 |
| This year for winter vacation we decided to head somewhere warmer, and so hopped on a plane to Barcelona. Luckily we booked an extra day to get here, as we missed our connection in Dublin and had to hang out in the airport for 11 hours, but we did make it. Our first day, we went out to get a quick bite to eat, pack, and get to the cruise terminal where we would board the Norwegian Sun for 11 days of cruising around Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. |
 |
| The view of Barcelona from the roof of our hotel. Luckily for us, even though we missed a day of touring around, we have an extra day tacked on the end, too, so... we'll be back! |
 |
| We made it! |
 |
| Lucky for us, the lunch buffet is open, as is the ultimate beverage package. BBC! |
 |
| The soft serve machine is always open, too! |
 |
 |
| At the time, it seemed like a good idea to attend a balloon making class, but instead of Christmas wreaths for our door, we wound up with these even better looking balloon hats! |
 |
| These two kids were amazingly excited to knock another continent off of their growing list of places they have been. Tomorrow: Africa for the first time. |
 |
| We booked a tour through the cruise to visit Casablanca and Rabat, Morocco. When we got off the boat, it was still dark. |
 |
| Our first stop is a roadside McDonalds because everyone (ahem) was dying to use the bathroom. Once we actually stopped, though, only about 4 people were brave enough to use the squat pot. Lucky for us, we are pros! |
 |
| Back on the bus and driving to Rabat. |
 |
| Our first real stop is the president's house,Dar al-Makhzen . We can't go in, just look. |
 |
| There is a large delegation of guards out front, so we just stop here, look, and turn around. |
 |
| Our second stop was the Kasbah des Oudaias, a walled city from the 12th century. Inside is a maze of narrow streets and beautiful little buildings. |
 |
| We are wandering with the crowd to an overlook and some hot mint tea. |
 |
| After the tea, we make our way to this courtyard for a few minutes, then it is back on the bus. |
 |
| Our next stop is downtown Rabat, and we have about a 10-minute walk to the restaurant where we will eat lunch. |
 |
| We are here! |
 |
| The restaurant is two floors, and dining is family style. |
 |
| Sides are green beans, lentils, carrots, cukes, and tomatoes, Moroccan style, and |
 |
| Tandoori chicken with olives. Amazing! |
 |
| Stretching out and getting ready to get back on the bus. |
 |
| This is a brief stop at Hassan tower, a tower that was started in the 12th century, but never finished. It also has a beautiful mosque. |
 |
| Pictures don't do this justice, it is amazing! |
 |
| Our next stop is Chellah, a site of ruins and gardens. |
 |
| From Wikipedia: The Chellah or Shalla, is a medieval fortified Muslim necropolis located in the metro area of Rabat, Morocco, on the south side of the Bou Regreg estuary. The Phoenicians established a trading emporium at the site. This was later the site of an ancient Roman colony in the province of Mauretania Tingitana. |
 |
| Leaving the Chellah, and heading back to Casablanca. |
 |
| I think this was the kids' favorite place of the day. The Hassan II Mosque. It is the largest mosque in Africa, and the minaret is 210 meters tall. It is gigantic! |
 |
| It took us about 10 minutes to walk from where we are standing to the mosque. Wow! This was a great way to end the day. |
 |
| Back on the boat, headed to the Canary Islands! |
