Sept 7. Cadiz and Marrakech

Monday, September 7, 2009
Our arrival at Cadiz on Saturday was wonderful. I was up before 6 am, out on my balcony looking for lights. The moon was nearly full and the stars were bright. No daylight savings time so it stays fairly dark until about 7:30. I went up on deck where there were some students and some LLL’s. (Life Long Learners, to refresh your memories)> The air was full of anticipation and excitement. Everyone was taking pics of the moon and then…the lights appeared and the skyline grew as we approached land. A little roar went up. It was such fun. “I can’t believe I’m actually in Spain!” people kept saying. We watched over the side as the pilot boat approached and then as the pilot came aboard. The skyline is a mixture of new and old buildings, and, of course, of the cranes poking into the sky all around the harbor. Modern bldgs and golden domes and steeples – all was just beautiful in the morning light.

A group of us went ashore about 10 am and walked and walked and walked and walked some more all around the narrow alley-like streets of the old part of town. Checked out a couple of churches, a museum, some shops. Had lunch at an outdoor café and enjoyed the people-watching. I stopped to rest now and then, sat down on a shady bench in the middle of a small, busy square near the cathedral. A beautiful white haired woman sat next to me. She wore a bracelet that spelled out ‘Marta’ in silver letters. I touched it and said, “Usted es Marta; me Elizabeth.” It was such fun conversing with her even though she spoke no English and my Spanish is ridiculous. I asked could I take her picture and she agreed. There was an iron ball behind her – part of a fence – that looked like a growth coming out of her neck, so I asked her to move and took another picture. We laughed looking at the first one. It was time to go and I told her we’d become friends in a very short time in spite of not being able to talk. She drew me near to her and kissed me on each cheek. Priceless and so much fun!

In our meanderings we came across a restored Roman arch and later a Roman theater with stone bleachers and parts of the Roman wall that had surrounded the city. It had all been buried under centuries of rubble. It’s amazing to see such a thing. Our church in St. Benoit du Sault where we lived in France, was ‘romanesque’ and was…I need help from my sibs … I’ll just say it was very old because the house we lived in was 500 years old and the church was built way before that!

AND: have any of you kids found out about the very important event in history that made Cadiz famous? Let me know!

So we finally made it home (the ship has for sure already become home to me) from our long, long walk and I went right up to the pool deck for a swim and a snooze in a deck chair. Loverly! The pool is small but I had it to myself – so many people had gone off to Barcelona and Seville etc. It’s a salt water pool. By the way, we’re bathing with and drinking ocean water!!! They have desalination on the ship. There’s a little bit of chlorine but if you let it sit a little while, the chlorine taste dissipates. Look that word up in the dictionary, children, and tell G’ma=mommaliz what it means. Sean and Joey, that means you!

Yesterday I stayed on the ship, recuperating from the longest walk I’ve taken in months. I have to get myself a pedometer because I’m doing lots of walking on the ship in the hallways alone. Dealing with the rock and roll must surely be adding some benefit as well.

Little-by-little I’ve calmed down. Sorry for that last blog being so negative with TMI, perhaps. Oh well. I’m finding my way around just fine. I’ve met some very nice people and am finding it’s a pleasure getting to know them. It’s especially fun to talk to the kids. Let’s see, there’s Louie who is on a work/study program and helps out in the computer lab. He calls me Mommaliz. Then there’s Carina who also helped me with some computer stuff. And Alyssa whom we met, Chrissy, in Halifax with her mother. She and a couple of her friends that I’ve met call me Queen Elizabeth. Ellie, another LLL, who also walks with a cane (which I’m only doing occasionally now, thank God.), and I went to town today and ran into Alyssa who joined us for lunch. She’s so cute …had gone shopping and was thrilled with all her purchases – all very mod and European looking.

At meal times you go into the dining room and if you aren’t with anyone, you just look for a place to sit with someone – young or old. I’ve had some wonderful conversations with kids from all over…today at lunch there was a girl, Carol, who is originally from Uganda, now from Staten Island, I think she said!

The night before we got to Cadiz there was a ‘cultural orientation’ attended by everyone.
Various people talked about various aspects of life in Spain. One young prof was talking about sports in Spain … you know, futball; then he brought up the subject of stereotypes (another good word to look up in the dictionary, kids). “We Spanish think all American men wear low white sox with sandals. See my feet?” He pointed to the white sox and sandals he was wearing. “Do NOT do this in Spain! Now what is a stereotype Americans have of the Spanish?” He walked straight over to me, put the mike in my face and stood there grinning at me, waiting. “All Spanish men are sexy?” I blurted out. Got a pretty good laugh.

So I have questions to answer from some of you. First of all, thank you so much for your e-mails. As much as I’d like to, I don’t think I can answer each one. At least I’ll try to answer your questions. Actually your questions help me with this blog.

What classes am I taking? Well I’m not officially taking any but have sat in on several so far. This seems to be the norm amongst us LLL’s. “Making Documentary Films”, one on “Terrorism” and one on “Muslim Women in the World Today”. I’m just going to bounc around as if I were simply attending a different interesting lecture every day. Everyone on board attends the Global Studies Course which has been very interesting so far…except for one guy who put me to sleep.

Our crossing of the Atlantic was, according to some of the more seasoned voyagers, very smooth. Personally I loved it. Someone was talking about outriggers being deployed. All I could think of was the things that stick out on the side of those Hawaiian canoes. Sure enough, it seems stabilizers are the big ship name for them. These things are deployed in order to stabilize the roll from side to side. Someone else said we don’t do much lurching up and down, thanks to some other wonder of modern maritime engineering. At any rate I have not felt a moment of seasickness… not even queasiness. Here’s what my sister, Mary, wrote to me in her bon voyage note: “Fantastic. Remember the first time you went to sea? Dead of winter, gray waves, gray sky, howling winds and you were thrilled.”
I do indeed remember and I remember that my theory about that was that I never missed a single meal. Hope I haven’t jinxed myself here. Someone said we are supposed to have some rough seas on our way to Casablanca.

How many 20 year old boys have crushes on me? Oh at least 150.

There’s going to be a yoga class.

My cabin is fabulous. I measured it the first day and it was something like 11X17 plus the bathroom which has a very nice shower etc. Plenty of storage in the cabin and in the bathroom plus under the bed. My little balcony is great to have. I love just sitting out there and looking at the water. Also sometimes I can connect to the internet on the balcony which unfortunately I cannot do in my cabin. Some can and some can’t.

The food is fine but desert is usually white cake with no icing so I’m able to easily forego that indulgence. Otherwise I’m happy to be able to say I’ve been eating well – meaning the way I’m supposed to.

I’ve found several computer helpers. Little by little I’m learning things. It’s like starting school in Sophmore year of college and having to catch up on everything from pre-school onward. Oh well.

I want to share this wonderful quote Chrissy sent me:

If you touch it you set the whole thing trembling…
As we move around this world and as we act with kindness or with indifference, or with hostility, toward the people we meet we too are setting the great spider web a-tremble. The life that I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place and time my touch will be felt. Our lives are linked.

Love it, Chrissy.

Love your drawing of my ship, Lindsey and all your letters, “Darien”.

Bub and Linda: there’s a gal on board, Susan Sutton, who has a house in Northstar and who recognized your names. Proved it by saying you, Linda, are a fabulous decorator! She knows you through a friend …forgot the name.

We left Cadiz about two hours ago and now, the ship is back to its gentle rocking. The departure was very dramatic with more of the high winds we’d been having for the last three days. People were out on the decks pushing into the wind trying not to fall over, hair and clothes blowing like crazy. My midriff was exposed to the public for the first time after lo these many years of hiding in the dark. I was comforted by the fact that many midriffs – young and old - were showing and everyone was just laughing. At first there was a tug boat at the bow, trying to pull us away from the dock, but the wind was just too strong and so another tug had to be called into duty. The two of them, plus our own engines finally got us out of there and we’re off to Morocco!

How did I like Spain? Well, As some of you know, I’ve been to Spain before. I found Cadiz to be a…

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 11 am-ish.

First of all, I woke in the middle of the night, slapped my thigh, so to speak, and said out loud: “The feast of the Immaculate Conception is DECEMBER the 8th, dum-dum!” At least I was thinking about you, Mar.

At this moment, I’m sitting in the faculty lounge (which we are allowed to use) looking out at an enormous cupcake with humongous globs of whupped cream on top, sitting on a navy blue tablecloth: The Rock of Gibraltar with hovering clouds, no less!!!

Before I forget – will some family member please send Maeve my blog and e-mail addresses. People have asked how I heard of SAS. It was from you, Maeve, that day at Spring Hill when I listened to you and silently prayed that God would please, please make Carolyn want to go on Semester at Sea and keep me from opening my mouth, lest I say the wrong thing and turn her off. Needless to say my prayers were answered. Oh what a gift this was/is. Thank you, Maeve.

We’re re-fueling just off Gibraltar.

Now it's Sat. the 12th of Sept. I've been sitting here having a silent blue conversation with this computer and finally...FINALLY was able to cut and copy (paste?) this last entry onto the blog. I'm going to hit the send - no, 'publish' button before I lose everything.

Oh heck, I'll write a little more and then 'publish it.'. We're docked at Casablanca. They had the movie running on the in-house, on-board TV. So romantic. But then on the City Orientation tour, the guide assured us that the film was made in Hollywood. Boo hoo. But some woman bought property here, opened up "Rick's Cafe" and no doubt is making a bundle with the tourists who think it's the real deal.

It was raining when we had that tour so things looked a bit dreary. Casablanca is a very industrial city. We saw the old market, the new mosque (from the outside only because it's Ramadan (look it up, children) and the mosque was closed. We drove through commercial areas, poorer residential areas where wet laundry hung on balconies, past the king's palace and a couple of his other residences (my facts could be a wee bit inaccurate) and through some very upscale neighborhoods where the jillionaires from Saudi Arabia and Darfur have houses - homes they don't live in but just visit. We passed by three Catholic churches, a slum area or ghetto - can't think of the exact word - where every shack had a satellite dish that comes with everyone's electric bill, the guide informed us. So that was it for me in Casablanca. I stayed on board all day yesterday since it was raining. Gave me a chance to do some little housekeeping things and to visit with some folks.

This afternoon a group of us are taking a bus tour to Rabat and tomorrow I'm going to Marrakech with my new friend, Susan and with one of the nurses. We're going on the Marrakech Express and spending the night at a charming little hotel Susan found online.
More on that adventure when we return.

Liz, G'ma, Mommaliz, Mom, 'heyyou". xxxooo



























Monday, September 7, 2009
Our arrival at Cadiz on Saturday was wonderful. I was up before 6 am, out on my balcony looking for lights. The moon was nearly full and the stars were bright. No daylight savings time so it stays fairly dark until about 7:30. I went up on deck where there were some students and some LLL’s. (Life Long Learners, to refresh your memories)> The air was full of anticipation and excitement. Everyone was taking pics of the moon and then…the lights appeared and the skyline grew as we approached land. A little roar went up. It was such fun. “I can’t believe I’m actually in Spain!” people kept saying. We watched over the side as the pilot boat approached and then as the pilot came aboard. The skyline is a mixture of new and old buildings, and, of course, of the cranes poking into the sky all around the harbor. Modern bldgs and golden domes and steeples – all was just beautiful in the morning light.

A group of us went ashore about 10 am and walked and walked and walked and walked some more all around the narrow alley-like streets of the old part of town. Checked out a couple of churches, a museum, some shops. Had lunch at an outdoor café and enjoyed the people-watching. I stopped to rest now and then, sat down on a shady bench in the middle of a small, busy square near the cathedral. A beautiful white haired woman sat next to me. She wore a bracelet that spelled out ‘Marta’ in silver letters. I touched it and said, “Usted es Marta; me Elizabeth.” It was such fun conversing with her even though she spoke no English and my Spanish is ridiculous. I asked could I take her picture and she agreed. There was an iron ball behind her – part of a fence – that looked like a growth coming out of her neck, so I asked her to move and took another picture. We laughed looking at the first one. It was time to go and I told her we’d become friends in a very short time in spite of not being able to talk. She drew me near to her and kissed me on each cheek. Priceless and so much fun!

In our meanderings we came across a restored Roman arch and later a Roman theater with stone bleachers and parts of the Roman wall that had surrounded the city. It had all been buried under centuries of rubble. It’s amazing to see such a thing. Our church in St. Benoit du Sault where we lived in France, was ‘romanesque’ and was…I need help from my sibs … I’ll just say it was very old because the house we lived in was 500 years old and the church was built way before that!

AND: have any of you kids found out about the very important event in history that made Cadiz famous? Let me know!

So we finally made it home (the ship has for sure already become home to me) from our long, long walk and I went right up to the pool deck for a swim and a snooze in a deck chair. Loverly! The pool is small but I had it to myself – so many people had gone off to Barcelona and Seville etc. It’s a salt water pool. By the way, we’re bathing with and drinking ocean water!!! They have desalination on the ship. There’s a little bit of chlorine but if you let it sit a little while, the chlorine taste dissipates. Look that word up in the dictionary, children, and tell G’ma=mommaliz what it means. Sean and Joey, that means you!

Yesterday I stayed on the ship, recuperating from the longest walk I’ve taken in months. I have to get myself a pedometer because I’m doing lots of walking on the ship in the hallways alone. Dealing with the rock and roll must surely be adding some benefit as well.

Little-by-little I’ve calmed down. Sorry for that last blog being so negative with TMI, perhaps. Oh well. I’m finding my way around just fine. I’ve met some very nice people and am finding it’s a pleasure getting to know them. It’s especially fun to talk to the kids. Let’s see, there’s Louie who is on a work/study program and helps out in the computer lab. He calls me Mommaliz. Then there’s Carina who also helped me with some computer stuff. And Alyssa whom we met, Chrissy, in Halifax with her mother. She and a couple of her friends that I’ve met call me Queen Elizabeth. Ellie, another LLL, who also walks with a cane (which I’m only doing occasionally now, thank God.), and I went to town today and ran into Alyssa who joined us for lunch. She’s so cute …had gone shopping and was thrilled with all her purchases – all very mod and European looking.

At meal times you go into the dining room and if you aren’t with anyone, you just look for a place to sit with someone – young or old. I’ve had some wonderful conversations with kids from all over…today at lunch there was a girl, Carol, who is originally from Uganda, now from Staten Island, I think she said!

The night before we got to Cadiz there was a ‘cultural orientation’ attended by everyone.
Various people talked about various aspects of life in Spain. One young prof was talking about sports in Spain … you know, futball; then he brought up the subject of stereotypes (another good word to look up in the dictionary, kids). “We Spanish think all American men wear low white sox with sandals. See my feet?” He pointed to the white sox and sandals he was wearing. “Do NOT do this in Spain! Now what is a stereotype Americans have of the Spanish?” He walked straight over to me, put the mike in my face and stood there grinning at me, waiting. “All Spanish men are sexy?” I blurted out. Got a pretty good laugh.

So I have questions to answer from some of you. First of all, thank you so much for your e-mails. As much as I’d like to, I don’t think I can answer each one. At least I’ll try to answer your questions. Actually your questions help me with this blog.

What classes am I taking? Well I’m not officially taking any but have sat in on several so far. This seems to be the norm amongst us LLL’s. “Making Documentary Films”, one on “Terrorism” and one on “Muslim Women in the World Today”. I’m just going to bounc around as if I were simply attending a different interesting lecture every day. Everyone on board attends the Global Studies Course which has been very interesting so far…except for one guy who put me to sleep.

Our crossing of the Atlantic was, according to some of the more seasoned voyagers, very smooth. Personally I loved it. Someone was talking about outriggers being deployed. All I could think of was the things that stick out on the side of those Hawaiian canoes. Sure enough, it seems stabilizers are the big ship name for them. These things are deployed in order to stabilize the roll from side to side. Someone else said we don’t do much lurching up and down, thanks to some other wonder of modern maritime engineering. At any rate I have not felt a moment of seasickness… not even queasiness. Here’s what my sister, Mary, wrote to me in her bon voyage note: “Fantastic. Remember the first time you went to sea? Dead of winter, gray waves, gray sky, howling winds and you were thrilled.”
I do indeed remember and I remember that my theory about that was that I never missed a single meal. Hope I haven’t jinxed myself here. Someone said we are supposed to have some rough seas on our way to Casablanca.

How many 20 year old boys have crushes on me? Oh at least 150.

There’s going to be a yoga class.

My cabin is fabulous. I measured it the first day and it was something like 11X17 plus the bathroom which has a very nice shower etc. Plenty of storage in the cabin and in the bathroom plus under the bed. My little balcony is great to have. I love just sitting out there and looking at the water. Also sometimes I can connect to the internet on the balcony which unfortunately I cannot do in my cabin. Some can and some can’t.

The food is fine but desert is usually white cake with no icing so I’m able to easily forego that indulgence. Otherwise I’m happy to be able to say I’ve been eating well – meaning the way I’m supposed to.

I’ve found several computer helpers. Little by little I’m learning things. It’s like starting school in Sophmore year of college and having to catch up on everything from pre-school onward. Oh well.

I want to share this wonderful quote Chrissy sent me:

If you touch it you set the whole thing trembling…
As we move around this world and as we act with kindness or with indifference, or with hostility, toward the people we meet we too are setting the great spider web a-tremble. The life that I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place and time my touch will be felt. Our lives are linked.

Love it, Chrissy.

Love your drawing of my ship, Lindsey and all your letters, “Darien”.

Bub and Linda: there’s a gal on board, Susan Sutton, who has a house in Northstar and who recognized your names. Proved it by saying you, Linda, are a fabulous decorator! She knows you through a friend …forgot the name.

We left Cadiz about two hours ago and now, the ship is back to its gentle rocking. The departure was very dramatic with more of the high winds we’d been having for the last three days. People were out on the decks pushing into the wind trying not to fall over, hair and clothes blowing like crazy. My midriff was exposed to the public for the first time after lo these many years of hiding in the dark. I was comforted by the fact that many midriffs – young and old - were showing and everyone was just laughing. At first there was a tug boat at the bow, trying to pull us away from the dock, but the wind was just too strong and so another tug had to be called into duty. The two of them, plus our own engines finally got us out of there and we’re off to Morocco!

How did I like Spain? Well, As some of you know, I’ve been to Spain before. I found Cadiz to be a…

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 11 am-ish.

First of all, I woke in the middle of the night, slapped my thigh, so to speak, and said out loud: “The feast of the Immaculate Conception is DECEMBER the 8th, dum-dum!” At least I was thinking about you, Mar.

At this moment, I’m sitting in the faculty lounge (which we are allowed to use) looking out at an enormous cupcake with humongous globs of whupped cream on top, sitting on a navy blue tablecloth: The Rock of Gibraltar with hovering clouds, no less!!!

Before I forget – will some family member please send Maeve my blog and e-mail addresses. People have asked how I heard of SAS. It was from you, Maeve, that day at Spring Hill when I listened to you and silently prayed that God would please, please make Carolyn want to go on Semester at Sea and keep me from opening my mouth, lest I say the wrong thing and turn her off. Needless to say my prayers were answered. Oh what a gift this was/is. Thank you, Maeve.

We’re re-fueling just off Gibraltar.