since, but something to be aware of. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to escape the UK and work for a bit somewhere sunnier but who is worried about languages. It's a good first step.
@@SlotBoysGibraltar It actually depends what system you are on, but the highest rate is not so much the issue. In practice you will likely pay more in Gibraltar than in UK if making judicious use of pension tax relief.
I have been to Gib a number of times and enjoyed this video. While I would simply adore living in the climate they enjoy, for me the deal breaker is how small 'The Rock' is. Throw in the lack of beaches and I long ago reached the conclusion it is best left as a holiday destination.
Great video. I had a relative who lived there for 3-5 years at the tail end of the 90s. He loved and hated it in equal measure. He had a great apartment and liked the Med lifestyle but his dream was to use it as a base to get out and explore Europe. Crossing the border on foot is quite easy (I've done it myself), but by private car it is way more difficult and is prone to political whims... this was a primary factor in pushing my relative back to Blighty as, back then, border crossings could take hours and properly 'spoil your day' 😁 I like Gibraltar but would look to visit, not live there!!
I've visited Gibralter twice on business. It felt more British than here, that was in the 1980s. It was little crowded but seemed very liveable. The locals were very friendly.
We visit around 3 to 4 times a year. My first visit was in the early 80s in the Royal Navy when we had a huge presence there but unfortunately that has reduced significantly. The alcohol is an interesting one, I like a tot of rum and the prices of spirits are significantly cheaper in Gib. For example something like Dead Mans Fingers in the UK between £18 and £22, in Gib its only £8.50. Also if you smoke cigarettes are £2.50 a pack instead of £13 here. There are swings and roundabouts and we did consider retiring there but as you rightly pointed out the cost of accommodation is very high so unless I win the Euromillions its unlikely but hey, watch this space 😂 Excellent Video and summary Scott, thank you.
I live in Malaga and travel to Gibraltar at least twice a year. It’s a soulless place, very unattractive ex military town. Very difficult to find parking and not much to see when you do get about. Taxi to top of rock is scary. We go to Morrisons for odd things we can’t get in Malaga. It’s a day out but we always leave thinking it’s a crap place to live, can’t think what we’d do on a holiday
Like the idea of the video. If you were thinking of doing something similar you should perhaps think about the Spanish enclaves on the North African coast such as Cueta.
Another wonderful, entertaining and informative video! Thanks. I've been to Gib but didn't realise there was a Morrisons! About 30 years ago i was in my local Morrisons and was served by a 'mature' man who was very friendly but didn't have a clue about using the check-out! I later learned I'd been served by Sir Ken (Morrison)! Apparently he used to like to hop onto the check-out tills when he was out and about visiting his stores! I wonder if he ever visited his Gibraltar store?
I worked there for a while in the early 2000s and I coincidentally place to buy papers or magazines was a Shell service station. I then discovered Morrisons but it didn't have Autosport.
@@simonkevnorris Another name drop (I was told off by the Queen for name-dropping once!). Morrisons was founded 10 miles from where I now live. I was once served in a local Morrisons by a mature gent who didn't seem very good at his job. I mentioned this to another member of staff and she said, 'Shhhh! Don't say that too loud - it's Sir Ken!' Apparently Ken Morrison used to visit lots of his stores and hop on the tills for fun! He'd be very sad to see the state of Morrisons these days.
Fact. During early WWII most of the civilian population of Gibraltar (women, children, elderly) were evacuated because it was felt Hitler was going to attack this strategic stretch of water and take the Rock. Able bodied men remained. My great, great grandmother Carolina Sheriff was one of those evacuated to London, but people were also sent to Northern Ireland, Jamaica and America too (never to return). Carolina never went back because she met someone and married them. However, many Gibraltarians in London felt unsafe once the Blitz started and many had returned to the Rock by 1944 as it was declared a safer place. I spoke to a woman who had also been evacuated whilst I was in Gibraltar researching my family there. She said that her parents did return, but found their home had been appropriated, all the belongings they were unable to take had gone. People were more likely to be in rented accommodation and the remaining menfolk had taken to sharing, so there was a lot of upheaval when women did return. They often found their husbands had formed relationships with Spanish "maids" who had come over to do cleaning and cooking duties. So, when you ask what is it that is missing, I think it is a sense of where families came from or went to, perhaps a disjointed history for some. Many left and never returned and there has been a military presence which makes living on the Rock like living in a garrison town. Add in the vast amount of tourists coming off the cruise ships plus the 12,000 workers come across every day, and Gibraltar is in a constant state of flux as people come and go. I love Gib, it's where some of my ancestors lived and I have a great affinity for the place. I just wish it was easier to get to from Scotland!
Great video! You walked by my old apartment at the start of the video. Spent 4 years living in Gibraltar 10 or so years ago, I miss it every day. The weather is fantastic, lower income tax, amazing nightlife and restaurants. The only issue I had was after around 2 months i'd visited every bar so there was nothing new to discover in that way haha! Oh and I don't smoke anymore, but it was incredibly cheap to buy cigs. Was like £1.50 a pack.
I lived there 30 years ago. Used to smuggle with the Winston boys. It was like pirates and buccaneers. Gunfights in the bay with he Guardia Civil. Better than watching TV. All that's gone now, I imagine. So many new buildings too
Plenty of 2-3 bedroom apartments/flats on “right move” from £300k - £450k. So if you have like a 3/4 bedroom house in the U.K. you could quite easily afford to downsize to a smaller flat in Gibraltar
Expect to get a leasehold, not a freehold. Possibly only a 99 year lease. You also have to really watch your back with buying a place as there can be a lot of issues with planning permissions and building codes that might not have been met. And you'll likely have to deal with management companies and management committees - think of how it is owning a listed building in UK. And you need to be extremely careful which lawyers you use in Gib. I had huge hassles dealing with lawyers in sorting out probate when my parents died and I inherited their flat in Gib. Lot;s of problems selling it as well. Scuba diving is good, though!
I visited Gibraltar for a day trip about thirty years ago whilst on holiday in Spain. At that time I found it smelly and dirty, seems to have been cleaned and smartened up. I too had a funny feeling about the place...it had no 'soul'...for me anyway. Enjoy your videos, thank you.
Whilst Gib is endearing it isn't perfect. They say low crime, no. Corruption, organised crime, smuggling on a huge scale. Incestuous, people crammed in getting on each others' nerves. Scandalous property prices. Pick pocketing bitey monkeys. Real "poverty " in the social housing blocks. Despite all of this continentalality it is more British than Britain. A lovely military/ MOD Posting . Nice to visit , Crazy to stay.
Smashing adventure. I once had the opportunity to do an IT contract there. Ended up not applying after I had factored in the money; I'd have been making a huge loss.
@@drewskih4005 IIRC, the role was just another common web role. Nothing particularly fancy. WRT the firms that Scott reeled off, most of their IT will be done back in the UK.
@@drewskih4005 Also the travel was off-putting. I wouldn't have been able to go home at the weekends without taking an extended weekend, and then I'd lose money from two days off work. It's usually bad enough red-eyeing it on Mondays just flying to London or Bristol or Belfast, without having an additional flight on top of that.
Another good video Scott, done your research as always, I have been to, and enjoyed Gib quite a few times all by cruise ship....we used to go to Morrisons to stock up on goodies.......
Thank you for the video. There seems to be an almost total lack of green spaces, trees etc. Paisley is so close to the glorious Scottish Highlands, lochs and white sandy beaches.
I think what's missing is the lack of greenery and open spaces, as well as a lack of people interacting with each other, I felt there was a lack of community feel to it. And the diversity between the rich and the poor serving them was very noticeable. The inbetweeners appear to be the tourists.
Served there for 2.5 years with the Army in early 00,s. Daughter was born in the RNH and we had a lovely married quarter at Europa point which had an absolutley fantastic view of the Strait and the Atlas mountains in Morrocco. After 22 years and countless moves in UK and abroad, its the only place my wife would move back to. Loved the place, loved the people ( some of them) and always found it strickingly more patriotic and prouder to be British than Britain
I'd rather live in Gibraltar than the UK these days.
We are glad you are there
I'd sooner live on the hard shoulder of the M1
Me to if I could afford a flat there.
We have 2 options, Gibraltar or Belize.
If the UK keeps going at this pace, I will be out of here in less than 6 months.
This place is turning into Nazi Germany..
Gibraltar is the UK
Great concept for a video and you've clearly put so much research into it, thanks mate! I don't think I could live there either, but I do remember going there when I lived in Spain and hadn't been home for about a year. Let's just say that Morrisons and the rest of the UK brands felt like a big hug after being away for so long :D
I was speaking to a local who mentioned Morrisons was probably the most expensive place to shop. I think it's down to land prices. Considering land is at a premium, having a huge car park and large single storey building comes at a price.
I lived in Spain but visited GiB, the Morrison employees cross the border to do their shopping in Spain as Morrisons too expensive xx
love to live in Gibraltar
I remember it being a Safeway back in 97😂. Children loved getting fresh milk and mcvities chocolate digestives as we were staying in Nerja.
Really enjoyed your video and agree with everything you said wee man. I've been to Gib many times, and it's a cool place to visit but has no soul to it? The small town of La Linea next door across the border is much more interesting and friendly, too. It's a place I go to stay a few times a year. Malaga airport is only just over an hours drive away and convenient for onward travel to the rest of Europe.
Would like to see a similar themed video about Malta... Happy travels 🧳
Same, Malta and Croatia are two of my favorite places on earth.
I think you nailed it on what’s missing. The common everyday folks like yourself
Teen-agers pushing prams.
Buses and taxis Ambulances etc.
Basically its just a business centre.
@@John-ou4rm with a marina 😅
They are all there. Believe me. Most in. Gov housing up the rock in upper town
Im a born and raised Gibraltarian, there are 32K of us common everyday folk!
Cheap petrol costs are swallowed by parking fees for most. It was a different place 30 years ago, its certainly cleaned up, but becoming another Monaco is never good for the locals who cant afford to live there.
Hi Scott. I’ve frequented The Rock, for a number of years now and I have to agree that there is ‘something missing’. After being able to watch your report, it suddenly dawned on me. . . Open countryside! (Or complete lack of) I can see every reason why though. It’s just strange.
I think it is because everybody is from somewhere else and the place feels transient. Locals from the Rock that I knew had homes in Spain and lived there most of the time
I fell in love with Gibraltar in 1968 when I first went it was all painted in red white and blue ❤with banners and flags it is the UK 🇬🇧 in the Sun 🌞
Gibraltar or Paisley? The expression caught between a rock or a hard place.comes to mind.
Genius comment.
LOL
Awesome!!
👏👏👏
Spot on. My ancestors came from Paisley and I went last year. Sorry but I would move to Gibraltar like a shot if I lived there. Even Glasgow or Greenock would be preferable. I see why my ancestors left.
My daughter had her ice cream nicked by an ape up on the Rock, I’d just handed it to her and in he swooped, opened it like a human, it was a mint magnum, daughter cried for ages! Glad I photographed it for the record.
Better than having it nicked by an ‘ape’ on a British high street!
I lived in GIB for 2.5 years great people and great apes. plenty of notices to warn you about the indiscriminate actions of the apes. they may go into your pockets if they see you put something in them or your bags anything in fact. READ the notices and then decide if you want to chance it. . READ THEM.The Apes own the rocks were they live and are protected. Injure one at your peril. I have many many photographs of the Apes (Useing a 1000mm lens from a distance knowing that my camera and lens would be taken if the Apes decided to) so keep your distance & for goodness sake dont open any bags or feed them. whenever I was going to see the apes my wife and family took notice of the rules, leave valuables at home or you may never see them again. The apes can undo watch straps when they have a mind to. Harry Cleworth RAF Gibraltar 1969 1971 Hi everyone I was 90 years old last Saturday 24th Aug 2024. I love GIBRALTAR and the Apes.
52 years ago after traveling around Europe i ended up in Gibraltar via Morocco, the border was closed permanently but needing money i got a job digging ditches for a Scottish construction company called Whatlings who had the contract to build and repair in the MOD dock yard after a month or 2 igot a pss to get into work in side the Rock ,made some great mates and never to be forgotten memories, after 20 months of cheap drink and living in HMS Rooke barracks i had to get of that rock, so many photos of great lads mostly Highlanders or Islanders,,have watched vidios of Gib but apart from Europa point and Caleta Palace Hotel and Beach i recognise very little, it was all Moroccans doing all the menial work ,a time in my life i will never forget😊
Interesting !
Same experience, in 1969 worked in the dock yard and camped on eastern beach.
Caletta is no more it’s been demolished 😮
Class
I used to live in Gibraltar. The location where you did your summary - Behind you on your right the block of apartments. We lived in there. They were pristine white. They look tatty now and the sea began where the block of flats ends. I would listen to the waves every night when I went to sleep. Everything else behind the flats, with all the high rises, they are built on reclaimed land. The big wall wasn't there, neither was the road. Opposite the flats was a Junior school. The Gibraltarian people are what make Gibraltar special. They are very friendly, kind and welcoming. If you like the sea and an outdoor social lifestyle it's a great place to live and very safe. You can walk down Main Street late on a Saturday night, teenagers are polite and will give up their seat on the bus for you, get up and help the elderly or mother's with children on and off the bus. Accomodation costs are very high. London prices. As much as I love Gibraltar and have considered returning to live there again several times, I think in all honesty, I would find it a bit caustrophic now, as I enjoy travelling to events and places around the UK. Never say never though ;-)
Kay: thank you, your comment gives me more of an insight than this video, which I found disappointing . . . 😏
@@joline2730 I believe Scott shared his impressions of Gibraltar based on his personal experience being there. It's difficult to really understand a place and make life choices unless you actually live and work in a place, and then there's the friends we meet, relationships and networks we build, etc. And what suits one person doesn't suit another. For example, here in the UK we tend to like our privacy and prefer not to be over-looked by or hear our neighbours, but in Gibraltar, people are rarely home. They are always out and chatting to people over coffee or a beer in the cafes or down at the beach, out on a boat, round at a friends, etc. I now live in the countryside. I hear silence and birds and see green things and big skies. In Gibraltar there is a constant, ambient noise of life. I would miss the green, the open space I have and especially the complete silence, but then I don't have the nice warm sunny weather or the sea and the beach. Everything is a compromise. If you haven't been you should go and visit... you will have a lovely time.
@@KayJohnsonArt Is it true you automatically get residency on a UK passport? I've heard differently. 🤔
I did! 1972... loved it. Borders closed so used to sail on the mons calpe ferry to Tangiers, drive down to casablanca, Rabat etc.. had an amazing time. Wasnt a tourist actually lived there. Remember, you are not on a permanent holiday, same ups and downs...
Totally different than 72. Population exploded and, as a result, loads of tower blocks. You wouldn't recognize the place.
hey!!❤me too!! same years!! it was a was a wonderful place in those times
@@bambubombon lived in the married quarters....had a great time!
My dad was there many times during the 2nd WW....He Loved It & Malta ! He also called it the GIB...Very Proud Of Both He Was !
Scott, I've been to Gibraltar a few times, you can find proper, middle-ground Gibraltarians with the family after school on the beach at Catalan Bay. Going around the back of the rock to the beaches or taking the Mediterranean steps from up the top and then down the back of the rock are some of my favourite things to do in Gib! And you're right, there does feel like there's something missing, perhaps it's the isolated feeling of a town-sized City sitting completely alone, lacking the same interconnectedness and portals to other locations you'd usually find elsewhere? I'm not sure. But Gibraltar does feel out the way so to speak.
My own impressions from his video. How big is the place? If you want to travel, forget it. I'm 72 years old, but I still want to see a few places. Not all pensioners or retirees want to have the same all the time. We still have some life left in us..
@@davidcritchley3509 Gibraltar is tiny! It's a dense city of only 30,000 and a cliff and that's it.
Love the comparison - you should do the same idea for Jersey and Guernsey, we have Morrisons here too!
We have lived in Gibraltar and yes met lots of Gibraltarians. The in between lot as you called them work long hours in call centers and only come out at night and weekends. You can take a buss or a taxi from the airport, you dont have to walk. Where the boats were, not necessarily apartment owners as anyone can pay to moore their boat there. We did. Living in Gibraltar, however, is not so simple. You have to prove that you can support yourself, ie a job or enough money in the bank, no tax to pay but you pay health insurance which is compulsory. Buying property is one way of becoming resident. Alcohol has a lot of tax on it. Before Brexit you could nip out to Spain and get most of your shopping cheaper but now the eager beavers at the customs on the border forbid it. You can fly to most places from Malaga and Seville airports as well as Jerez de la Frontier to some UK and German destinations. The border tends to be very slow. Huge lines of traffic form every day. If you are visiting from Spain park your car in La Linea and walk.
yeh good tip mabout parking the car in la linea. me and my brother always do that when visiting
Thanks for showing us Gibraltar. I visited there years ago from Spain and just had a look around and went up The Rock. Looks lovely but would not like some of the restrictions.
I don't have to prove I can support anything if I'm British
@@Clan501-Scotland if you wish to become a Gibraltar resident ie non taxpaying resident yes you do.
@@Clan501-Scotland Go to west Belfast with that attitude and the only thing you might need is an Ambulance.
In Gibraltar, you'll hear Spanish spoken as much as English, as well as the unique Gibraltar dialect. Traffic drives on the right as in Spain, not the left. Most of the pubs will remind you of Britain in the 1970s and look as though they only just stopped selling Watney's beer.
The Angry Friar is one !
Though, when I lived in Gibraltar from 1969 to 1973 they drove on the left. It was changed to drive on the right because there were so many crashes over the border in La Linea!
@@user-vf4bl1xn9n same period as me... 1972, so different back then, i loved it. Wonder if smokey joes is still there or stinky steps?😂🤣😂
A lot of Gibraltarians don’t live there either. They have an address of convenience for perks from the UK, and live in Spain where they can have a larger home, garden, pool. That’s why when the border crossing runs slow, because of Spanish authorities’ checks, there are so many complaints… from the Gibraltarians.
I was stationed in Gib from 75/77 it was a wonderful place not like it is today over crowded and covered in high rise flats.
Agreed. I visited Gibraltar from Morocco many times between 1978 and 1982 and loved it. I certainly wouldn't bother to go there now. Did you ever sit at the top of the back side of Gibraltar that is covered with corrugated sheeting to catch rainwater and watch the Gannets diving into the sea? It was mesmerising. My best memory of the Rock.
My partner was born on Gibraltar (father also stationed there) his parents said they enjoyed living there. Thankyou for your service Peter
The like button illuminated when he said 'like button', Very clever.
I think you've pretty much nailed it Scott. Gibraltar looks a canny enough place but there's just something about it that just doesn't float my boat. If I could afford one of those boats!
I think the charm of the place would eventually wear off. Then what?
Haha it's worn off...@davidcritchley3509
Hi Davey, it seems to lack soul. I was speaking to a local - yes an actual local - who said Gib was heading the same way as Monaco. In 10 years it will be full of tax exiles with locals pushed out because of the cost of living.
@@davidcritchley3509I’m confused why people say this
Think about literally ANY town in the UK. How does that compare to Gib? It doesn’t. Gibraltar is far more exciting and has more amenities than any other place with a 36k population
@@PlanesTrainsEverything having known Gib from the days when it was a bit of a backwater, only just benefiting from the concept of cruises and the jet age, I think you've just hit the nail right on the head. It's no longer that historic British outpost but just another over-populated few square miles full of whomever happens to not want to pay their tax at home.
I worked in Gibraltar in the early 2000s for a period - although I still had a flat in the UK in Middlesex. Gibraltar was described as "being like the UK but 30 years ago". I never felt like moving there.
If you park your car outside it would be covered in bird crap and I mean covered. From speaking to the locals the army used to cull the bird nests which kept the bird crap under control.
The apes were also out of control. I initially stayed at a hotel in the East side (Caletta) but it appears to have closed and demolished. We were told to make sure the windows and doors were closed. The receptionist told me some guy had come home opened the windows and doors and had a shower. He came out to find a large ape sitting on his bed going through his possessions!
Sounds like Grimsby to be honest.
😂😂😅
😂😅
@@johnw65uk Interesting comparison. Would that be because of the bird crap or the large apes ?
@@Gerard_2024 both 🤣
We love Gibratar and been on holiday there several times. We spoke to a local about living there and they said you will soon tire of it as it’s like being trapped on a small island
How are you trapped ? You can come and go as you please.
I go every year here. I have had people describe it as claustrophobic. I’m in love with the place but I am only a short term guest…..
@@Stand663because there isn't much even on the Spanish side of the border. And when they close the runway... you have to wait.
I had a job offer there about 10 or 15 years ago. Went there for a weekend and decided not to take it.
Always wondered about Gibraltar. Thanks for the video.
Great video mate. We had a villa near Alicante until a few years ago and always popped into Gibraltar when touring along the coast in our motorhome. On our first trip we filled our fridge/freezer and parked up at Europa Point for a picnic and watched an inter service cricket match, which i believe you can't do anymore, also found an acceptable chippy on the way back. Unfortunately you can't park up overnight in the motorhome, so spent a few nights outside! Remember, always fill up with diesel before you leave 👍
I've visited Gibraltar a few times over the years and have always loved it, so much so that I keep a webcam of Sandy Beach in my bookmarks for those days when I need a vicarious dose of sunshine. Very much enjoyed this video - thank you!
Been there a few times over the last few years, love it. Sundays is the best day when almost everything apart form pubs close, like the UK was 30 years ago..... great booze prices, expensive food though ( supermarkets not pubs etc unless you really splurge ).
I was stationed at Gib 1985-87, when it was British in fact, not just in name.
In 2013/14 I lived in La Línea de la Concepción, and I could get a bottle of good rum at Morrisons Gib at a really great price.
If I lived in Gib now I would shop at Lidl in La Línea, great choice of goods, especially the quezo at decent prices!
Queso…and yes
@@Antient.Briton Good to know you had your priorities right 😂
You've sold it to me!!! Must get it together to visit!!! Thanks for the video!
Same here 😊
Don’t bother it’s smelly and dirty.
You could try it out. Even if it doesn't work out, you could always take a bus back to Scotland.
I live in Gibraltar, perhaps one might have looked at the domestic rates here, I was paying hundreds a month in the UK…here I pay £56 a QUARTER for a 3 bedroom apartment, that certainly helps with the budget.
Electricity is around £40 a month for the same apartment
For smokers cigarettes from £3 a pack, wine from around £1.60 a bottle.
No road tax and no TV license…it’s not such a bad place…OH, almost forgot, it’s also almost crime free with very safe streets 24 hours a day.
Learnt so much about GIB in 17 minutes
Unfortunately buddy u didn’t 👊🏻👍🏴
I had to drive from Portsmouth to Gibraltar once, then back just a couple of days later. That was fun.
One of your best videos this Scott, well researched with really interesting bits of knowledge
Live in la linea and commute to work in gibraltar with bike/scooter.
first time watching,what excellent video
“Something is missing”…I found the exact same visiting Jersey! Quirky in places too. You should do a video there Scott. Great content as always.
Those Gibraltar store prices are similar to Latvia prices which is quite frankly shocking, we have too high prices..
Been to Gib. a few times when I was still working, was there in connection with the construction work and met a number of both Gibraltarians and UKexpats. I was, like you, trying to put my finger on the missing component, and one of the ‘locals’ said - it is very high density housing and there is not much to do and nowhere to go without leaving the Rock - and he pointed out the resident teenagers riding motor scooters around in circles, then drew a comparison with animals in cages. Perhaps the lack of space that we take for granted is the missing component’? Did you experience the same’ closeness’ ?
Been to Gibraltar 3 times and we love it. Thanks again for your video 👍
I completely agree with your thoughts & feelings about Gibraltar.
My exact words when there, is the same.
Beautiful, but something missing.
Gibraltar has always been on my bucket list.
Mine too
The village itself is tiny. A very English town.
Save yourself the trouble, really.
Do it. It is now off my list.
Gibraltar has become an overbuilt resort like so many other places in the Med, it sold its soul to the gambling corporate and tourist industry. Was it for the better ? The jury is out on that, but it badly needs to do away with the border controls and reach an accommodation with Spain.
Enjoyed your Gibraltar vlog. We are going there this Sunday for weeks holiday. Lived there for few years when younger (father in RAF) will be nice to see the changes! ☀️
Great video. You got me a bit excited with your comment that Brits can live and work in Gibraltar because it's a British Overseas Territory. I immediately made plans to relocate to Bermuda / other Caribbean BOT but sadly I've learned this right doesn't apply there!
I was in Gibralter in April 2024. It was awful. Grey, dirty, crowded, garbage strewn about like you see in the UK. The food was just as bad as the stuff they provide/serve in the UK. My 4 day stop didn't last 24 hours. A run to Spain and a Malaga hotel vastly vastly improved the trip.
The Gibraltarians are there. Had a great chat with a lady from the Edinburgh Estate while waiting at the bus stop last year.
OMG! that shot at 13.55 makes me so want to go there. That scene is so iconic. Gibraltar has so much history buried in that `Rock` it is unbelievable, Shame I cannot afford it! Great video!!
Interesting deep dive to an area. Thanks for the different take
The thing with the food is that there will be a lot of import/transport costs to include in the prices.
I know what's missing. Greggs. Need to have a Greggs. That's why I could never stay in Oban.
Geordie lass living in Australia, omg miss Greggs so much. Break your teeth on the pastry here.😢
@@jacquelinebutters1201what’s living in Australia like may I ask 😊 I’m an 18 year old German who’s lived in the UK since the age of 6 and it’s always been a dream to move to Australia 😊😂
@@jacquelinebutters1201 Can't say I feel sorry for you. Greggs would be an easy sacrifice for the Aussie life. Wish I could live there.
Greggs is so overrated these days, give me Baynes any day.
@@Tom-uk1ekyou should come while your young, start looking into it now. Best to have a trade they need on the mines to make a lot of money, electrician etc, look at backpacking fruit picking jobs to see if you like oz first 😊
I was sent to Gibraltar in the 1960s when Franco was threatening to invade. Things were quite tense at the time. I returned several times during my naval career. I served two years there in 1974/5, and the border was closed so the only way in or out was by sea or air. The people of Gibraltar are very proud to be British with their very close links with the Royal Navy. The island has changed a lot since I was there, but I still have contact with people there. I would recommend it as a holiday destination and if you can afford it, a great place to live because the weather is good most of the time. Thank you for the video. It was great to see the place again.
I was freezing in Bristol one winter and jumped a flight to Gibraltar to warm up. I really wanted to see the airport and the road across the runway, but there is so much more. I stayed on the permanently moored super yacht that has splendid views, food, and service. Would I stay here, definitely for a few months, but not forever.
I'm not alone in having spent a few years living there as a child because of a job landed by one of my parents. I fell in love with the place and now visit as often as I can afford. Live there? I'd love to, but I'd need to be a hell of a lot wealthier than I am. Wouldn't bother with a car though. And I wouldn't get my beer from Morrisons, you can do much better than that!
Live and work there. Great place to be. Downsides are cost of rental. The prices he quoted are unrealistic. Expect to pay £2K plus a month for a 2 bed apartment. Food prices are much higher than the UK. Morrisons is hit and miss whether they have items on the shelf (thanks Brexit). Freedom of travel into Spain is restricted due to the over zealous Spanish Border police. You have to have a valid reason to cross, such as hotel or flight booking. They can and do turn people away (again thanks to Brexit). Wages are generally lower than UK, hence lots of people rent in Spain and commute across the border each day.
Upsides are, Great weather, friendly locals, cheap petrol and cheaper spirits (£7 for a litre of Famous Grouse). Cheap electricity, no council tax, no road tax. But most importantly Gibraltar is very safe. You can walk round at any time of day and night without worrying about personal safety. How many cities in the UK can you do that?
I love the quality of life here in Gib and so pleased my wife and I made the move.
How easy would it be able to sneak into Spain from Gibraltar with a small boat?
Yep, agreed.
I’m Scottish and lived in Andalucía a few years and now Gibraltar for about 3.
Have a nice 2 bed but pay £2k+ for it. Gib is safe and easy, good for a family.
Access to Spain is becoming a problem brought on by Brexit. Which is a shame as you can get cabin fever a little in Gib and it’s ideal to be able to go to Cádiz, Sevilla, Malaga, Granada, Córdoba etc whenever you want.
Even the checks at the border are fine or id be happy to be stamped or even pay for a temp visa each time, if there was consistency. It’s very hit or miss right now (with agreement negotiations going on).
Also I’m not sure if it’s an Urban myth but llanitos here tell me Gib Morrisons is the most profitable in the whole chain 😂
Brexit doesn’t effect food supply and great news about keeping people off the rock who don’t need to be there. Like Venice and the rioting Spanish for their tourism issues.
Spain didn't vote in Brexit, Britain did, so if you have complaints about the border, talk to British officials; don't complain about Spainiards.
@@lizajoymorales248 Spanish border guards are the problem and always have been.
Great Vlog, I live near Alicante and my wife and I married in Gibraltar. Stayed a few nights, no life/bars/restaurants in the town area after dark. Lots of scooters due to lack of roads and felt claustrophobic.
I was in Gibraltar roughly the same time as you, I think, judging from the big ships offshore waiting. I found it fascinating, being what it is. However, my mam went with me because she lived there in the 70's. She said she was disappointed in what it is now, but she couldn't pin it down to one thing. Her best guess was it was way too built up, and was more of a community feel back then. I just found it interesting that you felt something not quite right too, like her. Great video, as always!
Thanks for an excellent video. We've been to Gibraltar many times and, especially just now, it's looking a very attractive place to live!
If you like hot temperatures around 40-50 degrees celcius. I rather prefer a nice house in the Hebrides.
Bloody hell Paisley? Me too. I was awarded the freedom of Gibraltar when the British army marched off the rock (a ceremonial thing only really and nothing more than that day). The bronze statue in front of Marks and Spenser of a sapper was erected to signify the army leaving and the hand over to the Gibraltar regiment. Great times and a terrific parade by the Chief Royal Engineer at the time. Great memories too and so spooky inside the rock with all the world war 2 set up the public can't access. Thanks for the video it was a real blast from the past.
Whenever I go to the south of Spain I visit Gib and I love going there, I would never buy alcohol or olive oil from the store, it’s far cheaper in any of the shops in the main shopping street in Gibraltar. I don’t think I could live there either, it’s a beautiful place but not much there without going through border control to Spain. As for flying back to the U.K. it’s an easy drive to Malaga, Faro or even Seville, so a lot more flights to choose from if you don’t mind a drive. A very informative vlog, I wish you’d visited the main street where Marks and Sparks is or maybe I blinked and missed that bit!
You blinked!?!
it’s a very small store but useful, also has small food area with freezers. There is also a small BHS and it’s surprisingly good with great staff. I like Gib but not sure I could live there. Hate the apes though!
I visit Gibraltar every year, it’s my happy place. All the Mediterranean sun you need, without all the EU/Euro nonsense to get it. Gauchos is my favourite restaurant just outside Casemates Square - an amazing steak house. I would live there in a heartbeat.
…but only if you stay inside its city limits - as otherwise you would have to deal with all the EU/Euro nonsense, right? Right. Well, at least you would incarcerate yourself in a sunny place.
@@agn855 yes…Yes! But I’ve never found a reason to leave yet, it’s just Spain… I’ve seen it plenty of times before to know to give it a miss. 😉
Hi Scott. I wish east jet would put the direct flight back on from Edinburgh to Gibraltar 🇬🇮
Cracking shot at the end with the Rock in the background 👍🏻
I visited first time for a few days holiday in September two years ago. Really enjoyed the quirkiness of flying in . Runway directly at the rock face and walking into gib from airport. Surprised how quiet it was around the Marina,, million pound apartments mostly empty.
That was as unexpected as it was interesting. Never visited but I don't know how helpful that would be given it's one thing to go on holiday somewhere but another thing completely to live there. My impression from your video is that it's like living on an inland island.
I sailed the Med from Gibraltar in 2014, we were birthed next to that Jolly Parrot Sailing School boat for a few weeks! Also had a great burger in the bar in the marina. It's a cool place.
It was my great uncles boat, similar size to the others on the jetty, he lived in the north west but paid mooring fees etc and flew between the UK and Gibraltar fairly regularly, staying on the boat.
The Isle of Man would be more my cup of tea.
Mine too!
I moved from Gibraltar to the Isle of Man and the IOM definitely gets the thumbs up! I miss the sunshine though but that’s it!
@@nancyproco1076 thanks, yeah the IOM would be much better, I think Gib would be like a 5 star Alcatraz.
@@Free_Ranger_CT110my husband and son hated it!
@@nancyproco1076 I lived & worked on a tiny island off the east coast of Oz for over 10 years, nothing but a resort on the island & you could walk around it in 90mins. It was paradise for a while, I can imagine that Gib is much the same.
Spent a year living there 06/07 and do have fond memories. Only spent the first 6 months in gib, then moved to a place over the border as much cheaper. Used to work in a building next to the marina you saw with the 'nice' restaurants....you can imagine where we were every friday lunchtime onwards :) One thing to note is that despite tax haven status, personal income tax used to be a little higher in Gib than the UK unless you owned property. Rules may have changed since, but something to be aware of. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to escape the UK and work for a bit somewhere sunnier but who is worried about languages. It's a good first step.
I interviewed for a role there - the income taxes are actually quite high, & you don't get nearly the same pension tax breaks.
Income tax on the highest bracket is not over 30%
@@SlotBoysGibraltar It actually depends what system you are on, but the highest rate is not so much the issue. In practice you will likely pay more in Gibraltar than in UK if making judicious use of pension tax relief.
On a trip up the rock, we witnessed an ape unzip someone's rucksack, steal a foil bag of crisps from it, and open them.
Couldn't believe my eyes! 😂
I have been to Gib a number of times and enjoyed this video. While I would simply adore living in the climate they enjoy, for me the deal breaker is how small 'The Rock' is. Throw in the lack of beaches and I long ago reached the conclusion it is best left as a holiday destination.
There are beaches but you can imagine how packed they get in the summer.
@@onlineamiga Indeed. I have been many times.
Nice for a day trip from Benalmadena thats about it !
I liked Gibraltar when I was there but living there no chance. It’s ok for a nice little visit. Quite expensive though. Funny atmosphere.
Great video. I had a relative who lived there for 3-5 years at the tail end of the 90s. He loved and hated it in equal measure. He had a great apartment and liked the Med lifestyle but his dream was to use it as a base to get out and explore Europe. Crossing the border on foot is quite easy (I've done it myself), but by private car it is way more difficult and is prone to political whims... this was a primary factor in pushing my relative back to Blighty as, back then, border crossings could take hours and properly 'spoil your day' 😁 I like Gibraltar but would look to visit, not live there!!
I've visited Gibralter twice on business. It felt more British than here, that was in the 1980s. It was little crowded but seemed very liveable. The locals were very friendly.
Another great video Scott
We visit around 3 to 4 times a year. My first visit was in the early 80s in the Royal Navy when we had a huge presence there but unfortunately that has reduced significantly. The alcohol is an interesting one, I like a tot of rum and the prices of spirits are significantly cheaper in Gib. For example something like Dead Mans Fingers in the UK between £18 and £22, in Gib its only £8.50. Also if you smoke cigarettes are £2.50 a pack instead of £13 here. There are swings and roundabouts and we did consider retiring there but as you rightly pointed out the cost of accommodation is very high so unless I win the Euromillions its unlikely but hey, watch this space 😂 Excellent Video and summary Scott, thank you.
I live in Malaga and travel to Gibraltar at least twice a year. It’s a soulless place, very unattractive ex military town. Very difficult to find parking and not much to see when you do get about. Taxi to top of rock is scary. We go to Morrisons for odd things we can’t get in Malaga. It’s a day out but we always leave thinking it’s a crap place to live, can’t think what we’d do on a holiday
It's nowhere near as bad as you make it sound.
@@JazzFunkNobby1964 - well, you compare it with the UK, he’s comparing it with Spain.
Sorry, not sorry. You’re both right.
Like the idea of the video. If you were thinking of doing something similar you should perhaps think about the Spanish enclaves on the North African coast such as Cueta.
Another wonderful, entertaining and informative video! Thanks. I've been to Gib but didn't realise there was a Morrisons! About 30 years ago i was in my local Morrisons and was served by a 'mature' man who was very friendly but didn't have a clue about using the check-out! I later learned I'd been served by Sir Ken (Morrison)! Apparently he used to like to hop onto the check-out tills when he was out and about visiting his stores! I wonder if he ever visited his Gibraltar store?
I worked there for a while in the early 2000s and I coincidentally place to buy papers or magazines was a Shell service station. I then discovered Morrisons but it didn't have Autosport.
@@simonkevnorris Another name drop (I was told off by the Queen for name-dropping once!). Morrisons was founded 10 miles from where I now live. I was once served in a local Morrisons by a mature gent who didn't seem very good at his job. I mentioned this to another member of staff and she said, 'Shhhh! Don't say that too loud - it's Sir Ken!' Apparently Ken Morrison used to visit lots of his stores and hop on the tills for fun! He'd be very sad to see the state of Morrisons these days.
I'd love to visit this little piece of Britain in the Mediterranean. It's high on my list.
Paisley here too! In fact we have 2 Morrisons to choose from 😮
Very enlightening, thanks for making this video
Fact. During early WWII most of the civilian population of Gibraltar (women, children, elderly) were evacuated because it was felt Hitler was going to attack this strategic stretch of water and take the Rock. Able bodied men remained. My great, great grandmother Carolina Sheriff was one of those evacuated to London, but people were also sent to Northern Ireland, Jamaica and America too (never to return). Carolina never went back because she met someone and married them. However, many Gibraltarians in London felt unsafe once the Blitz started and many had returned to the Rock by 1944 as it was declared a safer place. I spoke to a woman who had also been evacuated whilst I was in Gibraltar researching my family there. She said that her parents did return, but found their home had been appropriated, all the belongings they were unable to take had gone. People were more likely to be in rented accommodation and the remaining menfolk had taken to sharing, so there was a lot of upheaval when women did return. They often found their husbands had formed relationships with Spanish "maids" who had come over to do cleaning and cooking duties.
So, when you ask what is it that is missing, I think it is a sense of where families came from or went to, perhaps a disjointed history for some. Many left and never returned and there has been a military presence which makes living on the Rock like living in a garrison town. Add in the vast amount of tourists coming off the cruise ships plus the 12,000 workers come across every day, and Gibraltar is in a constant state of flux as people come and go. I love Gib, it's where some of my ancestors lived and I have a great affinity for the place. I just wish it was easier to get to from Scotland!
Great description
My father was here in the RAF, had lots to say about its beauty.
Great video! You walked by my old apartment at the start of the video. Spent 4 years living in Gibraltar 10 or so years ago, I miss it every day. The weather is fantastic, lower income tax, amazing nightlife and restaurants. The only issue I had was after around 2 months i'd visited every bar so there was nothing new to discover in that way haha!
Oh and I don't smoke anymore, but it was incredibly cheap to buy cigs. Was like £1.50 a pack.
I lived there 30 years ago. Used to smuggle with the Winston boys. It was like pirates and buccaneers. Gunfights in the bay with he Guardia Civil. Better than watching TV. All that's gone now, I imagine. So many new buildings too
Great vid.thanks.holiday maybe.😊
Plenty of 2-3 bedroom apartments/flats on “right move” from £300k - £450k. So if you have like a 3/4 bedroom house in the U.K. you could quite easily afford to downsize to a smaller flat in Gibraltar
Expect to get a leasehold, not a freehold. Possibly only a 99 year lease. You also have to really watch your back with buying a place as there can be a lot of issues with planning permissions and building codes that might not have been met. And you'll likely have to deal with management companies and management committees - think of how it is owning a listed building in UK. And you need to be extremely careful which lawyers you use in Gib. I had huge hassles dealing with lawyers in sorting out probate when my parents died and I inherited their flat in Gib. Lot;s of problems selling it as well. Scuba diving is good, though!
I visited Gibraltar for a day trip about thirty years ago whilst on holiday in Spain. At that time I found it smelly and dirty, seems to have been cleaned and smartened up. I too had a funny feeling about the place...it had no 'soul'...for me anyway. Enjoy your videos, thank you.
Whilst Gib is endearing it isn't perfect.
They say low crime, no.
Corruption, organised crime, smuggling on a huge scale.
Incestuous, people crammed in getting on each others' nerves.
Scandalous property prices.
Pick pocketing bitey monkeys.
Real "poverty " in the social housing blocks.
Despite all of this continentalality it is more British than Britain.
A lovely military/ MOD Posting .
Nice to visit ,
Crazy to stay.
Thanks you for the great contents.
Hi and thanks for your support. It's these kind of donations which keep me going. Thanks again.
A thought provoking video I recon you've nailed it with your description Thanks for another great video.
HiHi ^^ Thank you for sharing your interesting video. Sending you hugs and rainbows from New Zealand 🇳🇿 💕
Smashing adventure. I once had the opportunity to do an IT contract there. Ended up not applying after I had factored in the money; I'd have been making a huge loss.
I was literally thinking whether there would be IT opportunities there...
@@drewskih4005 IIRC, the role was just another common web role. Nothing particularly fancy. WRT the firms that Scott reeled off, most of their IT will be done back in the UK.
@@scotbotvideos that's a shame !
@@drewskih4005 Also the travel was off-putting. I wouldn't have been able to go home at the weekends without taking an extended weekend, and then I'd lose money from two days off work. It's usually bad enough red-eyeing it on Mondays just flying to London or Bristol or Belfast, without having an additional flight on top of that.
very informative visited 3 times on a cruise got off twice didn't bother on third!
An English theme park from the 2000's.
English or British??????
Another good video Scott, done your research as always, I have been to, and enjoyed Gib quite a few times all by cruise ship....we used to go to Morrisons to stock up on goodies.......
Nice to visit. Not that ive done it. But no green spaces or parks. Thanks for the video. ❤
Yes there are, check out Alameda Gardens and Campion park
@@JonnyMc61 Alemeda Gardens are lovely!
Thank you for the video. There seems to be an almost total lack of green spaces, trees etc. Paisley is so close to the glorious Scottish Highlands, lochs and white sandy beaches.
I think what's missing is the lack of greenery and open spaces, as well as a lack of people interacting with each other, I felt there was a lack of community feel to it. And the diversity between the rich and the poor serving them was very noticeable. The inbetweeners appear to be the tourists.
Very informative thank you 👍👍👍