side notes.

hi all-- i was working on my spain entry both yesterday and today, so here are some of my notes since beginning the entries. i haven't really proof-read any of the entries so i apologize if there is poor grammar or horribly confusing sentences. it was so difficult to knock out the entry while trying not to fall asleep but also get in as much detail as possible. these entries for ports serve as my journal entries, so they are just as important for me to have as they are for all of you to read.

ps. andrew- i ate a ton of churros for you & i don't regret it, they were awesome. no taquitos-- they are more of a mexican thing. but there was plenty of other yummy stuff!

pps. going to try and compress a picture or two to send home. i'll have mom forward them, if possible. i want to get you all pictures but i don't know when. i also don't want to waste time in an internet cafe when i could be exploring! i also have videos but can't work the software yet. must find a computer-minded individual to help me out.

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we are currently in gibraltar which is owned by england but on the iberian peninsula, close to spain. we have been anchored beside the big rock since about 0900 this morning and will be here for a while longer.

as a result of the current rain and rough seas, we were unable to fuel up. usually this process takes about 6 hours but they were unable to safely connect the fuel lines this afternoon. this means we are not leaving, as planned, to arrive in morocco tomorrow. we are now going to wait out the storm in gibraltar and hopefully fuel up when the seas are calmer in the morning. which means no morocco at 0800 tomorrow. they are estimating that we will be there in the evening, leaving us with only 3 days. we are all disappointed, trips need to be re-scheduled and plans re-drawn. i, however, am a little greatful for the delay, i'm exhausted!

on a lighter note, they are working on a feed for the superbowl. there will be at least an audio feed and they are workin on video. there are a LOT of pittsburg fans on the ship, including the dean, and i've seen a bunch of those yellow towel things.

also, my phone is working here in gibraltar, so i may give a ring home a little later. i've used farrrrrrrr more minutes than planned so i may have to add more credit and be more careful about just calling. it has been wonderful to hear voices from home, though!

they are playing casablanca on our tv's today and i was instantly brought back to my high school history days. :) it’s a great movie & i’ve loved watching it while typing.

they have informed us that the 2nd deck must close their portholes because of the rough seas. mckendree and i are sad that we will lose our ambient light, but we don't want to see the rough waves either. they came in to close the porthole while i was in the shower and all i heard was a lady yelling "please don't come out!" and then i got all clear letting me know the men had left.

word on the ship is that no-one recieved dock time for being late, no one was left behind and only 1 person lost their passport in spain. there was dock time to those found sneaking on alcohol, so they have 8 hours of sitting on the ship whenever we make it to morocco.

plans are in the works for morocco & we are planning a trip to marrakech. there will be camel riding, visits to the markets and apparently... skiing?! i don't know but i'm up for new things! hopefully that pans out, unlike the soccer game which i am still sad we missed.

and after all that, the best thing about today: we are gaining an hour tonight!! yay!

love & miss you all!