Since moving to a new room, we’ve had major problems connecting
with the Internet. While we’ve been able
to send and receive emails, we haven’t been able to access the blog or photo
websites. We’ve kept writing the blogs,
but are way behind in posting. So when
these do go up, there will be several.
Last night, even though we were in British controlled
Gibraltar, we were treated to an energetic (I would hate to see a group of
flamenco dancers that were not energetic) Spanish Flamenco dance group which
put us all in the mood for the port of Cadiz which we were supposed to
visit today. But overnight I was awakened by the sound of high seas and
such a loud whistling at the door of our verandah that I wondered if the
door hadn’t been closed tightly enough. I got up to check and found
it closed and locked, but the seas were really rocking.
Just yesterday I had signed up for an excursion
to replace the one I really wanted to do called Los Alburejos Farm & Country Estate. The farm
was dedicated to breeding of Andalusia horses and bulls and had a covered
bullring and bullfight museum. I thought it would be something quite
different to do and while bullfighting is now banned throughout most
of Spain now, this part of Spain is particularly noted for the
bullfighting as well as its lively flamenco dancers. However as I feared,
it was canceled because of insufficient interest, possibly because there
were several excursions to Seville. So I
opted for one called Cadiz, Sherry &
Horses: Equestrian Horse
Rehearsals instead. I wasn’t interested in the sherry production and
thought I might be able to wander around the area outside as those more
interested in the sherry engaged in their activity and it would give me a
chance to see a bit more of the Spanish countryside as well as a small
village.
So, this morning I got up in the pitch dark and went to
breakfast so as to be ready for the excursion. We were to dock in Cadiz
at 7 AM and my tour was to start at 8:15. But when I left breakfast at
7:20, all I could see was the open waters of the eastern Atlantic, now that we
had come out of the Mediterranean Sea at Gibraltar. Typically we are
right on time or early so this was highly unusual. At about 7:30 came an
announcement from the captain who stated that with deep regret, he was having
to cancel the call at Cadiz. He commented that overnight the seas were
rough (something we already knew!) and he had contacted the port officials in
Cadiz who told him that the channel though which he had to navigate was narrow
and that the winds were blowing so strongly that there was literally not enough
power in the ship to buck the headwind. He had communicated with the home
office in Seattle who concurred that the port should be skipped. After
consulting with officials in Lisbon, our next port where we were due on Thursday,
we were able to secure a berth this evening so we will arrive about 7:30 PM
(all else being equal) and will have an overnight in Lisbon. Arriving
before the sun goes down will allow a bit of daylight after we arrive.
Fortunately we have been to Cadiz and are planning to be
back next year as well, but for those who have never been to this beautiful
Spanish city, it is a disappointing missed opportunity, but safety and health
always come first! Some people were planning to go to Seville, one of Spain’s
most magnificent cities. We had considered it for this year, but decided
to wait until next year when hopefully Barb’s walking will be vastly
improved. It will be something for us to look forward to because we have
heard what a wonderful place to visit Seville is. But for those who have this
one chance, it’s a shame they will miss it. It has been interesting for
us to talk with two guests who are fluent in Spanish. We met Chris and
Carlos last year as they were at the table right next to us but last year we
knew them much more superficially. They have been on the Grand Voyage
since we boarded two months ago today and we’ve had much more chance to talk.
They were planning a tour to Seville and were sorry to miss it – Carlos
mentioned that he thought Seville was his favorite place in Spain so I asked if
they liked it better than Granada. That would give us a frame of
reference since we were in Granada in early April. Chris indicated she
liked Granada better so apparently both places have their attractions.
Now we are down to our last 10 days. Lisbon will be
next and it will be our first time in Portugal. Then comes Bilbao, Spain
to be followed by several French ports and Bruges, Belgium before we fly home
from Amsterdam.
CT
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