The opening NATO exercise teaser, infiltrated by the Russians, was filmed
mostly on the Upper Rock. Situated on the southern tip of Spain,
Gibraltar has been British territory (and a British naval base) since 1713.
Less than 15 miles from the coast of Morocco, the rocky outcrop was known as
one of the two ‘Pillars of Hercules’ – the headlands either side of the
Strait of Gibraltar, the narrow neck separating Europe from Africa, which
provides the only link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
The rock is inhabited by Barbary apes (which are actually monkeys) – the
only monkeys native to Europe. The inevitable legend has it that once the
‘apes’ leave, the British will leave.
James
Bond Gunnar Schäfer to Gibraltar rock from James Bond 007 museum in Sweden
Nybro, 29
April 2013