drron29

Hirosaki Castle is a most fantastic spot in cherry blossom time in Japan. We spent a whole day there and I even rowed the beautiful Rojaan around the lake. You will definitely enjoy it. As to Hue we did a private tour to the Royal Palace compound. Our guide had been a pilot in the South Vietnamese President's squadron and had to serve 3 years in North Vietnam at a re education camp. Fortunately for us the re education failed and so he was able to show why the official version of damage during the Vietnam War by the Americans was wrong. The physical evidence does not support the official version.

We had one of the best excursions we have ever had today in Malaga. The guide was very knowledgeable and an expert in his area. The excursion was about Picasso. Also a very good way of presenting his knowledge. He is an Art Historian and lecturer a part time lecturer at the University.

We didn’t enjoy Kaiseki at night as we didn’t think it measured up to Japanese standards. And we have been to Japan more than 50 times. Lunch however is our favourite at Kaiseki. Last cruise about 80% of the time it was where we had lunch.

And of course I am on the Moon with the standard free internet. All my posts in this thread have been done on board. There is no way I could have posted all these photos with the old system.

As Rojaan said we have been to Botswana with Sanctuary Lodges. It was great. We did 3 lodges in Botswana and one in Zambia. The Zambian camp is close to Victoria falls and we also walked with rhinos there. We actually did this after a West Africa cruise on the Explorer and we had 2 stops in Namibia but no wildlife viewing. The Sanctuary lodges in this trip report. https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/threads/a-botswanan-adventure.50060/ We did a second trip to Sanctuary lodges with Makanyane in South Africa and Bwindi in Uganda to see the gorillas. This was the trip were Rojaan was disabled but still was able to get to see the gorillas. This trip was after a Cape to Cape cruise on the Explorer again. https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/threads/africa-jungle-and-veldt-by-caravan-and-sedan-chair.82483/ Both thoroughly recommended.

Saturday and we arrive in Cadiz and it is still dark. Very little sleep as the clocks went forward 2 hours last night. A Spanish navy ship is in. Rumour has it new Spanish navy ships have glass bottoms so that they can see the old Spanish navy. The Splendour of the Seas in dry dock. Joined by the Costa Venezia. And now we are off ro Arcos de la Frontera. Won't be as many pictures from the bus asI slept most of the way there.

Rojaan had the wite wine of the night and I the red. They were easy drinking. Rojaan began with the chicken parcels and I had the harissa cauiflower. For mains Rojaan had the lamb which she asked for medium well but it came too rare for her. I had the quail but the photo was too blurry to paste. I had the rice pudding and Rojaan the local ice cream with pomegranate. Neither of us thought they were to our tastes. An enjoyable evening but once again we found the food underwhelming.

A couple of shots of Tangier in daylight. That evening we started with drinks in the Paorama lounge with a couple from Florida we met at the IC Lisbon. Then had dinner with them in SALT. Here is the menu.

Nearly back at the Moon. That afternoon we bombed out in trivia and I failed miserably at putting.

And back into Tangier. And the casbah.

A lot of domestic animals. Horses,donkeys,goats,sheep and cattle.

The city has a backdrop of Mountains. Friday prayers.

And now back to the bus for the drive to Tangier.

And now to the Exhibition room.

This special Art school is for children who refuse to go to school or are thought not to be able. They are taught practical skills including restoring or renovating many different pieces. Here is some of their work plus an exhibition of Moroccan art. In this area were 4 children 2 of whom had Down's syndrome. I gave them a hearty thank you in my best Arabic -sukran. The little girl with Downs gave me a huge smile. So we move on to other rooms.

And back into the CBD to go to an "Arts" school and then the bus. The grounds of the School.

But it was more of the same. The strawberries aredelivered.

The last of the Medina. Came out at a large square. The walls of the casbah. We enter through an area we were told was a slave market.

Starlink is up and running. We only have the basic free internet and all uploading of photos done on board. Certainly better than on the Dawn last August when I had no hope of uploading all the photos.

Then taken for some shopping at a Moroccan strip mall. The oldest tannery in Morocco.

We were then taken to a hotel for tea and refreshments plus a show. A plate of savoury empanadas plus a plate of sweet biscuits. I knew we wouldn't make it back for lunch so tried each of the empanadas. Not bad.

Lots of different organs.

The synagogues electrical wiring. And a 6 pointed star in floor tiles. A silk shop.