May 30

May 30

Cadiz Spain

Cabin inspection this morning.  It’s not a big deal and it makes me clean my cabin, so I kind of like it.  I enjoyed a peaceful morning in my cabin watching Sportscenter (would somebody please explain why the Cubs have so much trouble with the Pirates?), catching up on this blog, and recording my hours from the past week. 

Keely, Mia and I headed out into Cadiz.  YES!!!! We are docked in town, so no shuttle bus is needed!  YIPPIE!!!  Mia and I as you have learned are explorers, so we just explored.  BEAUTIFUL statues were located and kind of lead us on our way.  Lush and vibrant parks with happy smiling faces, lots of dogs and the laughter of children filling the air!  Our walk led us to a garden of great magnitude.  I felt like I had left the city of Cadiz and was walking in a place all on its own.  Unique and interesting shrubs, trees, bird sanctuaries and right in the middle an amphitheater.  It looked like it hadn’t been used in quite some time, but I could imagine the music and theatre adding to the brilliance of this magnificent place.

Our walk led us to a beach (topless), so we didn’t stay there long – Europe is very different than the US.  Anyway, it was nice to have my feet on the sand again.  It was rather hot, so we really wanted to take a dip, but we were not prepared – next time J.  We continued our journey to in search of the center of the city where we had heard there was great shopping and restaurants.  After a few wrong turns, we found it and sat down for a coffee.  Just in time because the sky opened up like it was south Florida in the summer.  It rains for about 5 minutes every afternoon in Florida – or at least it feels like it did.  It was very refreshing and was over quickly. 

Continued our journey in search of free Wi-Fi (internet).  Keely decided to stay and shop, but Mia and I found a coffee shop in an alley with a distant view of the Atlantic.  The service was outstanding and after Mia went inside to pay and as we were leaving the server ran out and tried to give the tip back to us.  It’s not customary to tip, but they were so nice we thought it was appropriate.

We headed back to the ship, I worked out before a function that we help host for repeat guests once or twice a cruise.  After this was over I finished my workout and then most of headed to the terrace café for dinner.  Terra Jo (TJ from Omaha) had a lot of pesto and want to share.  I enjoyed a few bites, then had my customary sushi – YUMMY!!!!

It was my team’s night to work, so that entailed greeting and de-greeting at the show, cleaning up the library and socializing at horizons.  The new band was playing, so no disco tonight.   They are all Ukrainians and speak little to no English, but are singing all the popular American English hits from today and all the way back to the big band era.  We like them!

A few of us hung out for a while after horizons in the crew mess, then Danielle and I watched some TV – well really didn’t watch much TV and mostly talked.  Then of course bedtime as tomorrow is another day.  Good night.