During the night we passed through the straits of Gibraltar and arrived in port around 7:30 AM. The port is a big commercial port primarily of containers and ferries. The port provided a shuttle between the ship and the entrance to the port for safety. Without any pre-planned activities we took our time, had breakfast and headed out of the port. There was a hop on hop off bus running that provided a tour of the city in a little more than an hour, with 14 stops. Included was admission to the cathedral. We began our journey on the top open deck of the bus until the rain began and we sought shelter in on the first level. We got off the bus and began a tour of the cathedral. The Cathedral of Santa Cruz sits on the Ocean and the wind, salt water and weather have resulted in perpetual repair to the building. Inside there is netting strung over the entire sanctuary to catch an falling debris to protect worshipers and tourists.
Most interesting, which we took no photos of was the basement crypt where there are many buried in the walls and under the floor.
After the tour we began our way through the old city and when it began to rain we ended up at a local restaurant that is famous for their tapas and in particular seafood. We shared a plate of local seafood and then tasted the paella with some local beer. While we sat at a table the locals came and had tapas and beer at the bar before returning to work.
Leaving the restaurant we ended up heading the wrong way. We had planned to walk back to the ship, but with Kevin’s phone battery dead and being on a peninsula we could see the ocean thinking it was our port and it was in fact the other direction. We chalked it up as great exercise, caught the hop on hop off bus and road back to the ship.
We had some down time in the afternoon and opted to skip a reception we had been invited to recognizing that when the group of mariners (repeat guests) were done the dining rooms would be slammed.
Salmon Chop chop Salad
Beef Carpaccio
French onion Soup
Beecher’s mac and cheese
Boneless leg of lamb with orange and cardamon.
Here is another picture of some of the decorations that keep appearing around the ship
After dinner we attended the perormance of Tyler Bryce who is a vocal impressionist with over 200 voices. He was amazing as he could both speak and sing in character. After we headed to bed setting our clocks back on hour, the first of 2 for Ponta Delgada.
kevinmaxey 
Tell me my sister didn’t eat that raw meat!
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Not this time, but she has tried it. She can eat meat now that isn’t cooked to death and prefers a little pink in her steaks.
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