The whole time in this port we experienced cool evenings and early mornings and warm, sunny, cloud free days. It was a suggested parent visitation port, so the ship had a much diminished population as the parents who came stayed in hotels (or went touring), often taking one or two extra students. I will hear plenty of these adventures over the coming days but I do know of groups who went off to Lisbon or Barcelona.
The city itself is undergoing urban renewal - lots of building, renovation, much remaining to be done. Its time of greatest splendor was probably the period under Roman rule. It has seen many masters over the ages and boasts ruins spanning two thousand years. It has the friendliness of la Coruna, but lacks the charm. Our surroundings in the harbour are a mixed lot. We are adjacent to a large marina (with some impressive boats), with the small fishing fleet on our other side. The container ship berths are across the harbour, and sequestered in a large cove around the headland is an impressive sampling of the Spanish navy (including a couple of subs).
An interesting three-person delegation from a volunteer organization called Whale Force made a presentation to us on the ship early in our stay. Based in Cochrane, Alberta (of all places), their interest is in logging the sightings and locations of whales world wide. A sailing ship like the Concordia would be a valuable ally as we have the educational interest, roam the world's seas and travel at a speed
which allows for casual observation of our fellow 'travelers'. We agreed to participate in the data collection.
After a short bus ride to a coastal community called Los Belones we hiked some coastal hills, bringing our selves to a beach which stretched for miles. Some of the students and teachers got 'fully immersed' for a brief period of time. I waded; the water temperature was somewhere between the South Shore in September, and PEI in August.
The highlight of the day to me was a bushwhacking adventure to the highest peak in southern Spain. Heading off from the beach inland, we (there were three in our group) scrambled and climbed to a rugged promontory with a spectacular 360 view. The return trip took a couple of hours, and I have some aches and stiffness this morning, plus scratches from the rosemary bushes, but it was a great adventure. (I
have my climbing urge now satisfied ? a couple of days ago I climbed the main mast up to the flag at the very top. It had to be done, and it is a fair sight more easily accomplished while in port, rather than arcing through 20-40 degrees while at sea!)
Today we will sail on the afternoon tide. Palermo, Sicily is our next port of call. I have my food supplies purchased from the local market to sustain this six-day voyage: Clementines, carrots, boxed juices, crackers, peanut butter and chocolate!
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