This morning the group of LDS members on the cruise got together for a mini testimony meeting with the rest of the group joining afterwards for a get acquainted round table. This was a lot of fun and we got better acquainted with our group members. We took it easy most of the day and after dinner on a formal night we watched an older but still talented and energetic Spanish-speaking entertainer named Pepito Alvarez's show. While we didn't understand most of his dialogue we were able to understand a tribute he gave his father for inspiring him to be the success he has been during his career.
Mon Nov 21
Today we visited Malaga, Spain on our own.
We did a walking tour of several sites near the port. As with so many European cities we visited this summer there was a huge and ornate Catholic cathedral. However, unlike in Belgium, there was no open central plaza associated with it.
We then visited the ruins of an ancient Roman theatre situated on a hill. This was huge and interesting but looked like the complex included much more than just the theatre.
We then walked around a bull fighting arena but it was not open to see inside.
On the return we walked through a beautiful park with meandering pathways, lots of tropical trees and flowers, statues and fountains. It was a very pleasant day overall.
Tue Nov 22
Today we joined our entire party of thirty-eight for an eleven-hour tour in Morocco on the African continent. We first visited the city of Casablanca.
We had a knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide. The most memorable stop was at the Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic Ocean shore. This is the third largest mosque in the world. After visiting so many beautiful Catholic cathedrals it was an interesting contrast with a house of worship of the Islamic faith. It was completed in 1993 and is huge and ornate inside and out with a minaret over 600 feet high. The first thing you notice is that there is no seating, just carpeting on the spacious marble floor for religious services and an obscure pulpit from which the imam preaches.
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| Pulpit is in rear on right side |
The guide explained much about the Islamic faith and practices. As with other Christian sects it was interesting to note their practices and beliefs that have some things in common with our LDS faith. We then traveled north about sixty miles along the coast to the city of Rabat where the seat of the Moroccan government is located. We got to drive through the walled complex where the king's palace and houses of parliament are located. We then visited another religious shrine built on the grounds where the remains of an ancient mosque which was destroyed by an earthquake a couple of hundred years ago. A former admired king was buried there.
We then took a walk through an ancient part of the city known as a Medina. Behind the fortress walls were residences with walkways only a few feet wide. It was like finding your way through a maze.
While there were many nice buildings and upscale homes there were also many very poor, trashy shanty towns. What was interesting to note, however, was that no matter what the class there were satellite dishes projecting from sides and rooftops of every building.
Apparently once the equipment is bought you have a lifetime free subscription to satellite TV. There must have been one dish for every one of Morocco's inhabitants. We had lunch at the Restaurant Saadi in Rabat and finished with stops at two shopping places. There were many hand-woven rugs, articles made of wood, jewelry, clothing, etc. but I didn't buy anything hoping to find something to bring home from Brazil.
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