We saw it – at least, we think we saw it. The Rock of Gibraltar! Our ship was scheduled to pass through the Strait of Gibraltar from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea between 2:30 and 4:00 a.m. We were told that the channel was about 8 miles wide at its narrowest point and we would be traveling closer to the African continent than the European because we would sail through in a designated lane. Over 120,000 ships pass through the Strait per year – averaging nearly 320 per day. We were also told we were unlikely to see THE rock (imagine trying to see a rock in the dark), but this wasn’t just any Rock – and we wanted to give it a shot.
While on the tip of Spain, the Rock of Gibraltar https://visitgibraltar.gi/
is still owned by the United Kingdom. It has a fascinating history and current presence that I will not recount here, but you can click on the link if you would like to read more.
It also happened that on the Thursday daily schedule an item was listed at 9:45 p.m. called, “Chocolate Surprise”. Besides being past the time we are usually back in the cabin, it was also the same night in which we would be rising in a few short hours for passing through the Strait.
But, if you were to look up the definition of chocolate in the dictionary, you would likely see Genny’s picture right next to it. So about 9:30 we began scouting for the “Surprise”. The location was listed as “Deck 2”. That leaves a lot of space to find something that you don’t even have a description of.
After wandering about and talking with others who were also seaching and had a general description of “somewhere between the BB King Blues Club and the Ocean Bar” and something about a parade.
I envisioned 4th of July parades where candy is thrown to the crowds as floats pass by. With the average age of Holland America Line passengers, the location description, and the number of electric scooters we had dodged in the Lido lunch buffet, I was fully expecting a line of grey-haired grandmas to come motoring through the ship pulling chocolates from their handlebar baskets and tossing it to the passengers while the BB King Blues band played, “Having the Time of Your Li-i-ife”!
But at 9:45 sharp a line of wait staff came pouring into the hallways carrying trays of chocolates from small square containers of white chocolate covered blueberries to small rounds glass discs of dark chocolate covered nuts to ceramic spoons filled with cocoa dusted almonds and more. Exactly what we needed right before bed!
After a few hours of sleep, we got up just before 3:00 and turned on the TV to check our location (there is a channel that plots our course across the ocean). Sure enough, we were in the Strait of Gibraltar! We donned our jackets and ship provided white bathrobes complete with Holland America logos and exited onto our aft (rear) cabin balcony. We watched as we slid by Morocco on the ship’s starboard (right) side and Spain on her port (left).
There were obvious commercial ports with the enormous cranes (there must be a bigger word for those monsters) swinging giant magnets used to move containers to and from and about the ships. There were also hills and lights on the hills and shores on both sides of the channel, but Morocco and Spain was as specific as we could get.
A few other inquisitive souls from two other cabins were also on their balconies below us. After nearly an hour we returned inside, thinking we must be through, and checked the TV again. What?? Now it looked like we might be actually passing The Rock – so of course we bounced back out! Sure enough, something big loomed out of the darkness with lights along the shore to either side and along the base. The Rock of Gibraltar!?
I am embarrassed to say that I did not check before we left to determine what the Rock actually looked like. I assumed we would pass during the day and like good lemmings would be told what we were seeing. When we get to reliable wifi I’ll check it out. You can see what you think.
It is likely obvious with this post that we lead relatively quiet lives even on a cruise ship. This particular trip – a transatlantic repositioning cruise – is intended to move the ship from earth’s lower hemisphere to upper, and we have been delighted to take advantage of the lower rates and lengthy time to do little more than find satisfaction and enjoyment in things like great rocks and chocolate surprises.
Two more stops, both in Spain, and another day at sea will complete this voyage and launch us into another trip to Italy, beginning in Rome. Hopefully, wifi will be as abundant in Italy as it has been scarce across the sea, and we can stay in touch.
In the meantime, please know that the love of God is always abundant, and our thoughts of home and prayers for you all are never scarce.
Rambling along…