I managed to get ashore on our 2nd day in Barcelona and post some photos of the city. The main thoroughfare is a tree-lined promenade, full of stalls, cafes and buskers, many of whom displayed extraordinary costumes and, for a small fee would allow photographs.
Karen in the grip of a demonic character
Galileo perhaps?
The west-africans, selling their knock-offs were in abundance. I caught this pair about to leg-it after seeing a policeman coming their way
One can’t visit Barcelona without seeing the indoor market, tucked away off La Ramblas. A feast, (literally) for the eyes and also one’s stomach.
Hams and meats in abundance
Fresh lobster
Olly enjoying fresh strawberries
Onto Cadiz, our course taking us south-west, paralleling the Spanish coastline for a way-point at the eastern end of the Traffic Scheme of the Straits of Gibraltar. Once through, a turn to the north and the approach to Cadiz. I would have liked to post my usual time-lapse for this challenging port and indeed, that early morning I, as usual, turned it on. The lights of the city in the distance and I remarked to the 2nd Officer, who was conning the ship, that there appeared to be some light fog hanging over the city. Within 15 minutes the ‘light’ fog had become dense, with visibility down to 50 metres. On advice from the pilot, we stopped just outside the channel until he boarded, at which time we conversed about my feelings on the matter of continuing to dock, or wait to see if the fog lifted.
The approach to Cadiz
The buoyed channel, our stop point can be seen as slight ‘kink’ in our track, near the outer buoy.
I knew the port well, after several calls here and had no challenge with the approach and entrance (narrow) between the breakwaters. So we slid down-channel at a very slow speed, still not seeing anything and doing the navigation by radar. As we neared the entrance, I slipped into ‘joystick’ mode and adjusted speed and course with it. Through the entrance, (on radar, as we didn’t see the breakwaters) and then a sedate plod across the harbour. Nearing our berth, we could actually see 100 metres, so that made life easier. Just under an hour late, we were tied-up and ready to enjoy the city.
A closer view of the track between the breakwaters and the entrance
The sun burnt off and the city came into view. We had the best berth in Cadiz, a short walk into the winding lanes and markets. My pleasure at being in such a majestic city was marred by the fact the Sam, Ant, Olly and Emily were leaving us here; tears were shed and with big lumps in our throats, we bid them goodbye, for a while at least. I promised Olly and Emily that I would blow the ship’s whistles for them when I left and I obliged 🙂
The view from the Bridge
The entrance we came though
Narrow lanes
Stalls
Lovely balconies
Cafes
Then on to Casablanca. I had never called here before I wasn’t sure what to expect. Many guests went on tours to Rabat and Marrakesh, while others chose to ride the shuttle bus into town. No fog this morning and lo, a time-lapse of arrival. I let it run a little longer so that you could see another Cruise ship docking after us; the AIDAdiva (sic), Aida being German company, however it is also part of the Carnival Group of companies. Aida’s passengers are mainly European and German-speaking, Germany, Austria, Switzerland to mention a few.
Approach
docking. We swung through 180 degrees and backed to the berth, (a commercial dock)
Looking towards the entrance
Across for us, a ship loading phosphate is hidden from view
Into the city then……
Local garb
Just about the only tree-lined street we came across
An orange cart
Into the inevitable market
Meals waiting at a restaurant, charcoal keeping it hot.
Couldn’t resist taking a barber-shop shot
The main square
The Excelsior hotel had seen better days, methinks
So, we are on our way towards Funchal, Madeira. We are almost back to Fort Lauderdale and the port where the 2017 Grand World Voyage started, almost 4 months ago. How time flies. My days are now filled with reports, social functions and heaven knows what; I’ll still find time to sit here at my desk and write to you though!
Hopefully this is not a duplicate comment. First, I love the facial hair! Are you going to keep it? Also I loved seeing photos of your grandchildren!
Hello Dee, thank you. I go through phases with the ‘hair’, not sure if I should keep it, then again I might 🙂
Love the facial hair (and seeing photos of your grandchildren)!
See you next year!
Captain Jonathan,
Thanks again for your informative blog post with photos and video. Glad you had an enjoyable time with your family. Hope you have a smooth crossing and look forward to sailing with you next year.
Cheers and Regards~
Really enjoyed all your posts and recalling many of the places visited on various of the DAM ships
Presently in Marbella and last visited Cadiz on the Koningsdam in Oct/ 16,,your great shots convince me a repeat
visit now necessary,luckily an easy drive from here
Looking forward to your future blogs
Happy Easter Monday !
Sorry to see you missed going to “Rick’s Cafe” from the movie Casablanca! Fair winds and following sea on the way home!
I would concur with Mr. Armstrong, especially since there was no 180 degree turn in the video. And nice to see Olly being raised as a Yankee fan. I will miss your blogs when you return to Port Everglades next week. But I am sure you are looking forward to going home for a while.
So interesting reading your descriptions, especially of the navigation, and see your photos and movies. Thanks again! Glad you had radar to deal with the fog! I well recall the first time using Radar after having studied navigation using the 1210 training chart with US Power and Sail Squadrons. As an offshore sailboat racer on the committee boat helping track a sailboat race down the West coast of Mexico, radar was such a treat!
Thanks again for your blog to give us a view of our Aunt and my Mother-in-Law’s travels in the 2017 World Cruise.
No photo of the two sisters moored in Barcelona Captain? 😉
Not for lack of trying Hans, the challenge was that there was no suitable area where I could place myself and still get a worthy photo. It would have meant going to the castle above us and to get there was a bus and then cable car. Had I not had my family with me, I might have considered it, however they had precedence of course.
Great captain that you found the time to answer my question. Of course, the family comes first. Wonderful to see those pictures. My question comes from my interest in ships of Holland America Line. There are not many pictures where you can see the two flagships together. Thanks again for your answer and all your posts during this cruise and I wish you a safe journey home. Tot ziens.
Happy Easter Captain !
It is Easter Monday here in Melbourne .
Such great shots of the ports visited on your world cruise with the bonus time lapse footage that we have really enjoyed.
Many thanks for taking the time in your busy schedule to keep us up-to-date with the wonderful ports visited.
So glad you had your family join you both.
Keep safe & well as you all journey on.
Regards
Noel
Glad your not dropping us yet, gotta get my photos out to see if I see any remsinices of our stops when on a 2009 t/a in the last few ports you have been .
In fact 3 people we met on that cruise have been with you on this World cruise.
Captain, I think you published the wrong time lapse. We’ve seen this one previously. Worth seeing again though. All the best for the rest of your trip.
Oops, my bad, Nelson. Thank you for pointing it out. Now changed to the correct one 🙂