NOT THIS GIN JOINT

November 27, 2017

Speaking about Ilsa, Rick says, “Of all the gin joints, in all the world, she had to walk  into mine!”

When we booked this trip, one of the things I wanted to see was Rick’s Café American in Casablanca.  Now I know that none of the movie was filmed in Morocco – it was all done on a studio sound set.  But still, some enterprising folks came up with the idea of making Rick’s a tourist trap and I wanted to see it.  That is, until we went to the shore talk for Casablanca and listened to all of the warnings.

Shorts must cover your knees.  Shirts must cover your shoulders.  No t-shirts, only polo/golf style shirts.  No touching.  No acts of affection.  No breathing (that one I made up – almost – we are sitting in a working dock and there is lime being loaded, and blowing towards the ship, and some powdery brown stuff being loaded and blowing towards the ship).

If you ask a taxi driver to take you some place and he says, “That is closed, but I know a good place,” he’s lying.

When the shuttle bus stops (and you must take a shuttle bus – we are on the hind end of a very busy working port) the locals will already be pressing their faces to the windows offering their wares for sale.

And listening to table conversation of con men, pick pockets, and other swindlers, we said, “No thanks!”  I’ve traveled with a con man and a swindler (those of you who spent 10 years growing up on Cap Chat Street know what I mean).  I’ve been bamboozled by fast talking, fast dealing currency cheats in the Samara Rynok.  That’s enough.

So we will play cards.  And I bought a set of double sixes dominos yesterday for 75 cents, and we’ll thrown in a few games of the bones.  Plus reading, napping, and a very interesting sounding supper tonight on the Lido Deck featuring Mediterranean food specialities.

And the ship’s entertainment tonight at 8 and 10 is the movie “Casablanca.”  “Play it Sam.  If she can take it, so can I!”

Rick did not say, “Play it again Sam.”

TTFN

We just got back from popcorn and a movie. Wow. It was as good as I remembered. Great evening.

The day was lazy and I got 2 miles walking in and lots of crocheting. I sat on the Lido deck for most of the morning watching out over the dock and the city in the distance. The haze and stuff hanging in the sky at times would be so thick you could barely see the dock. I heard one lady say she rode the shuttle into the town and didn’t get off because it was too difficult to breathe.

We enjoyed our day. Then, there was supper. A Mediterranean fare. Well, there were pastas, chicken, vegetables and even goat. Yes I said goat. No we did not try it. There was a delicious Moroccan mousse, that was a very dark chocolate, I did have it. I would have liked to have visited the city but there were too many negative vibes. Maybe another time.

Then, we went to the movies.  Front row seats in the balcony and popcorn to boot. Not real good popcorn but popcorn none the less. And they had the air on high tonight. I got your Dad his blanket. It was great.

Well, tomorrow we are at sea and your Dad has a talk at 11 am. Then, we will be in Madeira the next day before we begin our journey across the ocean. Making one final stop in Half Moon Cay, the private island. Then, Ft Lauderdale. All to short.

Miss you all but this has been a really good cruise. Love you. Has anyone got a post card yet from Athens?

Mom, Granny, Bonnie