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9月24日 GIBRALTAR and MOROCCO I could write loads about my holiday but I'm going to limit what I write, and rely on the photos loaded on here and the link to my other storage spaces on the web. My holiday was an 8 day break to Gibraltar during which time I went on an organised day trip to Morocco, which is where I'm going to start. To get to Morocco, it meant walking through the frontier into Spain where we were able to hire a cab to take us to the port where we were booked onto a ferry. In Morocco we were met by a coach and tour guide and were in their hands after this as to everywhere we went. What struck me particularly about Morocco was the smell, from the moment we arrived in Africa there was a distinctive smell about the country that was present the whole time. It was a new smell to me but not one I liked, although in some areas there were other more unpleasant smells. As we were having a lunch included in our trip, I was dreading what was going to be laid on but it turned out to be ok, and I didn't get a tummy bug so all was well. Funny thing, we were led around all these alleyways and market stalls but when it was time to eat, we were taken through this door and the interior of the place we'd come to eat was like a palace. It even had 2 golden chairs, and a stained glass panel in the ceiling. The huge chandeliers were funny, as they looked quite old and yet they were filled with lots of low energy light bulbs. The trip was fast moving as the tour guide seemed to be rushing us everywhere and I had a job to keep up, and would have liked to spend more time looking at things, but we were really herded into places where there was a lot of pressure to buy things. 2 of my mates ended up buying carpets they had no intention of buying ! ha! I managed to plan how I was going to deal with the sellers and it worked. The only thing I bought was a geode (a rock) with crystals from a man in the street of Tanger, he lied to me, telling me it was amethyst but I knew the inside had been coloured but it was still worth what I paid for it as it was pretty and I collect rocks and crystals. I gave one half to my dad and kept the other. On return I asked my knowledgeable friend from the Little Gem crystal shop how it was done and discovered it was painted rather than dyed, but I was right about it being Moroccan quartz crystal and a fair price for the size. So at least I didn't have a feeling of being conned. In Gibraltar itself, we went on a tour up the rock, and it was there that all the apes are kept and cared for by the military, would you believe. We saw escape tunnels and loads of canons in one area. At another area there were caves with stalactites and stalagmites, and as the caverns were so huge they had built a concert theatre inside. I bet it would be amazing to listen to a concert in such surroundings. Although everyone is warned about the apes, we saw one of them fly through the front window of a car, snatch a bagel from someone on the back seat and fly out the opposite window, it acted so fast. Then there was gift shop and snack bar, and one ape had been sitting on the roof watching inside and snatched sandwiches from a pregnant woman as her partner was handing it to her. I was lucky, as I bought an ice lolly but the driver closed all the windows so I could eat it in peace.  My friend paid for my trip to see the dolphins as a belated birthday gift, and it was fantastic. The weather that day was perfect for seeing them and also being on a boat. I loved every minute of it, but sadly I couldn't catch them on film, but so wonderful to see lots of dolphins all jumping out of the water at the same time. In the marina where the boat was moored, there were enormous multi million pound yachts, not just one, but lots, so amazing. If you hadn't guessed yet, I love being on boats (at sea more than rivers). CHINESE VISITORSI just want to say HELLO! to the Chinese person/s who visit 'mirrorspace' from http://www.baidu.com, WELCOME  9月17日 GIBRALTAR, SPAIN & MOROCCOI've been travelling for a bit this last few weeks and have just returned home. I've got a business circle meeting in the morning and a few other essential jobs, so it will probably be Friday when I can load up a few pictures and share some of my thoughts about my travels. Fortunately, I did manage to cope with the higher temperatures and never suffered any ill effects from anything eaten or drunk, although now it feels like it was all a dream. 9月1日 MEETING MY VERY SPECIAL FRIEND I've come to London for a few days and was keen to meet L.so today we met in Walthamstow High Street. We've been friends for around 20 years. We always have a good time catching up on our news, but 3 years ago L. was on the Kings Cross train that got bombed, and her life has never been the same since. I am so aware that if I hadn't taken early retirement the previous year, I too would have been on the same train with her, so I thank my blessings that I was saved from this horriffic event. L has post traumatic stress disorder and has always been a strong person, but now the images haunt her and she has flash backs, nightmares and lacks concentration. I remember the day 2 weeks later I had to attend an appointment at Barts Hospital for research on ovarian cancer, and was amazed that L was in Covent Garden, she bravely felt that she needed to face the demons and use the underground I told her that I could be with her shortly if she wanted, but instead we kept phone contact. Do you remember the Kings Cross fire some years before 7/7? Well, L was there too and had just got out of the station before the fireball  . I have to go Kings Cross this week and I don't like it as I'm very sensitive to atmospheres. My heart goes out to all people who have suffered so much from horrific events, natural ones as well the deliberate incidents. |
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