Welcome to Ceuta, a Spanish Protectorate East of Morocco in Africa. We took a “Sea and Shore” Excursion from HAL that involved a one hour tour of the South Bay and then a walk around the city centre. As the Nieuw Statendam was located in the North Bay we took the 16th century canal to the South Bay and back to look around. Once we returned we walked around the town a bit and had some free time before returning to the ship. I was able to purchase 2 pairs of nice flat shoes, we had drinks on the side walk and then walked around the town looking at fountains until unexpectedly I fell off a step and went head over heals onto the side walk with my walker right in front of a café! Just bruised (both mentally and physically) and one broken hand brake and I was up and we continued our exploring of Ceuta – this time Lynda was under more supervision of where she was going and where bumps are in the road… After we got back on board the ship, we found out that this was the first visit by Holland America to Ceuta and that a ceremony was performed exchanging plaques etc. during the day. Probably explained the large police presence around and through the city too!
