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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Oct 02, 2023 12:00 AM Tanger - thousand and one Arabian nights
I have been before to Tanger, but travelling overland by bus. Now - arriving by ship to Tanger port the experience was even stronger. At sunrise the wiew from the 11th deck of our ship was exceptional: all medina and kasbah was in the sun and they were just calling to pray from the minarets... Then I spent the whole day crawling the labyrinth of the narrow streets, talking with the local people, watching their handicrafts, enjoying the smells and atmosphere of old Arabian town... I found again the tomb of Ibn Battuta - great Arab traveller pf 14th century. He was born in Tanger and visit his tomb is a must for passonate traveller like me. Finally I reached Place de France - from the terrace with old cannons there is great view of the port with our ship in it. Great, sunny day!
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Oct 01, 2023 12:00 AM Casablanca legend - for money!
The main symbol of this city is new Hassan II mosque proudly rising on the coast. Well - if you want to go inside you have to come only at 2.30 pm - after praying time. It is necessary to buy entry ticket - they charge from the foreigners 140 dirhams for museum+mosque. I have been there twice already, so no need to pay again.
Do you remember the movie "Casablanca". It was not filmed here, but in Hollywood. But entrepreneurs established here the "Rick's cafe" on the edge of medina to give the tourists a chance to see similar institution like on the moovie. Many foreigners likes to see and have an expensive meal at this place. Too many! You have to make reservation in advance. No short visits. Even to cross the door you can pay at least for the drink. The staff is just rude - they do not allowe take inside even smartphone picture. Not recommend! Take the outside picture and go better to see the life in the medina!
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Sep 30, 2023 12:00 AM Foggy Casablanca...
It was thick fogg in the port when we arrived in the early morning to Casablanca. Industrial landscape around. Poor organization: no maps, no shuttle buses. From the pier you have to walk some half an hour to get off the huge port area to the city. The gate is just near Casa-Port station. Crowd of nasty taxi drivers awaits here for tourists. Small taxis (Petit taxi) are red. We expect today 32 deg Celsius. Let's try to find the places I saw here years ago!
First of all I found the cosy youth hostel near Marina Gate, where I was staying during ma visit to Casablanca in 1979. It still exist, but they improved little bit the standard: the bunk beds in the dormitory where I slept was replaced by the regular ones. And this dorm was splited into two separate rooms. I saw the corner where in 1979 I noticed a rat as big as rabbit!
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Sep 29, 2023 12:00 AM Cadiz in the sun...
Cruise line modified our schedule and today we are still in Spain - in the historic city of Cadiz. I sit as always under the palms on paseo listening to the Spanish music played by the "puppet band" - rare place to enjoy... They are always here, collecting coins in the hat. We have here great, sunny weather. Unfortunately we passed Gibraltar in the night... I was walking again the narrow streets of old Cadiz, discovering Moorish - style theater and many street landscapes. Tomorrow we will reach Casablanca in Morocco. I have a new friend - Sabrina, a lady working in the capital of Algeria. Maybe she will be my chance to get invitation letter to this country...
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Sep 28, 2023 12:00 AM Cartagena in Spain
We are in the lovely Cartagena - little port in Southern Spain. Hot, sunny weather with light wind... Romans built here the theatre - now it is the main attraction of this lovely city. The cruise port houses only one ship and the jetty is just steps from elegant palm-fringed coastal promenade. Great place to spend the afternoon, enjoying the landscape and sipping cold cerveza (beer). Drinks are extremely expensive on board so I will try to smuggle to the ship a bottle of white rum bought in the shop for just 5 euro. Keep your fingers crossed, please! :)
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Sep 27, 2023 12:00 AM Captain Frederico
Today we have day at sea, sailing west along the coast of Algeria. I had a chance to meet our captain - 46 years old cpt Frederico. Funny person! He said he doesn't know any Italian who visited all countries of the world like me... The sea is calm, sun is shining and the music on the ship plays till midnight. Every evening we have new show in the theater. Let's enjoy!
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Sep 26, 2023 12:00 AM Tunis again after 44 years...
La Goulette - the port of Tunis lies far away from the centre and old Medina. Shared taxi is probably the best solution to get there. I remember Tunis from my 1979 visit - noise and wild traffic in the streets, garbage and calls from the minarets... There are changes: they built new city hall just near the medina amd a bright monument of the heroes with red flags around. Narrow streets of old bazaar are still the same and very atmospheric.any little shops offer traditional goods like carpets and brass stuff. It is worth to go to nearby ruins of Carthage and coastal village located on the cliff - Sidi Bou Said for the views, flowers and souvenirs. Painted in blue and white little pictures are especially nice but you have to bargain!
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Sep 25, 2023 12:00 AM Palermo - Sicily
The huge mountain overlooking tne capital of Sicily was visible in a distance already at sunrise. Palermo has nice location, I have been here several times, but it is always nice to walk around and to discover something new... I was walking along well known trail to Teatro Massimo, then via the market to the cathedral, the palace of Normans and then back to the second nice theater Politeama - it is ruined but still impressive. Look at the picture, what strange sculptures I discovered on Porta Nuova - the grand gate near the palace! Palermo with the horse carriages between the cars has its atmosphere... and I like it. Tomorrow we will be in Tunis, Africa...
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Sep 24, 2023 12:00 AM Civitavecchia - windy but sunny.
This port usually serves the tourists wishing to visit Rome. I have been here many times watching the restauration of the city walls and refreshing of the whole town. Now, after years Civita looks much better. On the wide coastal promenade near the fortress there are picturesque palms and the contemporary symbol of the town: monument "Seaman kissing the girl for goodbye" Many tourists with their ladies are taking pictures in front of the monument in the same position. A lot of fun! But I have no lady to kiss, sorry! In the evening we are sailing to Sicily!
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Sep 23, 2023 12:00 AM By train to the ship...
They offer complimentary tea/coffee in the little lobby of our pension. At 8 am I finished my breakfast and I was ready to go to the station. I used 3 trains with connections in La Spezia and Genova to get to the port of Savona. The total ticket cost me 20, 50 euro. Savona is not only a main port used by Costa Company, but also an interesting, pretty town with long, shaddy galleries along the main streets. But it was raining when I was walking to the well-known port. There were two cruise ships waiting - one of them, the smaller was my Favolosa. All check-in took me some 20 minutes and soon I saw my inside cabin on deck 6. The bottle of champagne was waiting for the frequent passenger. Then, soon after emergency drill we said goodbye to Savona. Show in the theatre in the evening - I met interesting couple from Luzern, Switzerland.
We are expecting weather improvement tomorrow!
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