Let Me Try to Catch Up

With six weeks of travel aboard the Odyssey and only a bit over a week of it posted here I decided to do a quick catch up in photos with brief descriptions. I promise I will wax elequently about future events, or even try to go back and relive some of these from the past, but for now here are my Cliff's Notes...

But even those are long.

Cadiz, Spain October 14

Our First Hop on Hop Off ride with Alan, Steve, and Debbie.

We got caught in the pouring rain in the park right after getting off the double decker bus.

We stopped for an espresso along the plaza near the theater.

Took a walk past the cathedral and ran into Joey, from the ship. We are always running into people from the ship.

Didn't eat here, but took a picture. Ate somewhere else (out in the open air), but didn't take a picture.

Walked through the Roman ruins and ran into other people from the ship.

Made another stop in sight of our ship for a beverage and Alan was too nice to a guy from North Africa. Alan ended up buying a few trinkets that he didn't want and gave Dusty a bracelet.

Seville, Spain October 15-16

A taxi took Alan, Steve, Debbie and I to the center of the city.

The cathedral is one of the finest in the world, but we didn't know that reservations were needed to go inside and none were available.

Fortunately there was a small side section of the cathedral that was always open to the public and it felt like this...

A stop for sangria and we continued our walk.

I poked my head into a small flamenco studio and hoped to be able to get back for a show later.

Through the narrow streets and alleyways and past classic old courtyards we made out way back to the ship.

Day 2 Andy walked with Dusty and me back to the city center.

Even on an overcast morning the Plaza de Espana was impressive.

Tilework was stunning inside and out.

By the time we got to yesterday's starting point the weather was looking much better.

A quick stop back at the same alcove of the cathedral as the day before to share with Dusty and friends.

The better lighting made for beautiful views of the carriages and the cathedral. Our friends managed to get tickets to tour the cathedral and nearly missed the departure that evening.

On the return to the ship I ran ahead to take advantage of the wonderful light on Plaza de Espana for a few fresh shots.

As we departed Seville we had dinner with Doug, Whitney, Aliona, and Lucia. We chatted about hearing impairment, photography, and going through the locks on the river leaving the city.

Tangier, Morrocco October 17-18

Andy, Jim, Joey, and Paul took a walk through the old city and up to the overlook.

Walking through the souk was an adventure and imersion into the culture and feel of Tangier.

Andy, Paul, and I stayed in the markets to lunch in the local souk. Paul is serious about his food and asked for a little of everything. What we got was everything. Paul was very happy, and so was I.

Andy had to grab a sampler of the local olives and we had a happy hour on the balcony later with Spanish Sherry.

After dinner the moon rose and Andy and I ventured out for a night walk through the old walled city. Feeling a bit risky, but the night views could be special. Dusty passed on the walk.

It was a surreal walk in time and culture.

The second day in Tangier we took a bus to visit the caves and go along with Doug, Whitney and the girls for their camel ride on the beach.

Farewell Tangier. Sunsets and sunrises became a theme it seems.

Port of Ceuta, Spain (In Morrocco) October 19

Did I say sunrises were a thing?

An easy walk in and around the fort made this one day stop a treat. Not to mention good wine for cheap.

Gibraltar, England (In Spain) October 20-21

The Rock

The team that would assault The Rock. JR. Gazza. Rina. Gary. Peter. Paul. And myself. When you have a chance to climb it you take that chance.

The Moorish Fort on the way up the mountain.

View from the Fort.

Military tunnels inside The Rock with troop quarters mockups.

Mockups of earlier defenses.

Monkeys at the top of The Rock. And us too.

And a stop for a cold one on the way back to the ship.

Malaga, Spain October 22

Our friends, Carole and Jeff Myles, were in Malaga while we were in port, so we spent the day with them.

The cathedral of Malaga.

Carole and Jeff introduced us to their favorite tapas place.

Casablanca, Morrocco October October 24

Paul and I set out to take a walk to the mosque, park, and market

On our way to the park we passed these guys getting their bread ready for distribution. I asked if I could take a photo and after saying yes they handed us a loaf of bread.

Arab League Park

Entering the market there was a cart cooking these beauties. A man chatted with the ladies behind the cart and then handed one of them some money and pointed to us. The next thing we knew we were being handed a "free lunch". Either we looked like we needed to be fed or these were really nice people.

We saw other foods and wonderful delicacies throughout the market.

The view of the mosque from the ship as we departed at sunset was etherial.

Lanzarote, Spain Canary Islands October 27

Michael, Bill, and Claire said they wanted to take a walk into town. I asked if I could join them.

The Old Man and the Sea monument

The boats in the harbour were begging for a camera to capture them.

Walking past the man with his dog all three of us said that someone needed to get a photo. I asked if I could take a picuture of them as they captured the spirit of the island. Somehow he immediately understood and gave me this moment.

The old fort and artillery piece toyed with my military background.

The old fishing boat with the fort in the background.

Las Palmas, Spain Canary Islands October 28

Welcome to Las Palmas

We walked and shopped. We took the bus to the old city. The architecture needed to be seen to be appreciated. We appreciated it.

Another market with vibrant colors. A feast for the eyes and more.

Dinner with friends on the back deck for sailing away is always a special time.

Tenerife, Spain Canary Islands October 29

Tenerife. Where we came for our first trip from Belfast so long ago.

Inside the cathedral on our walk to the park

The entrance to the park

In the park

Monuments on the way back to the ship.

Another sail away.

Dakar, Senegal November 2-3

Goree Island. The island of door of no return.

I've written two blogs on the two days in Dakar. The first was intensely challenging. The second intensely hopeful.

Porto de Praia, Portugal (Cape Verde Islands) November 5

Andy, Alicia, Dusty, and I took a long hot walk into town only to find the museum closed.

After a long hot climb up to the old walled city Dusty found a hummingbird moth in the park and we took an air conditioned cab back to the ship.

Mindelo, Sao Vicente Portugal (Cape Verde Islands) November 6

The lighthouse on the rock marked our arrival.

After a hard walking day this was the time for an easy beach walk and testing out snorkel and mask.

Our neighpor in port, Poinant, showed off what an upgrade looks like.

Atlantic Crossing November 7-13

Sunrises, sunsets, classes, and flying fish filled our crossing.

Bridgetown, Barbados November 14

Barbados is where I did my first scuba diving since I got certified in July. A few problems. A few solutions. Had a nice dive with five other neighbors and my GoPro died along with my pictures from that day.

St. Georges, Granada November 15

I walked Dusty through more of the rough part of town than she wanted and we returned to the ship.

But it was still a beautiful place to be.