Recent trip
Ken
on 26th Jan. No partiular reason, just some cheap flights on offer and I
thought it would break up a miserable winter in the UK.
Problem-free from start to end from home, drive to Manchester airport, check
in etc and flight out, and a similarly problem-free return retracing my
steps.
How was it? Great! Just a few days chilling out, with the most energetic
event being a walk from the lighthouse to Rosia Parade. Took the no. 3 bus
to the lighthouse, took the no. 4 bus from Rosia. The buses are clean, on
time, and from what I saw well liked. The drivers I came across were
courteous - waiting until an frail elderly gentleman had seated himself
before setting off. No-one in the bus complained about taking longer when
this or any other elderly person took longer to get about their business,
bit just on the buses but anywhere abour town. A lady passenger on the no. 4
bus commented to fellow passengers that in the UK she drove buses - double
deckers - and she was AMAZED at the narrow streets that the drivers
routinely managed to get their vehicles along - but we're used to that in
Gib.
The weather was cool, but very comfortable in a sweatshirt. Coffee at the
various favourite stops along and off Main Street was welcoming. Churros
were excellent. People chatted - not just walked past each other as s
typical in the UK. I met old school chums, and a couple of regular
contributors to this NG. None of this was planned, it just happened.
The bay was full of ships taking on supplies. I think there must have been a
cou;le of cruise calls during my stay, though I never caught sight of the
North Mole to confirm this. If not, thee were loads of tourists filling up.
I certainly saw loads of coaches driving in and out. People everywhere were
spending. Restaurants were full at all mealtimes, even mid week evenings.
While there, the Eu delivered its view on the exempt comapnies scheme - but
on GBC news it was made quite clear (by those who know) that though it would
make some difference to some aspects of the finance centre, diversification
within that industry meant that the effects of losing this particualr aspect
of it was not at all problematic.
More importantly, while there the GoG signed n agreement with an Australian
development company to buold waht is in effect a new town within Gib -
Sovereign Bay, north of Catalan Bay and at the southern end of Easten Beach.
A new town? How else do you describe a development which is to bring to Gib
(over a 10-year period) a 4-star hotel with 300 rooms, luxury apartments as
well as 1200 affordable apartments. That is the equivalent of two whole
additional Watergardens schemes! Plus of course shops, restaurants etc, and
all that goes with this level of development. Oh and a new harbour on the
Eastern side. Eastern Beach is to be increased in size by dredging sand onto
it so as to double its depth. As the eastern side often sees considerable
wave action, this is to be protected against by the construction of an
artificial offshore reef. In the deal is a new sewage system for the entire
north / east side of Gib, and an electricity generating system which would
remove the current plant from within a residential area that has grown
around it.
Total investment? £1 Billion. Read it and weep. Thats £33k per head of
population. So how's Gib? Humming! Prosperous as never before (whatever its
detractors might say) and if this is what can be done with a hostile and
predatory neighbour, imagine what's in store if they do go a bit sweet as
they promise they might.
K
Gary Clark
can't wait to go.
"Ken" <k...@k1at.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
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Ken
"Gary Clark" <gar...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
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> I've planned a three day trip with my father in Gib in May
> can't wait to go.
I'm rather looking forward to my next trip in July, when my wife and 2 lads
will be with me. On this latest occasion I travelled with my elder son.
I find that short trips taken more frequently are more refreshing than long
trips taken rarely, but maybe that's just me.
Ken
(rest snipped for the sake of it)
Steve
that you can go out at 2am in the summer and see old folks sitting on
benches and putting the world to right :-)
People over here are very friendly, I like to think that nobody would ever
go hungry because there would always be someone to give them a bite to eat..
Hope you enjoy your visit.
Steve
"Gary Clark" <gar...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
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