Casa-Blank-a

Casablanca was a blank.  We are skipping Casablanca, not because of any disturbance in the country, but because of a disturbance in the weather.  If we stopped in Casablanca on May 7 as planned, we would cross the Bay of Biscayne on May 8, just in time for a major storm.  By major, I mean 60 - 90 foot waves and wind over 80 mph.  Instead, we are going directly from the Canary Islands to Vigo, Spain, arriving on May 8 where we will spend a day before the crossing to Portsmouth, England, for a day there, and a day travel to London, arriving on May 10, as scheduled.

We hated to miss Morocco, but I would not like to tangle with the weather, and the Captain does not take chances with us and the ship.  We have not had much luck going to northern Africa.  On one trip, which we took specifically to go to Tunis and Algiers, both these cities were cancelled due to "unsafe political conditions."  Last year our itinerary included both Algeria and Tunisia, but we only went to
Algeria.  Again, Viking felt that it we would not go to Tunisia for the "safety of passengers and crew."

So, we travel on, with the added destination of Portsmouth.  We are delighted with that decision, not only because we do not like rough seas, but because we will be able to visit the Mary Rose Museum.  One of last year's speakers, Admiral John Lippiett, spoke highly of it.  He was the Director when the museum was built.  It took 437 years between the time the Mary Rose was sunk in Portsmouth harbor and it was finally rediscovered and raised.  Then it took 12 more years to "dry it out" and treat the wood to keep it from rotting away.