Suzanne

I've read from many of your responses that it is not worth visiting the Costa del Sol in Southern Spain. <BR>What about Gibraltar? Is that worth visiting? <BR>We were thinking about going to Seville, Cadiz, Cordoba & Granada, then back up to Madrid, but I wasn't sure if we should go directly to Granada from Seville or make a stop at Gibraltar. <BR>I'd love to hear any advice.

Maira

Suzanne- what is your route? How are traveling? I'll say is not worth a long detour, but it is worth a couple of hours. If anything, the rock serves as a great picture background. If you decide to go in (not really worth it), head out to Europa Point. On a clear day you can see the African coast. Is located by the British Naval Base. <BR> <BR>BTW, check out the picture I took of my hubby the day we visited Gibraltar! <BR> <BR>http://home.nycap.rr.com/metalman/ <BR>

Suzanne

Maira - <BR>Thanks. We don't have a defined route yet - so I'm trying to figure out the best option for our time. We weren't sure if it was worth the drive on the Coast to see Gibraltar on our way to Granada or just skip the coast.

Judi

Gibraltar is one of those places that you've heard about all your life you may want to <BR>go just to say you've been. Prepare to spend two or more hours getting out of <BR>there. It doesn't happen every day but last year we got caught in the England-Spain skirmish; Spain wants Gibraltar back and sets up a roadblock to harass. Cars wind around as in a Disney World attraction. <BR>We are leaving tomorrow for Nerja which is in the eastern part of the Costa del Sol and is unlike the other parts of the Costa del Sol. We spent two weeks there last year and are really excited to be returning. If you want to see the beautiful Mediterannean and a wonderful little town I would recommend going to Nerja from Granada. <BR>Have a wonderful trip!

Al

Years and years ago, our aircraft carrier docked for a day at The Rock. Back then, it was a single-street place with shops run by Indians and/or Pakistanis. There was bar called The Arizona that had an all-female jazz band. Some of those women had tattoos, weighed around 200, and could knock you into the next block. But, boy, could they play great music! After drinking too much, we climbed up the sides of the rock, were warned off by the British MPs, and fed crumbs of bread to the Barbary apes that scampered around in the brush. It was at a local greasy restaurant that I acquired a taste for what I later learned was dish preferred by the British sailors: steak and eggs. Smothered in ketchup. But would I go out of my way to see Gibraltar? Hardly.

Maribel

Suzanne, <BR> Add my name to the skip Gibraltar contingent. You would have to make a long detour indeed on your route from Seville to Granada just to visit the Rock. Also, as Judi has warned, you may very well be caught in a two hour plus line to cross back into Spain. The Guardia Civil has decided to crack down on the persistent smuggling, contraband trade between the two sides, checking everyone annoyingly carefully and creating havoc with a smooth re-entry. Best to spend your time savoring the delights of the wonderful Andalusian cities you plan to visit. You won't miss any "special treat" by skipping Gib.

bo_jack

Although there are no great "sights" in Gibraltar, I definitely recommend going. My wife and I spent three enjoyable days (2 nights) on Gib last year during the last two weeks of November. If you are in Cadiz, Gib is approximately an easy 6 hour drive away -- and if you have never seen a large "windmill electrical power production facitily" -- I guarantee you will be impressed on the drive between Cadiz and Gib. Gib is sort of a seedy, almost archaic, British outpost; but it gives a true taste of British colonialism as it once was. Organized Christmas dinners every night at the Casino -- you have the impression that everyone on the rock must eat there at least once during the holidays. We stayed at the rather large hotel in the little village about 10 minutes drive away from the heart of Gibraltar Town -- could see lights on the African coast from our window; our first morning there, the free-ranging apes had come down from the upper rock and were sitting on the tops of cars along the road to the hotel -- a very rare and surprising experience. Do not go looking for great things to see or do -- but experience for a short time, life in a British colony. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will likely go again at some point. Go for the experience, the mythology and the mysticism of it.

George Holt

I stopped off in Gib. early September this year, like Al I was taken there (on a Cosmos tour of Andalucia). Its still basically just one shopping street, I didn't notice The Arizona but 200lb tattooed women are all too common nowadays, they're called British Tourists. <BR> <BR>Some on the coach liked the shopping. Whether alcohol is cheaper than in Spanish supermarkets is debatable but you do find more international brands on offer. Note that Gibralter is NOT in the EEC so import restrictions apply when you re-enter Spain. You may find bargains in electronics but bear in mind that much of this is aimed at the european market (230v 50Hz PAL etc.) <BR> <BR>At the coach park we banded together in groups of 6-8 and took taxi tours of the islands. These are taken in Espace type people carriers, hence the magic numbers, I think they were 9 pounds a head (that may be 19!, two months is a long time ago for me). They wait until they are full, not a problem when a coach arrives, and there is a chap who directs customers around to keep cabs as full as possible. These taxis take you around and up the rock. We visited a viewpoint where we could just get a hint of Morocco, better on a clear day, and some caves in the mountain which had caverns lined with stalagtites one of which is used as a concert hall (the cavern not the stalagtite!). No problem with MPs nowadays! Monkeys are thinner on the ground than I was led to believe, apparently they are tailess monkeys rather than apes, but maybe that was the time of day. There's a belief that when the apes disappear from the rock British rule there will end. Just as I was begining to think Barbary Apes were just a myth and they were putting out food to cover-up their disappearence we came upon a small troupe by the Military Heritage Centre. They seemed amiable enough but I wouldn't want to corner one. <BR> <BR>Is it worth a visit? We were there for a few hours and there were clearly museums etc. we didn't visit so if you're interested in British military history it may repay some time. Is it worth going far out of your way for, probably not.

perry

Suzanne, <BR> <BR>We loved Spain but wish we hadn't wasted time going to Gibraltar. Do yourself a favour and don't go.