Sept 22 Tangier Morocco

 A late addition to the cruise itinerary because of Lisbon, we were unprepared for anything on our own. So we selected a Highlights tour to get the flavor. And this is our first visit to Morocco, but our second and third will come along in about a week.

Tangier in morning "golden hour."

Our excursion is two parts: driving to some distant places, then a walking tour through the city. This is the waterfront just opposite our boat.

Cap Spartel, the northwest corner of Africa where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet.

Plage Sol, an Atlantic beach

For the total tourist experience, take a camel ride.

We stop at Hercules Grotto, part of the myth of Hercules separating Europe from Africa by spreading them apart. It's famous because of one feature -- a hole in the wall...

... that overlooks the Atlantic. And, if you have the necessary imagination, the hole looks like a map of Africa. It's about 20 feet high and 10 feet wide.

After a drive back to the city, we transition into the walking part of the excursion.  As we walk to the city gate we pass a building where the DISH TV salesperson was dominant.

We enter the city through the Kasba gate.

Narrow winding streets. You need a guide (or a GPS) to find your way through these streets.

Excellent place for lunch or a drink.

Angel's Trumpet

There was a lot of elevation change, but our guide had selected a route that was almost entirely downhill.

We enter the bazaar area. People had their wares displayed along the street/path.

Time for us to "exit through the gift shop." We stopped at a store for local artisans. Although there were two other Highlights buses taking the same tour, we were the only group in this store. I wonder where those groups went. There were certainly enough stores to spread the wealth.

Also, we were encouraged to haggle/bargain/bluster for the best price. Cynthia spoke to a fellow tour member who was quoted a price of $30 for a miniature teapot. They joined forces, and after some negotiation got 2 for $10. And I'm sure the shop made a profit.

Next stop a spice shop -- prices not negotiable. Which was fine with us because the smell, pleasant but overpowering, forced us into the street to wait for the rest of the group.

Final stop, Hotel Continental for mint tea and cookies. The cookies were good, but I had Diet Coke to drink.

Sept 21 Cadiz Spain

 Another late entry into our itinerary, Cadiz is the gateway to Seville. But we stayed close to the ship and took a tour of the city.

The first part of the tour was panoramic aboard a bus.

City gate. Cadiz is located on a long peninsula with a single entry point.

Apartment buildings. We've never seen a building that color of green before. Most of Cadiz is a beach city, but the morning sun and bus windows make any decent pictures impossible.

The other side of the gate. The figure was for a weekend celebration taking place and not a permanent part of the gate.

Cadiz is an old town, going back to the Phoenicians. This is the Roman amphitheater that could seat about 10 000. It was probably built during the first century BCE, and was rediscovered in 1980.

We exited the buses and began walking through the town. This is Town Hall and the plaza in front of it.

Street scenes

Cathedral of the Holy Cross over the Waters (Catedral de la Santa Cruz sobre las Aguas)

As we walked back to the ship, I saw this while crossing a street. I have no idea what it means or why it's there, but I've never seen anything like it before.

Sept 20 Gibraltar

 

 We visit Gibraltar for the second time in our travel career because the itinerary changed. We had been scheduled to spend an overnight in Lisbon leading to changeover day, but the threat of a pilot's strike (the pilots that guide the boats into the harbor, not the ones that fly airplanes) meant that different ports were necessary. Gibraltar filled in admirably.

The top of the rock was socked in with clouds as we approached.

We took an excursion focused on the Gibraltar tunnels, led by Richard. He's one of the best guides we've ever had. He did commentary while driving a 20 passenger bus through narrow and twisty streets. We loved him.

This is the monument to the evacuation of civilians during WW2, and their return to Gibraltar after three to ten years. The soldier's daughter doesn't recognize the strange man.

There are two gates into the city.

The narrow roads have many tunnels cut through the Rock. In spite of appearances, the bus could fit...barely.

All fresh water on Gibraltar comes from a desalination plant. This is the runoff from the plant -- it looks like a salt water spring.

Europa Point lighthouse

View of the Rock from the lighthouse -- not exactly the Mutual of Omaha view we're used to.

We drove up the mountain and stopped at an overlook of the Straits of Gibraltar. This is the marina.

The town

Panorama showing the Straits and the ships anchored awaiting bunkering (fueling).

Barbary Macaques inhabit the Rock and will steal your backpack if given a chance.

We drove to the northern side to view the Great Siege Tunnel. Recently they built a tunnel underneath the Gibraltar aiport runway for automobile traffic, but pedestrians and bicycles still cross it. Crossing gates come down, just like a railroad, when a plane in landing or taking off.

A panoramic view to the north. Spain is located just to the north of the runway. The border was set based on the range of a 32 pound cannon firing from the Rock.

Great Siege Tunnel, built in the late 18th century.

Because we were "good" tourists and came back to the bus early from our individual wanderings in the Great Siege Tunnel, Richard took us to the WW2 tunnels further down the hill.

Thirty-four miles of tunnels, plus berthing areas and viewpoints run through the Rock.