Without Agenda

We have traveled from the mountaintops of Andorra to the ancient depths of the Ocean. This journey has been a kaleidoscope of experiences, and as troop leader I felt a level of completion as we departed Madeira. The yearnings of my soul were finally satisfied. The destinations that called us here... Montserrat, Andorra, Montsegur, and the Atlantic Islands... had welcomed us with open arms and left us with signatures upon our heart. The final five days of this trip would be relaxing and contemplative, without agenda.

We had a day "at sea" as we bid farewell to Madeira. The Atlantic Ocean was turbulent as we proceeded towards the Strait of Gibraltar once again. Dishes fell, pipes broke, and the hull shuddered. For a full day the ship was tossed about. Many of you were not feeling very well, annoyed at me for enjoying it so much. I'm sure you'll get over it! Once in the Mediterranean Sea we made day visits in Malaga, Spain and Marseille, France en-route to Genova, Italy, where we would once and for all disembark.

Malaga, SpainIn Malaga the day was absolutely vibrant. With no plan whatsoever, we walked from the ship and took a stroll along a bit of the beach and a bit of the city as it touched the port. The only real desire was to find an internet connection; a never ending quest when traveling away from home. Thank goodness for McDonalds. Invariably you will stubble upon one with free WIFI; fortunately they now offer cappuccino. 

Another day at sea to reach Marseille. I didn't know what to expect, and so was very surprised to see a charming, ancient yet modern city, second only to Paris in size. High on a rocky hilltop was a majestic cathedral- Notre Dame! Surprise for us! We took a little tour to visit this grand edifice and were greeted with sun, frigid temperatures and a wind that made you grab for purchase. It was beautiful, and the views from that vantage point were awesome. Afterwards we went shopping, finding stores almost identical to any other metropolis. The locals are relatively young and had a gritty edge; in counter point to the presumed glitz of Paris. It was a really nice, albeit brief, visit.

Marseille, France

Currently we have just arrived in Genova, Italy. One more afternoon in Europe before our early morning flight home. Do we have any energy left to take a walk and find some bona fide Italian food? To be honest I'm not sure, but this is our first stroll on Italian soil and we are going to dig deep and make it happen. We can always rest when we get home!