Leave Friday for Barcelona then on to Malta, Morocco, Algiers, Tunisia and Rome. The same 4 are going that went to Egypt. Follow our adventures.

Leaving tomorrow morning

We made it to O’Hare. 3 flights left. Yippee.

O’Hare. Lines not too bad

Flew from Chicago to Vienna to Frankfurt to Barcelona

Flying over Switzerland

Today we board the ship but first we are touring La Sagrada Familia. Started in 1826 by Anthony Gaudi, they are hoping to finish construction by 1926 for the anniversary. There will be 18 towers. The largest and last is the Tower of Jesus. The Tower of Jesus will hopefully be finished by 1935.

The models they use to create La Sagrada

La Sagrada Familia

Part of the facade of La Sagrada depicting the Last Supper

There is a church underneath La Sagrada where they still hold services

The rainbow of light shining into La Sagrada

Stained glass windows La Sagrada Familia

Today we are in Marseille, France.

The city walls

The clear water of the Mediterranean

Notre Dame In Marseille

The city was built on 6 hills of limestone

City hall with yacht docks in front

Largest Catholic Church in Marseille

USS Truman Aircraft carrier

CMA CGM shipping building

Today we are in Ajaccio (Corsica), France. \240This is the birthplace of Napolean Bonaparte. \240We took a walk around town before tour.

Church of the Maritime

Pyramid of Napoleon

Demonstration to keep their native language instead of changing primary language to English.

The Citadel entrance built in 1492

Corsica coast

Today we are headed to Rome. \240There are over 300 churches in Rome, all Catholic. The Vatican is built from reclaimed materials from the Roman fortress. The Vatican is built on top of the tomb of Saint Paul.

Inside the Pantheon

Pantheon dome

Spanish Steps

Pantheon

Trevi Fountain

Outside walls of Pantheon

Vatican

Today was honoring Patron Saint of Firemen

The Coliseum

Today is a sea day. We have very little planned other than travel consultant and dinner at Manfredi’s.

Today we are in Malta. We have a private tour scheduled. It is so windy outside, you can hear the wind howling. \240Malta is 22 miles long and 18 miles wide. There is no homelessness. Everyone has a job. \240There are 365 Catholic Churches an 2 Cathedrals in Malta.

St Paul was rescued in Malta which is the reason the country is Catholic. \240He was on his way to Rome to be tried when he was shipwrecked in Malta. \240He was rescued on Saint Paul Island.

Tried eel and octopus for dinner. Determined that I am not a fan of either.

Harbor of Marsult

Monument to George Bush Sr and Gorbachev peace talk here in 1989

The stone walls were constructed in 8th century by Arabs to denote property lines

Falconer

The main church of Siqqui

Popeye’s Village where film was made

Saint Paul’s Island

Market in Marsult

Dinglii Cliffs the highest point of Malta

St Lucien Tower

The Blue Grotto

Main entrance to Mdina

Monument

Watch Tower

Church of St Mary Magdelan at Dingli Cliffs

Gun Turret

Malta day 2. I think we saw everything possible yesterday so we are just going to visit Christmas Markets until on board time. \240Well, as the locals say β€œValletta is always late.” \240The Christmas Markets do not open until next week.

Merry Christmas

Today we are in Tunis, Tunisia

Main square

Brightly colored door

Fez

In the water are flamingos

Medina of Tunis

Largest Cemetary in Africa. 4.5 million buried here

Souk

Today is a sea day and we are rock n rolling side to side and front to back. When I feel like getting to a window, I’ll take some pictures. This started around 7 last night and has been pretty steady all night.

Today we are in Algiers, Algeria. The country is 98-99% Muslim.

Satellite dishes everywhere

Algiers Post Office now a museum

The Monument of Martyrs

It’s a sea day today.

Today we went through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Off the bow this morning

Entering the Strait

Today we are in Casablanca, Morocco. We have a private tour booked so stay tuned. Casablanca is largest city on Morocco. \240The cities are named after colors. Casablanca is White city. This means the houses are white.

The El Mohamed II Mosque holds 20,000 men and 5,000 women. The esplanade outside the mosque can hold 80,000 people. Under the mosque is the cleaning fountains to cleanse before prayer.

Morocco is a very progressive Muslim country, With 94% of population being Muslim. Polygamy is practiced but only with the permission of the first wife. Women hold the same jobs as men. We saw women bus drivers and shop owners.

Another beautiful rainbow in Morocco

The 4 of us outside Rick’s Cafe

El Mohamed II Mosque Inside

El Mohamed II Mosque

Casablanca shop

Rick’s Cafe Casablanca

Today we are in Cadiz, Spain. A small little town on the coast.

Building Murals

New Cathedral

Torre Tavita (Watch Tower) Jonwent to top, we did not

Bags of live snails at Central Mercado

Central Mercado

Tuna at Central Mercado

Today we are in Malaga, Spain. \240Malaga is a beautiful seaside town.

Wild parrots everywhere

University of Malaga

Lighthouse

City walls

Ruins above the city

Concrete dividers

Bank of Malaga

Today is our last day on board. It is a sea day. We did a tour of engine control room and the bridge.

We have disembarked the ship. We are in Barcelona visiting Christmas markets before our flight home tomorrow. \240It was a very nice cruise.

Gaudi house

Barcelona Cathedral, not La Sagrada

Christmas narket