Wednesday, 24 April 2024

Cartagena, Spain 

We are spending today in this lovely small city. LFLatSea will give a report in a later blog. Now back to . . 

Monday, 22 April 2024

Day at Sea, Sailing from Gibraltar to Melilla, Spanish North Africa

Days at Sea on Seabourn are welcome not only for a break from touring in port, but also for the special events that are always planned. Besides the usual talks on upcoming ports and their cultures, today's afternoon event is an Ice Cream Social on the Pool Deck. We are offered several flavors of gelato, several flavors of sauce, and a large selection of liqueurs to pour on top. Tonight's entertainment is a major production prepared as a tribute to lyricist Tim Rice, who has worked with composers Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alan Menken, and Abba (to name just a few). The singers and dancers are talented and the small theatre is well-designed, with comfortable raked seats. But the audio system is very bad. In a show designed to spotlight LYRICS, it is unforgivable that the sound is so muddled it is difficult to make out the words.

Tuesday, 23 April 2024

Melilla, Spanish North Africa

It is certainly ironic that the Spanish complain about the British occupation of Gibraltar, when the Spanish themselves govern two cities carved out of the eastern Mediterranean coast of Morocco, Cueta and Melilla. These cities, although separated from each other, are consider a province of Spain, use the Euro as currency, and have difficult relations with Moroccan neighbors, especially after Covid.

Melilla, a city of 75,000 inhabitants is bordered on the east by the sea, but surrounded on the other three sides by Morocco. There is 16-foot fencing surrounding these three sides, with only one open border point at the present time. Previously Moroccans could come and go in Melilla for work and for shopping. But Morocco has made the crossing much more difficult (primarily for economic reasons). Spanish control of these cities dates back to the early part of the 20th-century, although the cities themselves are much older.

If the tourist can ignore the political situation, the city itself is quite pleasant. The "old city," built upon a hill above the sea, is closed to traffic and offers many quaint alleyways and buildings, as well as a selection of bars and restaurants.

The modern city has the largest collection of Arte Moderne buildings outside of Barcelona.

The new city also has lovely beaches with first-class hotels and many venues for local sports.

Former Military Barracks Now Used for Sport Activities

A short drive from the city center takes us up into the surrounding hills where we have panoramic views of all this small area under Spanish control, including the densely packed population areas.

After the tour Will returns to the ship and I walk back to the modern city to take the building photos I have posted above. To avoid the long walk back to the ship, I catch the free shuttle provided by Seabourn.