Yes, today was a lovely day!

What can be better than enjoying a pitcher of Sangria with good friends in a small cafe in one of the most lovely "Pueblas Blancas" in Spain???

Betty has just informed me that our luggage tags are on our doors :(

Yes, Denise, the mosque in Casablanca is a must-do.

Thanks, Suzanne.

Luggage tags on your doors??? Say it ain't so!

Hi Olivia and Suzanne, I am not surprised you liked Mijas. I have heard many good things about it. And then sangría to top it all! What could be better??!!

I was tardy turning in my debarkation plans. Got the "independent" instead of Regent transfer to airport for my tags. Cab can't be too difficult from Barcelona.

Denise, we had a discussion in the cab today about your question regarding comparison between Blue Mosque and where we went yesterday. I've never been to Istabul's BlueMosque, but Ngaire said she would definitely do the one in Casablanca. It was only completed in the 90's so very different from the one in Istanbul.

Just to add a few more shots from this wonderful trip for you all.
The camels were a hoot! A couple of older women backed out at the last minute from riding them. The beasts seemed to scare them. They were sorry that they didn't take the other trip. Fortunately, the rest of the trip was interesting, too! So, I am sure that they had a good time.










Doug

Where are you tomorrow? Valencia?

Looking forward to that report. We will only have 4 hours in that port :( , so we'll have to be very efficient with our time!

I can't believe how quickly TAP went by!! It seems like you guys just left. I've loved all your seamail and photos!

Olivia,Suzanne, Ngaire & Ken, We're excited to see you guys on FJORDS in 5 1/2 weeks!

one more day? Wow, the 2nd half really flew by - love the pictures. See you soon in NY Andi & Doug - it poured this afternoon in London - your weather looks way better than here.

John, thanks so much for the wonderful pictures of Roma. We will be there in July for 6 days and I can't wait. It is still my favorite city... Wishing you safe travels home

Ngaire's weather magic seems to be holding on this trip - what a beautiful cruise you've had - thanks so much for all of the seamail - I'm sorry you're almost to Barcelona and the end of so much fun.

Photos of Casablanca & Rabat:

Photos of Malaga & Mijas:

Ken is posting pictures so I thought I would post a quick report. It is now about 1.00 am in the morning. SO darn busy it is like we dont have a second to do anything.

Again GLORIOUS weather, we have not seen a drop of rain since we left Fort Lauderdale.

Malaga is a great town and Suzanne spent all day trying to teach me the correct pronounciation. I think my brain is drained from our daily trivia contests!!!

Olivia, Suzanne, Ken and I set off or the hill top village of Mijas. Linda and I wanted to visit this town on our last trip but ran out of time. Glorious little village, flowers, donkeys, horse drawn carriges, nice bars and restaurants, great vistas and some neat shops. It also had a real bull ring and sparkling fountains. Mostly white buildings with wonderful flowers everywhere. A great contrast with the white buildings, flowers and clear blue sky. What surprised me where the very large homes spread over the hillsides, complete with large swimming pools. These are very expensive homes.

Suzanne and I went shopping, she bought jewelry and I bought a piece of Spanish glass. We finished off with the traditional Sangria, tasted pretty good afer the first glass.

We made it back just in time in time for trivia. We won again today. I now have 12 tokens.

Tonight we played Liars Clubs and our LCT teams came in first and second. We were pretty pleased that LCT has done so well on this trip. Quite a token haul.

Cannot believe we are nearly through with our trip. We are considering a mutiny and that we can just stay on board. Had a wonderful time and made some great new friends.

Roll on Fjords I cannot wait to return.

Wonderful photos and report, Ken and Ngaire!

CROSS...Please hurry up and get here all ready!! I can see a week won't do these ports justice, but sampling will be oh so sweet!

OHHHH Fjords cannot come soon enough!!!! :app: :app:

Thank you for the pictures and report. I can see that Mijas it's such a cute town! Wish I could divide myself, one half would go to the Alhambra and the other half would go to Ronda or Mijas. I really need time to sample some of that sangría. It always tastes better in Spain!

I vote for a visit to Mijas on Cross - we drove through there on the way to the Alhambra, I think. Looks very charming and shopping and Sangria not too shabby either!

Hey everyone, it seems that I just left and now you are almost on your way home! Ken, thanks for the pictures. As usual, they are great. And Ngaire, thanks for the report that LCT is doing well at both Trivia and Liar's Club now that I am not participating. Does wonders for my ego!!!!
Have a safe trip home.
All my best,
Lynn

Thank you all SO much for the wonderful reports and pix; I've really enjoyed travelling with you!

I still can't get over the goats in the trees!! Anyone buy some of the face cream??

Ken, as usual your pictures are just the best! Everyone, have a safe journey home!!

Ken, the photos are fantastic. When we were in Casablanca, Regent's tour only included the outside. Look what we missed! Now we have to go back.

All the reports have been great. What a wonderful cruise with good times and great people. Have a safe trip home.

Photos from Valencia, Spain - Louis Vuitton Cup:

Denise - You had asked how does the Grand Mosque in Casablanca differ from the Blue Mosque in Istanbul? Although I've been to the one in Istanbul several times, I've not seen the one in Casablanca until Ken posted his wonderful photos today. Here is my reaction, for what it is or isn't worth:

We definitely intend to visit the Grand Mosque in Casablanca and take the interior tour. It looks fabulous. The Casablanca mosque is entirely different from the Blue Mosque. The Grand Mosque is in the Moorish style inside, much like the Alhambra, with all of that astonishing plaster work. And it appears to have only the one very tall minaret. It is also quite new.

Istanbul's imperial Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I (called the Blue Mosque because of its interior tiles) was built in the early 17th century and is very much in the Ottoman style with its six delicate pointed minarets and a great cascade of domes.

Thus, the two are extremely different, while each is quite remarkable in its own right.

We eagerly look forward to touring the mosque in Casablanca on CROSS, and then revisiting the Blue Mosque on CAVIAR next year.

Cheers, Fred

Fred,

I will have my photos on my laptop of both the Alhambra and Blue Mosque when we are on Cross, if you want to view them.

Hi Fred,

Your reaction is very much appreciated.

We visited the Blue Mosque a few years ago. I agree. The differences are great. Both are magnificent. Ken's wonderful photos make a compelling argument to visit the Mosque in Casablanca.

Looking forward to meeting you and Pat on CROSS! Thanks, again!

The Mosque in Casablanca opens at 9am and is a 1 hour guided tour.

We visited Valencia yesterday. What a gorgeous city. Sadly, it was Sunday AND a holiday and most everything was closed. There were three Regent tours which were all very good. They all offered an overview of the city with photo stops and the chance to walk around. One tour offered a ceramics market as the key stop, another tour offered the Oceanographic Institute, and the last offered a museum with artifacts. The America's Cup pavillion was next to the ship.

It is a large city and impossible to do in one day. Doug and I were impressed enough to look into visiting it for several days this Christmas.

Again, another gorgeous day and a wonderful port. Southern Spain is lovely and has much to offer.

We arrived at about 1pm and were able to leave the ship around 1:30pm. All aboard was 7:30. You needed to take a shuttle to leave the pier..about 5 minutes. Then, you can take a taxi for about $3E to the Institute or to town, if you want to do it on your own. Admission to the Institute is about $22E.

Today, we are all leaving. Some of us are staying on in Barcelona, others are going straight home. We are having a dinner in Barcelona tonight and tomorrow night with all of us who have stayed on.

Again, the sun is shining and it is another beautiful day. I wish I weren't leaving this absolutely terrific ship and look forward to returning next year.

The ship is beautifully run and the staff is absolutely wonderful. I think this has been the best Regent experience we have ever had. This should tell you something...we're doing it again next year.

Hi Tappers!

Sorry your cruise has ended. We lived vicariously through you. Have safe travels home.

I would appreciate if you could comment what did you do in Valencia? Were taxis plentiful at the port? For those of you that did Valencia on your own, what can be done in 4 hours?? We will only be there from 8-12!!

Thanks,

Safe travel home to all - it has been an adventure for all of us, too - thanks for all the pixs and reports -

Wishing the TAPers safe travels home or continued fun times staying on in Barcelona. Thank you for sharing your collective experiences and terrific photos.

Embarking on Voyager for CROSS can't come too soon!

Maria, I don't think you will be there on a Sunday as we were. When we looked at the local map being distributed from the ship, it showed almost all of the museums were closed by the time we docked on Sunday afternoon. As you can see from Ken's pictures, I made my one purchase in that big shopping bag, an "official" logo baseball cap with Valencia 2007 on it and we chose to try to walk off that extra 5 pounds you can see hanging on my lower front torso from the many good dinners with great lct friends on this cruise!

It was a wonderful cruise! As soon as I figure out how to upload to the ofoto site from that MacBook I brought with me, I will do it with the caveat that posting pictures after Ken is quite a challenge!

This was a wonderful cruise, unlike any other I have taken because of the crossing. Amazing how busy you can be or choose not to be, according to what you like, and no one cares whether you choose to do a lot or do nothing!

Hi Olivia,

I assume you are home? What extra pounds are you talking about? You three ladies looked great walking down that Promenade.

I can see it was a great cruise!

Welcome home. Looking forward to the pictures.

Olivia - you know we're going to love the photos so don't be shy. It's been so much fun to read the multiple reports about your cruise - each of you adds a bit of spice to the tale.

Have a safe journey home.

Welcome home, Olivia! Eager to see your photos and hear more of your TAP adventures.

Olivia,
Welcome home!!! So glad your cruise was soooo much fun. I'm looking forward to your photos!

Welcome home Olivia! I can't wait to see your pictures!

Welcome home all!!

Again, thank you all for sharing your incredible adventures and pics with us....wishing you all continued fun in Barcelona and safe travels home. Bonnie

Welcome home from me, too. I've enjoyed the reports and wonderful photos. Your fun makes me smile!

Welcome home TAPer's!

Thanks so much for the sea mail and great photos.

Nancy

Welcome home Olivia!! Glad to hear you had such a wonderful time. Rest up...39 days until FJORDS!!