A True Parking Permit Dit this time:
A few years ago, when travelling along the Costa de Sol in a hired car from Almeria, we joined a long queue to visit Gibraltar for the day.
At the Algecira Border Crossing Post an official looking Spanish gent, complete with his badged peak cap, clean white coat and a leather satchel, went from car to car along this queue; apparently selling some tickets.
His Mission? To provide Official Car Parking Permits for Day Visitors to Gib @ £5 per Day.
He spoke excellent English and he had a convincing line that these permits were a most essential requirement in Gibraltar.
Meanwhile, two armed Spanish Policemen patrolling the area did nothing to shoo him away, so he appeared to be a legitimate official.
We saw him sell quite a few in the 45 minutes of our wait, but we declined his offer as I was taught to be cautious.....
Needless to say (but I will!) Parking WAS difficult in Gib; but as those permits of his proved to be totally unacceptable he was laughing all the way to el Banco....
On reflection, he had quite a good scam going, and he might even have been an enterprising Brit? Is he still at it, even?
Bob L
PS During our drive around Gibraltar, Margaret spotted the back view of a youth with a group in civvies who she swore was someone in the Army who had been at school with our two sons.
As we had passed this group quite quickly in thick traffic we had nowhere to stop and check up on him. Anyway I was certain that this chap was actually with his Regiment in Germany.
Months later, when we saw him at home on leave, Margaret quizzed him and - Yes, his Unit had arrived in Gib just that week and so it WAS him who she had spotted at that time & location.....
Small World, but don't we males just hate it when our dearly beloved is proved right, yet again ????
