Easter Sunday, April 9. Docked in Cadiz, Spain. Blue sky, 14 C. Cruise is 75% complete, 32 days to go.
There was an Easter Sunrise Service on the open deck aft this morning at 7:30. It was a heck of a rush for us as we sort of slept too long after keeping awake to see Gibraltar as we plowed by it last night at 11:55 pm. Easter is the most important annual religious event in the world to Christians. Fellette is in the Choir and takes that job seriously and I obviously wanted go as well.
The service was short but meaningful and set the tone for Fellette and I today We decided to take the day off and just relax, when I say off, I mean off . We never stepped off the ship. We surveyed the City of Cadiz from the decks of the ship. A perfect way to spend Easter Sunday, 2023.
The City of Cadiz lies just meters from our gangway where we can see the Impressive Cadiz Cathedral. Today it will be packed solid with faithful followers. Over the years I have never really understood the fascination that people have with Churches, Cathedrals, Synagogues, Temples, Pagodas and the like. Obviously it is not for religious reasons as most people do not seem to have any particular faith following.
Excuse me for a quick flashback: On this Easter Sunday in 1960, 63 years ago, Ozzie friend Keith Stafford, my travel partner Gerry Toward and I had an Easter meal under a highway overpass on a highway leading from Rome down to southern Italy. The weather was terrible: cold, rain and miserable. I don’t have the picture available but it has been on mind every Easter since. (Craig here... below is the picture that Dad is speaking of)
On that Sunday, 63 years ago, the outlook was bleak, we had many miles yet to go to the Youth Hostel, and even once there they were of poor quality and a bit squalid. It turned out that it was exactly that. Isn’t life interesting, here we sit in decadent luxury, 63 years later!
We leave Cadiz around 6:00 pm tonight and awake in Lisbon, Portugal, tomorrow morning. We do not have a Shore Excursion booked and we have been here before a few times. It is a bit uncertain as to what we may actually do in each port but is a good feeling to be inching up the Iberian Peninsula to Europe and the British Isles and Norway.
It is hard to believe that the distance between Adelaide and Fremantle, which we sailed in four days, is almost the same distance as from Lisbon to Bergen, Norway, which we will take us 16 days and stopping in 12 Ports! Not much fuel is required but there will be some very tried passengers. Buckle up folks!
A Good Day…
7:30 am on deck in the foggy haze, Easter Sunrise Service and a 12 person choir. Fellette left. [A wheel chair in front, sorry, lots on board.]
On a cabin door today. Not sure if done by an Adult or a Child.
Part of the harbour and our view today.
Ah! Memories; Very well back in mind but the body rebels at the thought of even thinking of a repeat. Those were the days.
ReplyDeleteWell done Craig!!!! Doug, who is who in the photo? LOVING the blog...... Cheers, Rod.
ReplyDeleteThat's Keith on the left, and Doug on the right.
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