At last, I'm getting round to replying. You'll be there for a decent amount of time, which is great. These are just a few rambling thoughts, and I'll add anything else that springs to mind later on. We've put a bit on Gibraltar on our website:
http://www.adkinshistory.com/newsletter16.aspxThis won't tell you what to visit, but does give a bit of background. The photograph is taken from the Spanish side. There are about three or four main hotels in Gibraltar, so what you start off doing depends on where you'll be. Assuming you're in the actual town, then you are well advised to start off by walking all down the Main Street on your first day, until you reach the Trafalgar Cemetery. At this point the taxis often stop offering tours of the Rock. This may seem too touristy, but it's actually well worth joining a tour. They will most likely drive you all the way to the top of the Rock, stopping on the way to visit the huge, spectacular caves (did Nelson ever visit them?). Then they'll take you to the top of the Rock - avoid the monkeys at all costs, and keep all food, drink and belongings packed away in your bag, or else they'll grab them. From the top of the Rock (if it's a fine day), you'll get a spectacular view towards Spain, Africa, and Gibraltar itself, so you'll understand clearly its strategic position and why the eastern side could not be used for a shelter for shipping. If you continue the tour, you should be taken to the other end of the Rock, with the displays on the siege of 1779-82. On another day you can make your own way to the top of the Rock, perhaps by the cable car, and walk everywhere (few people do this), and from halfway up you get a brilliant aerial view of Rosia Bay and the naval hospital above Rosia Bay (which by now has probably been converted into apartments - it was in progress a while back).
Must go, more another time,
Lesley
http://www.adkinshistory.com