Casa Blanca, Morocco

Casablanca, Morocco                                                                     April 16, 2017       Easter Sunday

This morning the dining room was decorated up with colorful eggs and chocolate bunnies...so sweet!

                                    A beautiful  Easter sunrise....against some ugly industrial cranes.

                                                               Morocco at daybreak

Morocco gained its independence from France in 1956. The port is the largest in North Africa and probably one of the dirtiest that we have docked in. It is truly an industrial port.

We watched tractor trailer trucks unload sand….probably from the desert….to be shipped out. That a fine welcome to our city! Our crew wore masks due to the dust and smell of the area being so unpleasant.

Larry and I were excited to be visiting Casablanca. We took a ship excursion into the city.  The tour took us to the Place Mohammed V Square, a fountain (that wasn’t working) placed in front of an opera house that was being constructed….truly an area that is being developed.

These gentlemen were dressed in a Moroccan attire...I guess...they were the only ones that we saw dressed like this and they wanted a Moroccan dollar to have their picture taken.

We stopped at the Casa Blanca Cathedral, a Moorish Revival piece of architecture that was built in 1950. The side walls were made of stained glass, very pretty.

We visited the Regional Law Courts and the outside of the Red Palace….royal home of the King who did have his picture displayed out in the street.

the outside of the Red Palace….royal home of the King

We stopped at Ain Diab Resort, one of the city beaches to have some refreshment and enjoyed the Atlantic Ocean.  

We walked inside Hassan II Mosque , the third largest mosque in the world and the only city mosque that allows non-Moslems to visit.

It was HUGE and very dark…but were told that the roof would open up for five minutes once a day….we did spot some birds that were flying around the inside….probably captured when it closed. Massive tall ceiling, ornate wood carvings, marble floors,

                                      The place to wash the face, hands, arms and feet.

The tour ended at the United Nations Square, a spot to do some shopping and people watching.

                                Government Owned Tourist Store...only tourist store we saw.

Morocco was not at all what we had expected. It was dirty. It had beggars. It appeared to be struggling.

Cadiz, Spain

 Cadiz, Spain                                               April 15, 2017

The morning began with the Amsterdam blowing her horn several times…..the fog was so thick that the Port of Cadiz had closed until it lifted….so we arrived an hour and half later than the scheduled time….so much for capturing a sunrise here.

                                    The old city of Cadiz is surrounded by water on three sides.

Cadiz is one of our favorite ports of call. We were amazed the first time we visited it on our first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean back in 2010…. and continue to enjoy it.

Cadiz is the oldest western European city…founded by the Phoenicians around 1100 BC,  it became the base of the Mediterranean and Atlantic trade routes of its time. With the discovery of the New World, it was one of the stop over ports for both coming and going east and west.

We have been to Cadiz three times…and have always found something exciting to do. Today we decided to walk through the city center and

over to the San Sebastian Castle, a fortress that is jetted way out into the Atlantic Ocean.

The fog finally lifted leaving us a drop dead gorgeous day. It was great to walk right off the dock into the city.

                                                         Spring was busting out everywhere.

                                         What a gorgeous walk along the Atlantic!

The city has duplicated Boston’s red line self walk by painting a purple (Merchants of the Indies Walk), green (Old medieval district walk , gold (Castles and Bastions Walk) , and blue(Cadiz Constitution  Walk) walking tour. We followed the yellow line taking in gorgeous walk along the Atlantic Ocean.

                                                              Cadiz Cathedral from the Amsterdam top deck

                                                                          Plaza of the Cathedral

                 

                                                   Entrance to San Sabastian Castle

                                                         About a half mile walk off shore

            This diver passed us going back to the old city....Larry enjoyed the big fish he had speared!

Playa de la Caleta…the only beach in the Old City

.                                                The wall of the old city looking back ashore

We meandered our way back through the scenic narrow  alleys, enjoying the little cafes and sidewalk restaurants that were setting up for lunch.

Larry found a barber shop and got a nice little Spanish haircut.

                                                                 We enjoyed  the street music.

                                          Cadiz children were dressed for and afternoon Easter Parade

                               We enjoyed a couple of ice teas and then walked back to the ship.

                          

              The street had  started to fill with an additional cruise ship in port.

The ship pulled out of the port an hour later than scheduled, thanks to Captain Joathan’s request because of our late arrival. We enjoyed a great sail away with Dave and Nina on the back of the ship. 

                                                              Tower of Torres

                                  What a fantastic day! We love Cadiz and hope to come back again.