If you see Morocco, I know you'll go in style

Refueling took all day, and though I enjoy looking at the mysterious machinery of the various boats that service this ship, I was bored and restless by the time we actually started moving again, when dinner was almost over this evening.

There, finally, was the famous face of the rock I had come to see, and though it was misty and getting dark, I slipped up to the top deck to get whatever pictures I could.

This, I think, is Jebel Musa, in Morocco, the southern pillar of the Strait of Gibraltar.

So I didn't get to see the Barbary apes, and I didn't get to defy the predictions of my co-workers by going to the top of the Rock and not falling off, but at least now I can say I sailed through the Pillars of Hercules.

Gibraltar

It was easy to mock the high winds and heavy seas when we were in transit and the only consequence was spilled wine at dinner. It wasn't quite so funny when we sailed into Gibraltar harbor this morning and after several delays were told that we wouldn't be docking as it wasn't safe.

So we sat in the harbor all day staring at the Rock of Gibraltar's unphotogenic backside, while the ship attempted to refuel. Since Gibraltar had been one of the main reasons I chose this particular cruise, it was disappointing, and while I don't mind staying on the ship and reading, it was frustrating to have a place I wanted very much to see so close and not be able to get there. (See Tallinn, Estonia.)