March 28, 2015


Another beautiful day in Spain, Malaga this time.  Around midnight we sailed passed the Rock of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea, chugging right along at about 12 knots (10ish miles per hour) and came along side this morning about 7:30.  We slept passed the Rock.  Finally.

We had ordered room service coffee and hot chocolate for 7:30, so we got dressed at a leisurely pace, breakfasted and were ashore around 9.  We took a shuttle (4 euros each) about 20 minutes into town.  We wandered the streets for a while, then went to the Cathedral of Malaga – which took 300 years to build, then to the Roman Theater, which dates back to the 1st century (and the locals stage several plays a year in the ancient forum).  Lastly we climbed the ramps and steps of the Alcazaba, an ancient Moorish citadel dating from the 11th century, that winds up the side of the mountain.

This area is called the Costa del Sol, the Sun Coast, and one street thermometer read 41 Celcius.  If it was accurate, that is almost 106 degrees Farenheit.  Regardless, it was plenty warm.  Bonnie and I remarked, we go to the Caribbean and come back white.  This time we are exploring Europe and may get a suntan.

We popped in and out of several food outlets – tavernas, grocrery stores, bars – looking for Mello Yello or Mountain Dew.  No luck.  The good folks here are sadly deprived.  Next trip, I will load a carry on suitcase with the sweet nectar.

We had lunch back on board and then napped.  Spain still observes the afternoon siesta, so when almost to Rome ...

An interesting note as we were walking back from the Citadel, a gentleman was offering tours, and we graciously thanked him, but no, and as we walked away, he called after me, “Sir, watch your cellphone.”  I had it on my belt as I always do, and am using it to take our pictures, so I took it off and held it the rest of the time.  I guess I will do that the rest of the vacation.

We set with a couple from Boston tonight who got there via France and Armenia 30 years ago.  His name is Brun, hers is Claude.  No, there is no typo there.  Claude.  They were expecting a baby boy, had that name picked out, and said, “We are using it. You are Claude.”  Eight years later they had a boy whom she called “The Prince.”

Fabulous pianist in the Vista Lounge tonight.  Played in the styles of several great pianists, and played lots of music we knew.  One of our favorites was a medley that started with “Star Wars,” then “Superman,” then “Indiana Jones,” finally “ET.”  He did Jerry Lee Lewis (actually did Lady Gaga in the style of Jerry Lee Lewis), Elton John, and finished with Liberace and “The Beer Barrel Polka.”  Great show.

A German couple stopped us tonight to talk and said that we helped make this cruise a memorable one for them.  They thoroughly enjoyed my talks.  I told Bonnie, if all the audiences on all of the Holland America Line Cruises are like the folks on this one, I will never want to sail with anyone else again.  Wow!

Well, we push our clocks ahead one hour tonight, because Europe has gone to Daylight Savings Time.  So we will be 5 hours ahead of you on Palm Sunday.

See y’uns tomorrow.
TTFN