Monday, April 29, 2019; Day 13; Last Sea Day

Today will be our last full day at Sea. Tomorrow we visit Casablanca followed by Tangier and finally Lisbon. We had breakfast in the Colonnade and lunch in the restaurant.

I attended the final presentation by Amb. Edward Marks, thank goodness. Capt. Tom has his final presentation this evening. Sarah attended her last Bridge class.

Before lunch, Sarah collected her art work which was on display in the lounge area of the ship.

The square is the pennant stating "I need a tug"

The pennants on the other side of her bag are her initials (SJB) on the top line and the year (2019) on the second line

Lunch was interesting in that you took your plate through the Galley where they had buffet style stations with just about anything you could think of eating. It was very impressive. Sarah said she took lots of photos, so you need to check her blog.

After lunch, we stopped in the shop. Sarah says we still have $713 in our on-board account, which means she has spent $487 at the Spa so far. That’s fine. We need to use all of the remainder of the account since we use it or lose it.

While we still have Casablanca and Tangier ahead of us before we reach Lisbon, here is what I've collected for the folks back home so far.

MEGAN - Swarovski pendant from Seabourn Quest Gift Shop

LARUA - Spanish Cultured Pearls from Seabourn Quest Gift Shop

SARAH - Venetian Black Glass beads, Seabourn Quest Gift Shop

JOYCE - Cactus, Fig, Mulberry jams from El Grifo Winery, Lanzarote, Canaries, Spain

STEPHEN T. - Hot sauce from the Aldrea Distillery, La Palma, Canarias, Spain

GAVIN - Volcanic rock from Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote, Canarias, Spain

MORGAN - Volcanic aquarium rock, El Hierro, Canarias, Spain

Both Sarah and I did laundry today. We had great luck and did not have to wait for machines to become available.

Sunday, April 28, 2019: Day 12; Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

Lanzarote is like no other place in the world. Craters and contorted lava flows from massive volcanic eruptions 270 years ago cover three fourths of the island's 324-square-mile surface. The area is a National Park and is a must-see for every visitor to Lanzarote.

Depart the pier on a route that takes you to the southern part of the island passing Arrecife -- the capital -- and Puerto del Carmen. The latter is a popular resort with beautiful beaches. Then, leave the highrises behind to contemplate one of nature's fascinating works -- Montana de Fuego, or Fire Mountain, in Timanfaya National Park. Ride a camel up the slopes of a volcano cone to see the tortured, yet beautiful, lunar-like landscape spread out below.

Continue on to Islote de Hilario for a fascinating demonstration of how volcanic cinders just below the surface are hot enough to kindle wood and produce steam -- proof of the violent forces that linger beneath the earth's crust.

Since rain is rare on Lanzarote, farmers have devised ingenious cultivation methods to grow vegetables in fields of black lava pellets watered only by sea mists. Grapes thrive in cinder pits called zocos, and porous lava granules allow dew to filter down to the roots. The result is a fresh, golden wine called Malvasia. Enjoy a wine tasting with cheese at one of the wineries located in La Geria -- Lanzarote's wine country.